Merkur-Tuning has become the latest tuner to offer an interpretation of an upgrade for the popular Fiat 500, its makeover focuses on the area of body styling additions, exhaust system and the suspension.

Merkur-Tuning has become the latest tuner to offer an interpretation of an upgrade for the popular Fiat 500, and in the case of this German firm, its makeover focuses on the area of body styling additions, exhaust system and the suspension.

Almost all of Europe's leading aftermarket automotive design and tuning houses have rushed to produce a wide raft of body styling and performance upgrades ever since the Car of the Year 2008 award winner arrived in the dealerships a-year-and-a-half-ago. Now the Lichtenfels, Germany-based Merkur-Tuning, which already focuses on Fiat (as well as Peugeot) and produces cosmetic styling kits for models including the Stilo, Punto MkII, Grande Punto, Coupe, Bravo, Bravo, Cinquecento and Seicento, is marketing its own upgrade package for the 500.

Merkur-Tuning's body styling kit for the Fiat 500 includes new overlay spoilers at the front and rear, and a new set of curved wheel arch mouldings. These visual additions are complimented by a new design of polished alloy wheels with unique chromed hub caps that come in either 7.5x16 or 8.5x17 format, and which are fitted with wheel spacers to make them sit proud of the now extended wheel arches. Performance improvements come in the form of a new stainless steel exhaust system that features twin chromed tailpipes, and also adjustable coilover suspension units.