2003 Fiat Barchetta review

Fiat Barchetta review:

The Bologna show is also the venue for the world premier of the new Fiat Barchetta, the model that represents a happy blend of our great Italian sports tradition and the shape of things to come. The car harks back to a golden age of motoring and brings it right up to the present day.

The style has changed outside and inside, though the underlying attributes of Fiat`s open-topped sports car are unchanged. It still offers the outstanding performance that returns the following figures for the 96 kW (130 bhp) 1.8 16v car with variable valve timing: 200 km/h of top speed and less than 9 seconds to speed from 0 to 100 km/h.
The shape is still young and highly original, with a few extra details that add great impact. The front, for example, is dominated by a new front grille, an enormous horizontal black mouth that makes the model look more aggressive. This impression is reinforced by a bigger exhaust tail-pipe, more up-to-date bumpers at front and rear and foglights as standard throughout the range.

On the outside, the new parts emphasise the dynamism of the model`s design and sporty shape. Inside, the new Fiat Barchetta allows you all the thrills of a genuine sporty drive without compromise and without uncertainty. The end result is one of absolute freedom. The credit also goes to the comprehensive safety equipment package, complete with ABS, airbag and foglights - and a sophisticated Hi Fi system that includes RDS/EON, CD and MP3 file player, electric aerial, 4 speakers and double subwoofer (80 Watts). The subwoofers are located behind the seats to ensure outstanding reproduction even with the top down.

The stylish open-topped sports car also features Titanium-coloured panels, air outlets and door handles. The cloth used for the seats and door handles and the embossing on the facia are also brand-new. The new Fiat Barchetta range comprises three versions and is due to go on sale next spring.

All in all, the Fiat Barchetta is a new driving experience: increasingly adaptable to customers` tastes, increasingly able to anticipate their needs. The level of customisation is further enhanced by an extensive options list. These include: 16" alloy wheels, sideskirts, roll bar and hard top. The hard top offers all the comfort and safety of a closed car and sweeps away the notion that open-topped cars are only for summer.