FIAT 500 is also known as Bambino in Australia. Can I say, the 500 is the world’s cutest car? This car features a distinctive retro-look just like the Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI but is substantially cheaper than those cars. If you love to drive performance small car, there is Abarth 500.

Usually, retro-look cars attract the lady owner like the Beetle and Mini. I won't see the 500 or Bambino as exceptional case. The Fiat 500 is a car with more than fifty years of history behind it, offering the best in terms of technology, comfort and environmental friendly. Fiat offers the car in hatchback (500) or convertible (500C) in country like Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia, the 500 is powered by 1.4-litre 4-Cylinders 16V Gasoline Engine with max output of 74kW @ 6,000rpm and a peak torque of 131Nm @ 4,250rpm. For such a small compat car, the car accelerates 0-100km/h in 10.7secs and a top speed of 182km/h. The transmission that mated with the engine comes with option of Manual and Dualogic Transmission (Semi-Auto). Dualogic Transmission is a robotised manual, not a proper auto transmission from Fiat. Overall, this tiny little car only weight at 930kg.

In terms of safety, the Fiat 500 is a safe car too. The car comes with ABS, EBD, 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Traction Control. The braking system comes with all wheels discs brake (Ventilated on the front and Solid for the rear).

That's my quick review for the cute little thing. In Malaysia, the previous distributor of FIAT brought in the 500 into the local market. Unfortunately, the sale wasn’t good and the company had pull out their distributorship. This Fiat 500 was officially priced at RM125k for the 1.4 with Dualogic Transmission.

Moreover, DRB have made a statement on their interest of the Fiat distributorship in Malaysia. It is still initial stage, so let’s hope DRB can make it happen to bring us the Bambino back to the town with a lower price tag.

Meantime, check out the review of Fiat 500 by James May from the Top Gear series.