Fiat has announced the prices for the cutesy new 500 supermini – and you can bag one on your drive for less than £8,000.

The iconic city car goes on sale in January 2008, with the base ‘Pop’ model – equipped with a frugal 1.2-litre 69bhp petrol engine – priced at just £7,900 on-the-road.

Standard equipment on the Pop model includes ABS brakes, driver and passenger airbags, CD/MP3 player, power steering and electric mirrors.

Sport and Lounge models start at £9,300, and for this price customers get a hands-free media system, air-conditioning and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Sport spec gains a roof spoiler, fog lights, and a sports interior.

Fiat has simplified the 500 range’s price structure – meaning that customers simply start with the 1.2-litre Pop and add £1,400 for a more powerful engine, £1,400 for a higher trim level, or £2,800 for a combination of both.

This means the highest specced 500s – in 1.3-litre or 1.4-litre petrol Sport/Lounge guise – will start from just £10,700.

Fiat has also included an extensive options list, including ESP, metallic paint and parking sensors.

Elena Bernardelli, marketing director for Fiat Group UK, said: “There has been widespread speculation about Fiat 500 prices this year.

“We wanted to create a classless car for everyone, that was not just about being a well-known badge, and with this pricing structure I believe we have introduced a model to the UK that will be within the reach of a wide range of customers.”

The Fiat 500 will go on sale in UK showrooms in January 2008.

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