30-12-2002:
Repeated failure of clutch hydraulics of 500C TwinAir from new to 4500 miles.
13-08-2013:
Report of manual gearbox failure on 66k mile 2009 500C. Quoted £3500 to replace.
12-09-2013:
PAS failure on 20 month old 500C.
20-06-2014:
If you need a new windscreen for a 500C, be careful to specify that it is a 500C that has the radio aerial incorporated into the windscreen, and not a 500 that doesn't and has a separate antenna.
06-05-2015:
Sunroof mechanism jammed on 4 year old 500C. Fiat dealer quoted £2,500 to repair it. Recommended to Bristol Sunroofs.
03-10-2015:
Failure reported of boot lid wiring loom on 2010 FIAT 500C. Not the same corrugated rubber tube as on a 500 hatchback.
28-06-2016:
TwinAir engine extremely oil sensitive. Wrong oil can destroy MultiAir system replacement of which costs £1,200.
17-10-2017:
Strange complaint of airbag of 2012 FIAT 500C partially inflating on passenger side to the extent that the dash covering was raised, but the airbag did not break through.
06-12-2017:
Broken rear window of Abarth 500C resulted in insurance bill of £2,000 for entire new roof, plus fitting, plus VAT.
01-01-0001:
Report of timing chain failing on a 64 reg FIAT Panda Cross TwinAir at 22,804 miles. Some doubt about service regime. The reason turned out to be that it had run out of oil. VITAL to regularly check the oil level of a FIAT TwinAir engine. Important to idle the engine to ensure oil flow through the turbo before switching off after running on the motorway, after a long ascent, or after running at high revs.)
17-08-2018:
Report of alternator repeatedly failing on recently purchased used FIAT 500C 1.4 100HP.
20-08-2019:
Report of actuator trouble with recently purchased FIAT 500C 1.2 at 20,000 miles. Keeps flashing check transmission warning light and message and fails to change up the gears repeatedly without resorting to manual.
March 2009
Worldwide preview of Fiat 500C
Featuring an innovative soft top – an unrestricted window to the sky – the new 500C is exactly the same size as the basic model (3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m), and utilises the same three powerplants: 1.3 litre 75 hp MultiJet Turbodiesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, and the two 1.2 litre 69 hp and 1.4 litre 100 hp petrol engines, available with either manual or robotised Dualogic transmission.
The new 500C incorporates the company’s recently announced Start&Stop system, an innovative device which initiates engine shutdown and subsequent re-ignition. To this end, at every complete stop, when shifting to neutral and releasing the clutch, the engine is switched off, and then restarted simply by selecting a gear.
The soft top of the Fiat 500C stands out for its refined electrically operated linkage and engineering solutions of great quality and finish, such as the glass rear window and the built-in centrally positioned high mounted stop light. Available in three colours (ivory, red and black), this original soft top will be matched with several body colours, two of which have been conceived specifically for the new car in a brilliant Pearl Red and a special Warm Grey.
Thanks to the adoption of the innovative sliding soft top combined with a design concept which retains the vehicle’s all-round protection, the Fiat 500C offers a delightful motoring experience at any time of the year. All told, its many special features make this new car one of the best equipped cabriolet models currently available in the city-car segment.
Full price list for the Fiat 500 C range is as follows:
- 1.2 Pop £11,300
- 1.4 Pop £12,500
- 1.3 Mjet Pop £12,700
- 1.2 Lounge £12,700
- 1.4 Lounge £13,900
- 1.3 Mjet Lounge £14,100
March 2010
500C Pink launched
Based on 1.2 Pop specification, the Fiat 500C Pink features:
- Special Pink colour
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome trim
- Side rubbing strip with 500 badge
- Body coloured door mirrors
- Leather steering wheel
- Leather gear knob
- Special carpet mats
- Special Pink key cover
- Split folding rear seat
- Blue&Me infotainment
With an on the road price of £13,500 – the 500C Pink costs £1,200 more than a regular 1.2 Pop convertible, yet includes £1,870 worth of extra equipment.
August 2010
500C by Diesel announced
Based on the Fiat 500C Lounge specification, the by DIESEL comes with a choice of 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol, and 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines. Also available in Crossover Black and DIESEL Green, there’s the option of black, ivory and red soft top colours. Spec includes
- 16-inch special alloy wheels with DIESEL logo
- Brake callipers painted yellow (optional on 1.4 version only)
- Specific burnished-metal-finish front and rear bumper inserts
- Specific burnished-metal-finish side rubbing strips
- Specific burnished-metal-finish door handles and mirrors
- Unique side pillar moulding embossed with the word DIESEL
- Unique rear moulding with the DIESEL logo
- Special DIESEL branded upholstery in denim fabric and yellow stitching
- Specific leather steering wheel with yellow stitching
- DIESEL logo on the gear lever knob
In line with the Fiat 500C Lounge version, the 500CbyDIESEL will also be fitted with automatic climate control and rear parking sensors as standard. Prices for the Fiat 500CbyDIESEL start at £14,865 OTR for the 1.2-litre version and rise to £16,265 OTR (1.4-litre) and £17,265 OTR (1.3-litre MultiJet).
June 2011
500 TwinAir became a separate 500 model
The 500 TwinAir is enhanced by black alloy wheels, burnished metal effects on dashboard and front and rear mouldings, spoiler, chrome exhaust pipe and sports seats.
The TwinAir range comes in both 500 (hatchback) and 500C (convertible) versions and will only be available in vibrant colours such as Pearlescent Red, Tropicalia Yellow and Electroclash Grey. A special colour, Midnight Black, is available only on the TwinAir Plus model.
TwinAir:
- Sporty looking mouldings and metallic effect dashboard
- Sport kit (chrome exhaust pipe, spoiler)
- Sport seats
- Black interior surround
- 15-inch matt black alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
TwinAir Plus:
- 16-inch matt black alloy wheels
- Automatic climate control instead of air conditioning
- Blue&Me
- Sport leather steering wheel with eight commands
- Leather gear knob
- Dark tinted windows
- Body coloured door mirrors
October 2016
Fiat 500C Riva announced 500C TwinAir 85 or 105 or 1.3 Multijet trimmed out like a Riva powerboat with white leather, mahogany dash and solid mahogany gearknob. Seems that production cars are not coming through with the mahogany top to the white leather steering wheel.
June 2017
Fiat 500 Anniversario launched
To celebrate the 60th birthday of the Fiat 500 a new special series, the Fiat 500 Anniversario, has been launched
The Fiat 500 Anniversario is available as a hatchback or a convertible and honours the 1957 Italian-made icon with a contemporary re-interpretation of the stylistic features that made it famous in the Dolce Vita years.
This new special series has a sixties look that references some of the key historic characteristics of the car, such as the two new exclusive colours, Sicilia Orange and Riviera Green, the chrome accents on the bonnet and door mirror caps, the vintage Fiat logos and the 16-inch vintage alloy wheels.
An alternative 16-inch diamond finish alloy wheel is also available, as a no cost option, offering a modern take on the spokes of classic car wheels. Inside, the new seats channel the retro style with horizontal striped fabric, contrast piping in body colour and an embroidered 500 logo, while the body-coloured dashboard and "Anniversario" embroidered floor mats complete the look.
With automatic climate control, cruise control and rear parking sensors as standard, customers can also specify the optional Tech Pack, which includes the 7-inch TFT instrument panel, the Uconnect 7-inch HD LIVE radio, Apple Car Play and Android AutoTM, and satnav on request.
Available in combination with the 1.2-litre 69PS petrol engine, the Fiat 500 Anniversario returns 60.1mpg on the combined cycle, emitting just 110g/km CO2, combined with the Dualogic gearbox this reduces to 105g/km CO2, while returning 62.8mpg.