The Italian firm is sticking to the Fiat 500's humble roots by pitching the car at well under Mini prices when it goes on sale in Britain in January.
The cute Italian hatchback has long been tipped to match the Mini as a 'premium' product with pricing to match. But the prices announced by Fiat UK are lower than expected. The cheapest 500, the 1.2-litre, 69bhp Pop model, will cost £7900 on the road, almost £500 less than the 1.2-litre, 75bhp Renault TWingo. And the top-of-the-range 1.4-litre 500 Lounge - which gets air conditioning, alloy wheels, glass roof and a hands-free media system - costs £10,700. By contrast, even the basic 94bhp Mini One costs £11,625, and it lacks air-con on its standard kit list.
There's no price increase for diesel models, either; the 1.3-litre MultiJet models cost the same as the 1.4-litre petrols.
The new pricing is further proof of Fiat's renewed confidence; the company reported last week that its quarterly profits had more than doubled year on year, and it has more than tripled the percentage profit on every car it makes.
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Re: Fiat pulls no punches on 500 pricing
Kind of sticks two fingers up to BMW and their profit chasing Mini. On another thread in this forum, the base mini goes without alloys, aircon and fog lights, and they are charging near enough £12K. It was also reported this morning that BMW (The worlds largest luxury car group) has missed forcast profit margins.
Hats off to Fiat for not chasing down BMW on price, hopefully to prove the 500 can show its nearest competitor a clean pair of heals on the forecourt on ability. When all said and done the BMW Mini is not a Mini in the true sense of the word.
Re: Fiat pulls no punches on 500 pricing
Ive got to say im eating my own words here, i was all but ready to dis-miss the 500 as another fashion accessory like the new mini. If its competing with Ka's and the like then its sitting exactly where it should be in the market, right at the bottom like its predecessor. Go Fiat, Go!
Re: Fiat pulls no punches on 500 pricing
Finally Fiat has the nous to move in for the kill. The 500 could put the Mini virtually out of business once it becomes clear how overpriced it now seems. I think the 500 is most definitely the next big thing. The question is how will its 'individuality' stand up to the test of time?