The Greatest Small Car in the World: Fiat 500 TwinAir

As you hear that noise, it's the sound of the greatest small car in the world, and not that one – no, this one. If you put a hundred people in a room and ask them to name the world's great small car, I'm guessing about 99 would automatically just say Mini. But what wouldn't? That title has always belonged to the original Fiat 500, also known as the Nuova Cinquecento, which went on sale in 1957 – that was before the Mini was anything more than a glint in Alec Issigonis's eye. The Fiat 500 was designed by none other than Dante da Costa himself, and what came out of his mind was a family car about the size of a baking tray, yet it would still seat four people comfortably.

This tiny car became the quickest, most efficient, and fun way to cut through the traffic of Milan, Turin, and Rome – an invention that probably still is today. What gave it its real charm, however, was the offbeat thrum of its tiny two-cylinder engine. Now, over 50 years later, Fiat has built another one – only they could market a car with two cylinders as a good thing these days. But as we shall see, this new two-cylinder 500 TwinAir is indeed a very good thing.

One key innovation that makes the TwinAir so special is its clever MultiAir electro hydraulic valve system, which reduces pumping losses. Additionally, Fiat has produced an 875 cc engine with more torque than its conventional 1.4-liter sister – and thanks to its 84 horsepower, it still delivers performance that's not far off from its bigger sibling. What's even more impressive is how much more fuel-efficient the TwinAir is: stretching out an extra 20 miles per gallon of fuel and boasting an emissions rating of just 95 grams per kilometer – a clean record for any non-hybrid petrol engine on the market.

In contrast, the old Fiat 500 engine was later upgraded to produce a significant amount of power, all the way from 13 horsepower to 16.5 horsepower. Still, despite these upgrades, the original 500 became loved by everyone who drove it – likely because of its rear-engine layout on an 1800 mm wheelbase that weighed less than a Caterham R500. Unlike many modern cars, you won't get bored driving an old Fiat 500; in fact, it will keep you so busy – thanks to the suspension's tendency to throw you all over the road, steering that could have been plucked straight from a cart, and a gearbox with no synchromesh. And as for the brakes? Well, they're not exactly top-of-the-line either.

However, there is one thing you absolutely don't want to do in this car: slow down. Because once you start slowing down, you'll be forced to speed up again – an experience that's both difficult and utterly frustrating. In contrast, the new Fiat 500 TwinAir is a very different proposition. It has double the weight and five times the power of its predecessor, yet it still feels like a car that could easily pass as a Rolls-Royce. Yet, despite these upgrades, there is something missing from this new 500 – a sense of connection with the machine that was so integral to the experience of driving an old Fiat.

This sense of connection comes down to how well the car handles and rides. Unfortunately, the TwinAir doesn't quite live up to expectations in either department. It's not exactly a fun car to drive, particularly when it comes to navigating corners or handling road bumps. As such, it has to rely on its charm and that new engine to get people's attention – a strategy that seems to be working. But despite the TwinAir's shortcomings, there is still something undeniably appealing about it – perhaps because of the way a two-cylinder engine brings a fresh perspective to this classic design.

In conclusion, while the Fiat 500 TwinAir may not be the perfect car, it's certainly another great small fit from a long line of great small cars. Whether or not it lives up to expectations is something that depends on individual tastes and experiences – but if you're looking for a fun, fuel-efficient ride with plenty of style, the TwinAir might just be the ticket.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enyou hear that noise that is the sound of the greatest small car in the world no not that one this one if you put a hundred people in a room and ask them to name the world's great a small car I'm guessing about 99 then would automatically just say mini but what wouldn't and that would be me to me that title has always belonged to the original Fiat 500 the Fiat 500 or nuova cinquecento as it was known at the time went on sale in 1957 that was before the mini was any more than a glint in the eye of Alec Issigonis and it was designed by no less of a genius none other than Dante da Costa himself when he came up with was a family car about the size of a baking tray which would nevertheless seat 4 while at least if you melt 6 foot 4 and became the quickest most efficient and Athiya stand fun way to cut through the traffic of Milan Turin and Rome that had ever been invented probably still is what gave it its real charm was the offbeat thrum of its tiny two cylinder engine and now over 50 years later Fiat build another one only Fiat could market a car with two cylinders as a good thing these days but as we shall see this new two cylinder 500 TwinAir is a very good thing indeed by using its clever MultiAir electro hydraulic valve system to reduce pumping losses and a teeny-weeny little turbo Fiat has produced an 875 cc engine with more torque than its conventional 1.4 liter sister and thanks to its 84 horsepower not a lot less performance but get this it's over 30% more fuel efficient stretching an extra 20 miles out of every gallon of fuel and with the missions of just 95 grams per kilometer is the cleanest non-hybrid petrol engine on the market it makes the old 500 engine look pretty sick to be honest this particular car has been later operated engine in it which raised power all the way from a 13 to 16 and a half horsepower naught to 60 times weren't difficult they were impossible but none of this stopped the old 500 becoming loved by all who drove it how does it drive exactly as you'd expect a rear-engine car on an 1,800 millimeter wheelbase weighing less than a Caterham r500 unlike many modern cars you're never going to get bored driving an old 500 it keeps you so busy the suspension throws you all over the road the steering really could have come from a cart the gearbox has no synchromesh and as for the brakes well they're awful but that doesn't really matter because the one thing you don't want to do in this car is slow down because once you slow down you're then gotta speed up again and that's very difficult indeed the new two cylinder Fiat 500 is a very different proposition indeed it has double the weight five times the power and is in fact a very possible everyday car something you'd never be tempted to say about the old one these days in fact after the old 500 this thing feels like something of a rolls-royce but so too is something missing from this new 500 that that sense of connection that sense of being part of the machine that was so integral to the experience of the old 500 fact is the new 500 doesn't ride or handle particularly well is not in those regards a particularly fun car to drive so it has to rely on the charm of its looks and of that new engine to get by funny thing is it gets away with it you wouldn't believe what a new dimension a two cylinder engine can bring to the 500 and it's one that appeals equally to the head or to the heart know the chassis is not up to much but the car itself I found myself really enjoying is it a worthy successor to the original 500 no of course not but it's not that kind of car but is it's another great small fit from that great long line of great small fits yeah I'd say soyou hear that noise that is the sound of the greatest small car in the world no not that one this one if you put a hundred people in a room and ask them to name the world's great a small car I'm guessing about 99 then would automatically just say mini but what wouldn't and that would be me to me that title has always belonged to the original Fiat 500 the Fiat 500 or nuova cinquecento as it was known at the time went on sale in 1957 that was before the mini was any more than a glint in the eye of Alec Issigonis and it was designed by no less of a genius none other than Dante da Costa himself when he came up with was a family car about the size of a baking tray which would nevertheless seat 4 while at least if you melt 6 foot 4 and became the quickest most efficient and Athiya stand fun way to cut through the traffic of Milan Turin and Rome that had ever been invented probably still is what gave it its real charm was the offbeat thrum of its tiny two cylinder engine and now over 50 years later Fiat build another one only Fiat could market a car with two cylinders as a good thing these days but as we shall see this new two cylinder 500 TwinAir is a very good thing indeed by using its clever MultiAir electro hydraulic valve system to reduce pumping losses and a teeny-weeny little turbo Fiat has produced an 875 cc engine with more torque than its conventional 1.4 liter sister and thanks to its 84 horsepower not a lot less performance but get this it's over 30% more fuel efficient stretching an extra 20 miles out of every gallon of fuel and with the missions of just 95 grams per kilometer is the cleanest non-hybrid petrol engine on the market it makes the old 500 engine look pretty sick to be honest this particular car has been later operated engine in it which raised power all the way from a 13 to 16 and a half horsepower naught to 60 times weren't difficult they were impossible but none of this stopped the old 500 becoming loved by all who drove it how does it drive exactly as you'd expect a rear-engine car on an 1,800 millimeter wheelbase weighing less than a Caterham r500 unlike many modern cars you're never going to get bored driving an old 500 it keeps you so busy the suspension throws you all over the road the steering really could have come from a cart the gearbox has no synchromesh and as for the brakes well they're awful but that doesn't really matter because the one thing you don't want to do in this car is slow down because once you slow down you're then gotta speed up again and that's very difficult indeed the new two cylinder Fiat 500 is a very different proposition indeed it has double the weight five times the power and is in fact a very possible everyday car something you'd never be tempted to say about the old one these days in fact after the old 500 this thing feels like something of a rolls-royce but so too is something missing from this new 500 that that sense of connection that sense of being part of the machine that was so integral to the experience of the old 500 fact is the new 500 doesn't ride or handle particularly well is not in those regards a particularly fun car to drive so it has to rely on the charm of its looks and of that new engine to get by funny thing is it gets away with it you wouldn't believe what a new dimension a two cylinder engine can bring to the 500 and it's one that appeals equally to the head or to the heart know the chassis is not up to much but the car itself I found myself really enjoying is it a worthy successor to the original 500 no of course not but it's not that kind of car but is it's another great small fit from that great long line of great small fits yeah I'd say so\n"