The Fiat 500 is being
commercialised with the option of a matt-black paint
finish, the second Fiat Group Automobiles model after
Lancia's Delta to be made available in the showrooms
with this popular new treatment. Dubbed the "500
Blackjack", the new special series also becomes the
first car in A-segment to be offered with an opaque matt
paint finish treatment that has to be applied through a
detailed painting process.
To be marketed from
September across key European markets (in the UK it will
be sold over the internet through a new initiative) the
500 Blackjack is also being unveiled through the web.
For the Italian market the pricing has been confirmed at
18,350 euros on-the-road car's when fitted with the
range-topping 95 CV Multijet II engine and featuring a
red "Frau" leather interior, another first for a
vehicles from the "city car" segment.
The distinctive
exterior matt paint finish will be complemented by
certain detailing in a polished gloss black, including
the front bumper finisher inserts, the door mirror
supports and housings, the front quarterlight corner
pieces and the doors' kick plates. On top of this the
500 Blackjack will come with black 16-inch alloy wheels
with red framework (and in the case of the 100 CV 1.4
litre engine option, with red brake calipers). Inside,
the "black" theme is replicated, with a dark cabin
environment highlighted by burnished silver seams on the
steering wheel and gearshift knob. The seats can be
specified in red or black.
The new 500 Blackjack will be available with all the
engines associated with the 500's range combined with
manual or Dualogic transmissions, including the
brand-new 2-cylinder 85 CV (900 cc) "TwinAir" unit. The
other two petrol engines available are the 1.2 69 CV and
the 1.4 100 CV while the turbodiesel 1.3 16v Multijet II
with 95 CV completes the powerplant options. The new "TwinAir"
(85 CV) offers the lowest levels of CO2 emissions from a
production gasoline engine (92 g/km with the robotised
Dualogic transmission or 95g/km with manual
transmission) without compromising performance and
driving enjoyment.
The three-years-old-this-month Fiat 500 has already
given rise to a string of special edition versions,
without even mentioning the separated Abarth brand's
tuning programme for the 500, and most recently, the
500C. The special series models kicked off with the
Italian fashion-inspired 500 by Diesel (unveiled in
September 2008) and also includes the distinctive colour-themed
500 Pink (June 2009), the innovative convertible 500C
(July 2009), the 500C by Diesel (June 2010) and, in the
showrooms in just two month's time, the ground-breaking
500 TwinAir. And now comes the exclusive special series
500 Blackjack.
