All 2018 Fiat 500s will get turbocharged engines

Thu, Feb 8 2018

For 2018, every basic Fiat 500 is getting a healthy horsepower increase thanks to a standard turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder making 135 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. That's a big increase over the current model's naturally aspirated 1.4-liter engine that makes just 101 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. The newly available turbo engine can also be fitted to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

Fiat 500 fans may also find the new turbo engine's specifications familiar, and that's because they're identical to the old Fiat 500 Turbo that was introduced a few years ago. That car was introduced as a sort of happy medium between the standard 500 and the Abarth. The Turbo disappeared for a little while, but will be resurrected as 2018's entry model.

Fiat also says the new turbocharged 500 Pop and Lounge (the basic models) get sportier suspension and brakes than the old one, again similar to the discontinued 500 Turbo. The exterior also becomes more aggressive on both trim levels looking a bit like a toned-down Abarth. And if you've picked up on the theme here, the exterior looks much like the old 500 Turbo's.

Mind you, we're not complaining about Fiat bringing back the Turbo as the entry-level 500. It brings the car closer in parity to the base Mini Cooper, effectively matching it for power, and coming up just 10 pound-feet of torque short in the twist department. And while we didn't find the old 500 Turbo to be nearly as fun as the Abarth, the extra power did make for a better basic Fiat – and so should the 2018s.

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By Joel Stocksdale