Fiat is taking orders for its 2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition, which celebrates the original Fiat Nuova 500 and will arrive in Michigan dealerships later this spring.
One such dealership is Golling Fiat in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. Mike Golling, studio director for Golling, says it’s a “cool, retro, and unique car.”
“We’ve had a good response with lots of people coming in to inquire about it,” Golling says. “We’ve not gotten any preorders yet because I wanted to make sure we get what we can sell.”
Golling says his dealership will receive only one vehicle, but is sure if the demand is there, Fiat will look to send additional models to dealers.
Suburban Fiat in Ann Arbor will receive only one model as well, although Eric Brower, the dealership’s retail operations manager, says that he expects the automaker to send more in time.
“Many of our customers are excited and are talking about it,” Brower says. “It’s starting to gain traction, and we are excited because our city is a real car town. The 500 ’57 edition is a city car.”
The 500 began as part of a strategy to develop and revamp Fiat’s product range following World War II. The 2014 version comes in white, light green, or celestial blue. It also features a 16-inch retro wheel design that has a wide chromed lip, body-color accent, and the Fiat emblem at its center.
Fiat is also adding a sport-tuned suspension as well as all-season performance tires for improved handling. Inside, the car will have an ivory interior with brown leather seats and a shift boot for the manual transmission.
The vehicle will feature a new 1.4-liter MultiAir engine and C514 five-speed manual transmission, delivering an EPA estimated 31 miles per gallon city and 40 miles per gallon highway.
