Get hot and spunky this summer!

on our usually not up to scratch roads) the car, now on sale in Europe, Africa and the Americas, offers an entirely different funky experience.
By the way this car is already available in Zimbabwe and is at the Zimoco showroom.
There is actually a hint of sporty flair, in its small compact frame. Point is it’s a spunky vehicle that will surely turn heads as you cruise on the streets of Harare.
The Fiat 500 is a super cute three-door hatchback, perfectly suited to city traffic and the tight confines of urban living, thanks to its short length.
The interior makes an attempt at being cool and mostly succeeds. Funky seating upholstery, body-coloured trim, and an inspiring dash give this car a contemporary look.
The front seating position is quite comfortable for medium-size adults, rear-seat passengers though will have to be short and light weight. I firmly believe that this is a girly girly car . . .
At least the Fiat 500 is fun and useful in the city. With fuel prices going up, small and spunkier cars like the Fiats are bound to make a big impact on the market since they cost less and are cheaper to maintain. Inevitably, the Fiat 500 is likely to be compared to the Mini Cooper, which is not surprising as both boast of being perky and cute, with bug-eyed headlamps and a Cheshire cat-like grin.
At first glance, the 2012 Fiat 500 looks like the European model that was launched in mid-2007. That car, in turn, is a puffed up doppelganger of the original 500 — or Cinquecento, as its Italian owners prefer to call it.
The original 500 isn’t well known to most motorists, but it was solely responsible for getting destitute post-war Italy back on its wheels, as it were, beginning in the late 1950s.
The base Pop trim comes with air-conditioning and a modicum of power features.
Mid-level sport adds its own fascias that include a tuned suspension, some leather bits, fancy alloy wheels and a Microsoft-developed Blue & Me bluetooth interface.
Topping the range is the automatic-only lounge, which looks like the Pop but tosses in some chrome, some leather and a lot other features. All feature the same quirky interior that borrows some of its style — like a high-mounted gear lever surrounded by window switches — from the larger Panda.
Two chair-like seats give a commanding view of the road and the driver gets a mini fold-down armrest.
The second row has enough room for two small adults, while the cargo area offers decent space given the compact dimensions.
The 500 is not “cheap” but affordable — the base model starts at about US$22 000.
Fiat is one of the earliest and grandest names in automobiles, dating from the establishment of Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (FIAT) in 1899.
The 500 is a dinky 1,4-litre four-cylinder that puts out a modest 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft. of torque.
That does not sound like much because, well, it isn’t much, but the 500 tips the scales at a reasonable 2 400lbs, give or take depending on which transmission you choose — a basic five-speed stick or a six-speed automatic.
The 500 offers a pretty decent ride and control on both rutted blacktop and wavy concrete. Its small proportions and an acceptably low torque curve make it feel just about as zippy and fun as it looks.
Also you can style it up in the colours that you like. Have a Paisley printed roof on a pink body if that’s what you want but that will come at an extra cost off course.
All the city girls driving their used ex-Japanese cars will surely go green with envy because not only will you be looking hot, you will be safe in a new economical car with all the up to date safety features. How is that for a statement?
For most buyers, the 500’s cuteness and its urban competencies will strike a chord, as will its bargain basement pricing.
I would opt for the convertible. I like the feeling of the wind blowing in my hair this summer season driving down to Kariba for the weekend with my girls . . .
So buckle up and enjoy. Till next week . . . Happy motoring and “Arrivederci”.

l Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or torque with Fact Jeke on Facebook.