2015 FIAT 500 to debut at New York.

What's New

For the 2015 model year, Fiat has decided to switch up its lineup and bring new features to the table. The automaker will introduce a new advanced instrument panel with a 7-inch TFT (thin film transistor) cluster display. This will allow drivers to monitor speed, fuel, and trip info. Slip the car into Sport mode, and that same display offers a more aggressive appearance. Expect this feature to be standard on all Fiat 500 models, excluding the Pop.

For the first time, Fiat will be offering an automatic transmission on 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio models. This specially-tuned automatic transmission maintains the high-performance of the manual transmission, but delivers that performance to a wider customer base. To keep the level of performance at its peak, Fiat has reinforced the transmission with more clutch plates and a better heat treatment to allow for higher torque capabilities.

Who It's For

If you enjoy a small, peppy car with plenty of personality, the new 2015 Fiat 500 is the ideal choice. It offers great fuel economy, is small enough to go almost anywhere, but it offers a level of performance not many of its competitors can match. The Abarth ups the ante this year, going from a more aggressive version of the popular 500 to a toned down, but still enjoyable version with the addition of the six-speed auto. We were big fans of the Abarth when we had it in, but a manual transmission may not be for everyone. With the addition of the new transmission, Fiat will no doubt bring in more customers looking for a compact car that breaks from the mundane and offers an exciting driving experience.
Key Features

• Here's what we're liking on the 2015 Fiat 500 and 500 Abarth
• New infotainment system that changes with the drive modes
• Automatic transmission on the Abarth, offering a wider appeal
• New exterior colors, redesigned center console and cup holders, and Bluetooth streaming audio

What Automotive.com Thinks

Fiat has been making some waves here in the States with its sporty and efficient lineup of compacts. While they may not be all that sensible when looking at the price, the performance and driving enjoyment make up for that in spades. We had the chance to get behind the wheel of the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio, and we can't remember having that much fun. Although we may be biased when it comes to manual transmissions, if Fiat can make the driving characteristics anything like what we experienced during our short time in the Abarth, we have a feeling that the automaker's audience will widen and the new automatic transmission will be an instant hit.

REPORT HERE