With its 101-horsepower MultiAir 1.4-liter engine, no one will mistake the Fiat 500 for a Ferrari--but that is hardly the point. The goal of the 500 is to make a dash of Italian style affordable for the proletariat. And on that count, it succeeds with a stylish package measuring just 139.6 inches long. Riding on a 90.6-inch wheelbase, the front compartment is spacious. Fiat describes the 500 as having four-passenger capability, but rear-seat legroom would be tight in such a compact package.

Safety did not take a back seat in the 500. In Europe, the Fiat 500 was the first A-segment vehicle to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) adult-occupant-protection rating. When the 2012 Fiat 500 gets its final North American safety grades, it is expected to reside at the top of its class, the mini-compact A-segment.

The Fiat 500 is equipped with a new four-wheel anti-lock disc brake system featuring redesigned front calipers for what is claimed to be best-in-class brake performance. A revised electronic stability control system is