The only thing that could possibly make the Fiat 500 any cutesier than it already is – short of a Hello Kitty sticker job – would be to turn it into a convertible. Castagna tried its hand at just that with the unique Tender Two concept, but the latest batch of spy shots indicate that Fiat's own is getting closer to completion. In fact, reports now indicate that Fiat will offer not one, but two different types of convertible Cinquecentos. The one seen in the spy shots is being dubbed the "Cabrio Coach" and features a retro-style targa top, with a solid frame and a cloth folding roof sliding back in between the bodywork frames. The roof style, not unlike the back end of the bizarre Maybach Landaulet at the complete other end of the spectrum, will offer buyers a rigid frame and unmolested lines for the cloth-roofed retro-mini. A second, full convertible version is also expected, while engine options are expected to carry over from the existing model, including the 68hp 1.2-liter eight-valve four, the 100hp 1.4-liter 16-valve four, the 74hp 1.3-liter 16-valve turbodiesel and the upcoming 900cc two-cylinder engine. No telling at this point, however, if an open-air Abarth version is also in the mix.
Remember the old days when relating a car to a boat was a negative thing? The Mercury Villager Nautica Edition certainly didn't do much to convince us otherwise. But those days are long behind us, replaced by Range Rovers designed by naval architects, Volkswagens with poop decks, Audis that require their own crew to dock park and even Rolls-Royces with teak decking, to say nothing of Fiat's own Portofino concept. Castagna has a well established expertise in turning retro hatches into pseudo-runabouts, case in point the new Tender Two, based on the Fiat 500, which we brought you a few days ago. In case you didn't get enough from the solitary initial picture, Castagna has floated us a whole mess of high-res pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Just click on the thumbnails below, but we'd suggest waiting until you get home, because where there are stylish boats, there are bound to be girls in bikinis.
Fiat has confirmed it will be producing a convertible version of the 500 and although a launch date has yet to be announced, Fiat brand styling director Roberto Giolito revealed that the model is on its way... at some point.
Giolito also announced that the 500 cabrio will feature a fabric roof, and not a retractable hard-top, citing improvements in materials that remove many of the drawbacks associated with cloth roofs. The entire Fiat group does not include any hard-top convertibles, although several have been reported to be in the works, including the upcoming Ferrari California. However, the more expensive MINI convertible, which the 500 cabrio will invariably target in the marketplace, also uses a fabric top.
In speaking with a representative at Abath's show stand in Geneva, Autoblog received confirmation that the Fiat performance division its planning its own offering unique from any existing Fiat models. British weekly Autocar is now reporting that Abarth is preparing two new variants, a coupe and a two-seat roadster, but before that will come out with a convertible version of the 500 Abarth.
The Fiat 500 Abarth bowed at the Geneva Motor Show as the brand's second model following the Grande Punto unveiled a year prior, before the SS version debuted in Frankfurt last year. The convertible 500 Abarth is tipped to debut early next year.
