America’s 2018 Fiat 500 Gains Updated Styling And Standard Turbo Engine

Fiat 500 sales have taken a nosedive in recent years and the company is hoping to reverse that trend by making a turbocharged engine standard on all models except the 500e.

Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the second quarter, the 2018 Fiat 500 comes equipped with a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder engine that produces 135 hp (101 kW) and 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a five-speed manual transmission but a six-speed automatic is also available.

The turbocharged engine is a significant improvement over the previously standard four-cylinder which produced 101 hp (75 kW) and 97 lb-ft (132 Nm) of torque.

Besides the upgraded engine, the Pop and Lounge variants now come with body-color fascias, a ground effects package, and a rear spoiler. The models also have fog lights and “Turbo” badging on the liftgate. Other highlights include a sport-tuned suspension, a performance braking system, a rearview camera, and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Moving up to the 500 Abarth rewards buyers with an upgraded 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that produces up to 160 hp (119 kW) and 183 lb-ft (247 Nm) of torque. The model also has a performance suspension, a dual exhaust system, and a three-mode electronic stability control system with a torque transfer control function that “maximizes throttle performance during on-throttle cornering.”

The 500L enters the 2018 model year with redesigned fascias, updated wheels, and a standard rearview camera. The cabin also sees some minor revisions including an improved center console, an additional USB port, and new LED ambient lighting. There’s also a TFT display in the instrument cluster and a 7-inch Uconnect 4 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

The 2018 Fiat 500X largely carries over as the only change is the addition of the previously mentioned Uconnect 4 infotainment system.

Lastly, the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider receives “more flexible package content” and an all-new Red Top Edition which is based on the mid-level Lusso.