Fiat Sees the Introduction of the 500S

Sportier bumpers, side skirts and a rear spoiler all make the Fiat 500S stand out from its regular 500 sister. The Satin Graphite paint applied to the 15-inch alloys, door handles and mirrors among other things is certainly a lot more upmarket than the previous generation of Fiat 500.

Also included as standard on this sporty sibling is a chrome tailpipe, front fog lights, tinted rear windows, black front air intakes and a honeycomb grille. Should you want to upgrade your 500S, 16-inch alloys are a must. Their matt-black diamond finish makes them a great addition, and the £200 price tag isn't too much of a drawback.

Inside, black sports seats and a black roof lining give it a somewhat dark ambience, however this isn't too bad given the overall dimensions of the car. The contrasting door panels and seat edges add a touch of colour to the cabin, and can be finished in blue, white or yellow.

When it comes to technology, a 7-inch TFT display comes as standard in place of a conventional instrument cluster. Another 7-inch display is used for the Uconnect infotainment system which features live services, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, auxiliary input, DAB digital radio and AM/FM. For a further £250, a 3D TomTom satellite navigation can be specified.

Add to that another £300 and Fiat will upgrade the audio system to a brand-new BeatsAudio™ setup. It features 7 speakers with a total output of 440 watts.

Severn airbags, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, ESC, Hill Holder and an emergency braking assistance system are all standard safety kit which is great news for a car in this segment of the market, however things like these have become to be the expected norm in recent months.

Don't be fooled by the Fiat 500S's sporty looks, though. It is essentially a Fiat 500, and that's reflected in engine choice. A 69 horsepower 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine sets good foundations for sales, however it's the 0.9-litre 2-cylinder engine that will be of most interest. The 1.2 or the 85 horsepower 0.9 come as standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, with an optional 5-speed automated manual for those who prefer automatic driving. A 6-speed manual is used, however, for the 105 horsepower 0.9-litre engine. It doesn't matter which engine you choose, claimed MPG figures are above 60 across the range. This is true for the only diesel too, which is said to achieve 83.1 mpg. The 1.3-litre MultiJet II produces 95 horsepower yet emits just 89 g/km of CO2.

Pricing for the Fiat 500S is as follows:

• £12,950 - 1.2-litre petrol engine
• £14,250 - 0.9-litre petrol engine (85 hp)
• £14,730 - 0.9-litre petrol engine (105 hp)
• £15,350 - 1.3-litre diesel engine

The regular Fiat 500 starts at £11,050 for entry-level Pop trim. Make that £11,925 for the mid-range Pop Star and £12,950 for top-end Lounge.