The teasing and taunting are over, Fiat has finally released a handful of official images of its new Fiat 500C. That’s ‘C’ for convertible.

The wraps will be taken off the little rag top at the Geneva International Motor Show, which gets underway from the 4th March, 2009. Fiat says the 500C pays homage to the convertible version of the original Fiat 500 (launched in 1957) but benefits from the latest in technology and design, as can be seen in its electric folding roof and spacious interior that still has seats for four adults.

The new 500C is available with the same three power plants that are available in the 500. The 1.3 litre Multijet Turbo Diesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission and the 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre petrol engines, available with either manual or robotized Dualogic transmission.

Tipping its hat to efficiency, the new 500C incorporates a ‘stop-start’ system (Fiat call it Start&Stop), that ensures the engine is only running when it’s needed. If stationary in the 500C, shifting to neutral and releasing the clutch will switch the engine off. Re-starting the engine is a simple case of selecting a gear.

The 500C is a product of the Fiat Styling Centre and is manufactured at the Tichy plant in Poland. It will be available in three colors (ivory, red and black), two of which have been conceived specifically for the 500C, a Pearl Red and a Warm Grey.

Australian market prices and specifications for the Fiat 500C will be announced when local sales start in mid-2010.

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