150 Years of Italian Spirit now available in a car

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Fiat 500 150th Limited Edition 2011 marks a crucial milestone in the history of Italy. It’s the 150th anniversary of the country’s unification and here at Fiat Group Automobiles South Africa, we’re painting the town green, white and red! In commemoration of this event, Fiat and Alfa Romeo together with other leading Italian brands showcased…

Fiat 500 150th Limited Edition

2011 marks a crucial milestone in the history of Italy. It’s the 150th anniversary of the country’s unification and here at Fiat Group Automobiles South Africa, we’re painting the town green, white and red!

In commemoration of this event, Fiat and Alfa Romeo together with other leading Italian brands showcased the best Italy has to offer at Monte Casino’s Piazza from the 16th to 19th June.

The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly the new Fiat 500 150th Limited Edition – a car that is the distillation of 150 years of Italian spirit. It’s a Limited Edition in every way too, seeing as we’ve only made 28 of them in a choice of three great colours: Bossa Nova White, Pasadoble Red or Funk White.

From first glance, it’s clear that the 500 150th Limited Edition is a celebration. Starting with the commemorative badge on the B-pillar, the commemorative carpet set as well as the unique 150th Limited Edition key ring.

A few other more obvious clues differentiate the 500 150th Limited Edition from its sibling:

  • Five-spoke 15″ sport alloy wheels as opposed to the multi-spoke alloys on the Lounge
  • Body-colour trim treatment as opposed to chrome on the Lounge (bumper inserts and window surrounds). Door handles and exhaust finisher remain chrome.
  • Rear spoiler in body colour
  • Fixed metal roof (no glass sunroof as on the Lounge)
  • Instrument cluster with sporty graphics
  • Sports grey/black cloth interior with special foamed padding

Like its “Lounge” stablemate, the 500 150th Limited Edition comes with the same spirited 1.4 16V engine (mated to a six-speed manual gearbox) that will have you revving for joy thanks to 73,5 kW of power and 131 Nm of torque (at 4250 rpm) on tap.

You’ll be whisked from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10,5 seconds and onto a top speed of 182 km/h. This rapidity is fortunately not mirrored by the fuel consumption – the 500 150th Limited Edition will return very respectable consumption figures of 7,7 L/100km; 5,1 L/100km and 6,1 L/100k in the urban, extra-urban and mixed cycle respectively.

Still sticking with numbers (and remember there’s safety in numbers) it’s worth noting that the 500 150th Limited Edition, like the 500 Lounge, comes standard with traction control, stability control (ESP), hill holder, ABS, EBD, hazard light activation in panic breaking and no fewer than seven airbags including a driver’s kneebag. All of this adds up to yet another number – 5 stars in the EuroNCAP test.

What’s a celebration without music? The 500 150th Limited Edition (also the 500 Lounge) comes standard with radio/CD/MP3 as well as Fiat’s Blue&Me system which allows for hands-free functioning with voice control and incorporates a USB port for your listening pleasure. On top of this you get a leather steering wheel (and matching leather gearknob) with integrated audio/telephone controls.

And, just by way of a reminder don’t forget some of the other standard niceties the 500 150th Limited Edition shares with its slightly more common stablemate, the 500 Lounge:

  • Dualdrive power steering (with City function)
  • Power windows
  • Fog lamps
  • “Follow me Home” headlights
  • Adjustable headlamps
  • Daytime running lights
  • Trip computer with exterior temperature sensor
  • Remote central locking with programmable autolock
  • Luggage compartment lighting
  • Sun visor with light and courtesy mirror
  • Air conditioning
  • Passenger seat with oddments compartment under the cushion
  • Pocket in passenger seatback
  • Split rear seat with head restraints
  • Isofix attachments for child seats

Pricing, warranty and servicing

  • Fiat 500 150th Limited Edition – R152 480* (incl. VAT & CO2 tax)

Enhancing the ownership prospect, the Fiat 500 150th Limited Edition, as with all other 500s, has 30 000 km service intervals and enjoys full after-sales support in South Africa thanks to a comprehensive parts inventory (housed and distributed in an all-new, state-of-the-art facility) and the back-up of trained technicians at Fiat dealerships countrywide.

Fiat Group Automobiles South Africa offers a three-year / 100 000 km warranty (three years on paintwork and five years on rust anti-perforation) as well as a five-year / 90 000 km service plan which is standard on the 500 Lounge and the new 500 150th Limited Edition.

The Fiat 500s are covered by the AA Fleetcare roadside assistance for 12 months. The service is active 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is available by calling the dedicated toll-free number 0800 223 727.

*Please note that some of the Fiat 500 150th Limited Editions come with a few extra options that will add to the basic price (metallic paint, leather and red brake callipers).


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