Fiat 500S: So pleasingly sporty we didn't want to give it back

Retro? Nope, this one's pleasingly sporty

I know that the retro feel of the 500 is part of its ethos and, having driven the original 17hp version, I feel a lot of affinity for that. However, it’s not a day-to-day car and there is a skill in taking that and bringing it up to date.

It feels modern with satin detailing on the “sports” upholstery, with the 500S logo embroidered into the seat back and what Fiat calls “a sports gear knob”.

Perhaps the most up to date thing about the 500s is the all-electronic dashboard, which has a round seven-inch TFT digital instrument display, developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli. The layout and execution of the speedometer, rev counter and trip computer is an analogue of the mechanical versions. Being digital, it can change to show the gear shift indicator; highly visible warning messages; and more detailed media player, telephone and navigation information readouts, including junction graphics and real-time traffic updates.

The car has a “sport” button which as well as improving throttle response, changes the display. In the standard mode you get all kinds of green stuff but switch to sport and you get a turbo boost meter and the g-forces for braking, turning and acceleration.

That multi-function display in full.

It is the engine which is special and this is a new implementation of the TwinAir Turbo, with the exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head and a Start&Stop fuel-saving system. Like the Ford this can be disabled, but I only found one instance when it was a problem.

As I pulled up at some traffic lights the engine stopped but at the same time the lights changed and I found that as the engine was in the process of stopping it wasn’t there just as I wanted to move off. It was only a momentary blip and certainly not dangerous.