Fiat has just picked up another industry award for its 500 hatchback, adding to its tally of 30 international awards received to date. For the second year in succession, the stylish Italian supermini has just been crowned Best City Car in the 2009 Auto Express New Car Awards. In doing so, Fiat has maintained its remarkable dominance of this rapidly expanding category, as the Panda took the magazine’s City Car title for four consecutive years prior to the 500’s intervention in 2008, and now 2009.

Auto Express, Britain’s biggest weekly car magazine and website, has long recognised the Fiat Panda’s talents, and was equally quick to hail the new Fiat 500 when it was launched in the UK early in 2008. The magazine describes the 500’s second successive City Car title thus: “Its appeal now is stronger than ever. It has an incredible record in our road tests, and the range has now grown to include feisty hot hatches as well as a convertible model.

“Our definition of a top class urban runabout is a model that fits in perfectly with a daily commute, is designed to slot into the tightest city spots and doesn’t make too many demands on your budget. The Fiat 500 scores on all counts. Only a truly special car will be able to take the title from Fiat’s retro masterpiece.” In the Best City Car category this year the 500 and Panda faced opposition from the Citroën C1, Ford Ka, Hyundai i10, Peugeot 107, Smart ForTwo, Suzuki Splash, Toyota Aygo, Toyota iQ and Vauxhall Agila.

Available in the UK with a choice of three different trim levels, and three frugal, ultra-low emissions Euro 5 engines, (69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel), and as a 500C convertible version, the Fiat 500 represents outstanding value at a starting price in the UK of just £8,500 OTR.