2012 Fiat 500C Convertible -White image car

The second Fiat 500 model has hit America: The 500C, an open-air version of the relentlessly adorable three-door hatchback. Its beachhead is the New York auto show.
It’s not a true convertible, but more a mega-sunroof version in the spirit of the original Cinquecento. Here, the double-layer cloth top and glass rear window pile back on top of the small liftgate, leaving the roof rails in place; in a neat trick, the CHMSL integrated into the top’s trailing edge is still visible as part of the stack. The roof can be completely retracted at vehicle speeds of up to 50 mph—and slid back to the C-pillar up to 60 mph—so dropping the top need not delay arrival to your next bunga bunga party.
Much the Same
The Toluca, Mexico–assembled 500 Cabrio is only available in entry-level Pop and uplevel Lounge trims—there’s no Sport edition as with the hatch—making this one utterly about style. But beyond the unavailability of the Sport’s interior and exterior baubles, sportier seats, and invigorated steering and suspension, most everything else is regular 500. The C should then deliver the same driving experience, a nice balance between relaxed personality and eager-to-please handling.
Underhood you’ll find the 500 hatch’s single-overhead-cam 1.4-liter MultiAir four with the same 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque, bolted to the identical five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions (the former has U.S.-specific ratios and the latter is an American-market exclusive). The 500C Pop is available with either transmission, while the Lounge is all automatic, all the time. Fuel economy is largely unchanged from the hatchback’s, with only the automatic’s highway rating dropping by 2 mpg. The 500C is expected to return 30/38 mpg with the manual and 27/32 with the automatic.
Curb weights for the 500C tick upward by about 50 pounds, which should put it over the 2500-pound mark on our scales. Blame the top mechanism and the reinforced crossmember in the windshield header; the latter requires a slightly longer windshield than the regular 500’s to, as Fiat puts it, “elegantly conceal” the bracing. The retractable roof has benefits for rear-seat passengers, who not only get the wind in their hair with it pulled back, but an additional 1.2 inches of headroom with it in place. The other notable numerical shift occurs in the cargo area, where the 500C’s tiny hatch raises to reveal just 5.4 cubic feet of storage, down from the regular car’s already-meager 9.5. At least access is easy, as the roof stack shifts out of the way when the liftgate is raised with the top retracted.
Any Way You Want It
The 500C still seats four and is as customizable as the three-door, with three top colors, 12 interior upholstery and trim combos, and 14 exterior paints. Further personalization through whimsical graphics is of course on the menu; put it all together, and Fiat says there are more than half a million possibilities. Voice-activated Bluetooth is standard, and it can power an optional dockable TomTom nav unit. Other available features include heated front seats, upgraded audio, leather, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a wind blocker, among other items. The 500C also gets four 15-inch wheel designs, one made of steel (with hubcaps) and three from aluminum.
The 500C arrives in American dealers imminently with a base price of exactly $20,000. We suggest you find a suitable cravat.
More 2012 500C pricing details are available here.