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Thursday, January 8, 2015

2016 Fiat 500 Spied!

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First spy shots of the refreshed 2016 Fiat 500 have shown up on the Italian website Quattroruote. The outside images show a car that remains very much like the current 500, except for heavily disguised front and rear bumper fascias. It is hard to tell what is underneath the camouflage, but shape outlines coming through the covers show a possible subtle reshaping of the bumpers. Keen-eyed Italian photographer/journalist Claudio Giusto brings up the possibility that they could match up to an image Fiat printed in their 5-year business plan published on May last year.

2016 Fiat 500
Notice the subtle changes to the grille opening and bumper shape including a character line under the European highbeam headlight / US daytime running light.

As for the interior, the 2016 Fiat 500 spy shot shows the navigation unit being integrated into the dashboard in contrast to the add-on Tom Tom unit that was mounted on top of the dashboard on current 500 models. The new 2016 Fiat 500 also shows the updated power window switches used in the NAFTA 500 and possibly a revised steering wheel.

This confirms what sources have told us that the refreshed 500 is getting an interior makeover incorporating some of the North American 500 updates. The integrated Nav unit will be most welcome to 500 owners as it has been cited as one of the most asked for updates. The new unit looks similar to the design used in the Fiat 500X. Along with the new design, it looks like Fiat is finally making the switch from Tom Tom to the award winning Uconnect system.

Fiat 500X Navigation Unit
Fiat 500X Navigation

When we will see the refreshed 2016 Fiat 500 is open to speculation; however, July 4th is the 58th anniversary of the introduction of the 1957 Fiat 500, so mark that as a possibility. Those looking for the next generation Fiat 500 will have to wait a few more years until after 2017. Sources say don't be surprised if the 2018 Fiat 500 is wider and maybe just a tad longer, but will still look unmistakably like a 500.




Recommended links:
Follow Quattroruote on Twitter
Follow Carlo Giusto on Twitter

Image used with permission from Quattroruote

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