View more pictures of the Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is one of the hottest cars of 2008.

Even before it has hit UK streets the Fiat 500 has attracted a host of awards and thousands of orders.

It will be launched in the UK next week but you can find out exactly what it is like to drive with our Fiat 500 car review right now.

The Fiat 500 became a fully fledged car icon after winning the hearts of thousands of Italians after the model was launched in 1957.

It achieved worldwide fame through its combination of super city driving and great design and turned heads long after production ceased in 1975.

So when Fiat announced a return for the model which was last year voted the sexiest car of all time, ahead of Ferraris, Aston Martins and all manner of supercars, it prompted huge interest and thousands of pre-orders.

Fiat does a 'Mini'

And like everyone else we couldn’t wait to find out whether Fiat had “done a Mini” and taken a car icon from a bygone era and made it relevant to modern motoring while still retaining the spirit of the original.

The UK launch of the car began with a presentation at the Serpentine Art Gallery in Hyde Park and the Fiat 500 parked outside, shimmering beneath spotlights and fairly heavy rain was our first opportunity to see the car in the metal.

As good as it looks in photos it looks even better in real life.

Is it still as cute as a button and packed with personality? You bet it is. The face made familiar to a whole new generation through the character of Luigi in the Pixar animated film Cars still grins back at you as winningly as ever with its short bonnet and distinctive headlights.

The execution of the rear is even better than the front end with chrome tailgate handle, top-hinged tailgate and integrated roof spoiler all adding to the overall effect.

The rear tapers neatly upwards from the flat, rectangular exhaust, looks perky and modern and retains the spirit of the original.

Plus owners can ensure their Fiat 500 stands out with 12 colours and a huge array of styling effects available.

Fully customisable

There are seven alloy wheels, two wheel trim designs, eight sticker kits and 10 badges to choose from, including chequered flag, monochrome stripes, a barcode and the Italian flag.

It all looked very promising for our 100 mile round trip from Greenwich in South East London to Leeds Castle in Kent.

First off we got behind the wheel of the petrol-powered 1.4 Fire 16v Sport model.

There are nine principal variants of the Fiat 500 created by three engines, two petrol and one diesel, and three trim levels, Pop, Sport and Lounge.

All models live up to the styling expectations generated by the car’s exterior with bold statements and neat touches.

The information display consists of a large dial directly in front of the driver which houses the speedo on an outer circle, the rev counter on an inner circle and further digital read-outs within.

The central console houses the audio and climate controls within a stylish dash bearing the same colour as the car’s exterior. The red model we drove first looked striking inside and out though some may prefer to opt for the car’s signature white.

The Sport trim added leather to the steering wheel and a sports interior trim which complemented the overall look well.

Later we drove the Lounge model which aims for a more “lifestyle” look with a cream interior, glass roof and subtle changes to button designs to a more fashion-conscious Fiat 500 buyer.

The gear stick sits below the central console controls next to the electronic window controls and feels substantial and well-positioned.

View more pictures of the Fiat 500

There is plenty of headroom and space in the front though the car’s sloping hatchback meant my 6ft co-driver was a little cramped in the rear.

Both trim levels we tested are well executed and provide a great take on an updated classic.

The car is a four seater and there is 185-litres of boot space. Without passengers, the rear seats flatten to accommodate 550 litres. Boot access is good thanks to the tailgate design though once again the sloping rear needs to be taken into account if you’re planning to shift bulky objects.

Buyers opting for a petrol engine can choose between the 69bhp 1.2-litre version which offers a 0-62mph time of 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 99mph. The 100bhp 1.4-litre model covers 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 113mph.

There is also a 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel model which covers 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of 103mph.

The 1.4-litre petrol model we drove first was responsive, quiet and well matched to its six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.3-litre diesel engine provided more oomph at lover revs. But both are well-suited to city driving while capable of coping with motorway driving.

The five-speed manual gearbox was equally slick and assured.

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