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25 Nov 2016

Middle East - Fiat 500 Riva, “the world’s smallest yacht”, is a symbol of outstanding Italian beauty

Middle East - Fiat 500 Riva, “the world’s smallest yacht”, is a symbol of outstanding Italian beauty

 

  • The new 500 exclusive special series will be available in the Middle East from 2017.
  • Created from the meeting of two legendary icons in the motoring and nautical worlds.
  • Available as a sedan and a cabriolet, it stands out for its unique appearance and premium materials by Riva.
  • The dashboard is made of real mahogany with maple inlays, the same woods used on Riva yachts.
  • Exclusive details and extensive standard equipment.
  • The first 500 cars sport a numbered limited edition badge that can be personalised by the customer.

 

First launched in 1957, the Fiat 500 played a major role in getting Italy back on the road and quickly become a cult model of which more than four million would be sold. Those were the years of "La Dolce Vita", during which the country rapidly evolved with a new dynamic vigour and enthusiasm. The now legendary 500 went beyond merely meeting the growing need for accessible mobility and expressed the deep-seated zest for life of an entire generation.

 

At the same time, this renewed vitality was also projected by the Aquarama speedboat, an authentic status symbol created by Riva - a legendary brand in the nautical world and the perfect embodiment of elegance and Italian taste - made of premium quality materials and featuring meticulously executed detailing and maximum craft expertise.

 

Now the iconic Fiat 500 combines with the timeless allure of Riva to produce a car that blends the style and design features of both brands - two absolute legends in the worlds of cars and boats meet to create a highly desirable new vehicle that personifies outstanding Italian beauty.

 

The all-new exclusive limited edition 500 Riva, also available as a convertible, was created in partnership with Riva and stands out for its unique appearance and refined details.

 

Style is everywhere you look - the gear knob is carved from solid mahogany and the dashboard, also made of mahogany, has maple inlays. These superior woods, used to make Riva yachts, and normally only used in top-end premium cars are re-interpreted on the 500 Riva through a combination of sophisticated technology and expert crafting.

 

Turn any trip into an exclusive cruise

Fiat 500 Riva drivers can enjoy, on dry land, the same exclusivity of the Aquariva Super yacht - Riva's current icon - along with the accessibility that has made the 500 a global icon. Merging quality materials and unique style, it turns every trip, even on everyday city streets, into an exclusive cruise.

 

The Sera Blue bodywork, an exclusive colour created especially for this limited special series, is one of the most popular offered for the Aquariva Super, Riva's emblematic yacht and successor to the legendary Aquarama. The convertible boasts an exclusive new blue top, while the black of the sedan's panoramic roof makes it especially elegant.

 

Unique details embellish the livery - the mirror caps are chrome-plated, as are the handles and the bonnet trim that emphasises the streamline style of the bonnet, in perfect harmony with Riva boats. A double aquamarine line running along the belt line enhances the soft profile of the 500 and is reminiscent of the beautiful line of a yacht.

 

Finally, the 500 Riva features all-new exclusive 20-spoke light alloy 16" rims with a blue finish specially designed for this series. Riva branding is featured on the wheel arches, the wooden inserts on the side panel and dashboard plus the back of the car.

 

Luxurious comfort on-board

Inside, the central dashboard, crafted from hand-painted mahogany with maple inlay work, offers occupants the luxurious feeling of life on-board, as emphasised by the Riva logo. An innovative engineering process was implemented to make the dashboard - the wood is applied onto an ultralight carbon shell to ensure stability, flexibility and perfect strength over time. The maple inlays are inserted by hand, making each truly unique.

 

Wood, the most natural of materials, meets state-of-the-art technology resulting in absolute excellence, just like on Riva yachts - the perfect combination of ultimate technology and expert craftsmanship. Mirroring the exclusive ambience of the Aquariva Super, the door sills and gear lever knob are carved from solid pieces of mahogany, while an exclusive ivory leather created by Poltrona Frau® was selected for the seats, with ivory stitching in a different tone on the piping. The seat side strips are Sera Blue, as are the profiles of the ivory coloured seatbelts.

 

The remarkable attention to detail can be seen everywhere. The floor mats have been specially created with ivory hems and contrasting Sera Blue stitching, and the boot mat also features a wood insert with Riva lettering.

 

Advanced Powertrain Technology

Fiat's world-class 1.4-litre engine with state-of-the-art MultiAir technology powers the Fiat 500 Riva and reduces emissions while improving fuel economy and power. Delivering spirited driving and well-suited for the 500 Riva's lightweight design and city-friendly size, Fiat's efficient and responsive 1.4-litre MultiAir in-line four-cylinder engine with six-speed automatic transmission and Auto Stick delivers 100 hp at 6,500 rpm and 131 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, provideing the ideal balance between impressive fuel efficiency and spirited performance.

 

The world's first Fully Variable Valve Actuation (FVVA) system on a production engine helps the Fiat 500 achieve 10% greater fuel efficiency and power while simultaneously decreasing CO2 emissions by up to 10% compared to engines without the system. Also known as MultiAir, this innovative intake valve system replaces a traditional overhead cam with four hydraulic solenoids for instantaneous air-fuel adjustment at any time in the engine cycle for maximum efficiency and power.

 

Comfort, safety and infotainment

The new 500 Riva special series features an extensive range of equipment that enhances comfort, safety and infotainment. There are seven airbags, ABS complete with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) Hill Holder (which assists the driver during hill starts) and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) that helps with emergency braking. Also included as standard are automatic air-conditioning, fog lights, LED day-time lights and a personalised TFT screen with aquamarine background and Riva logo.

 

The dashboard also incorporates a 7" (177.8 mm) Uconnect HD touchscreen with tablet effect and HD display, as standard equipment. This system implements a wide range of functions, including Bluetooth hands-free system, voice recognition and FM/AM radio. Multimedia devices can be connected via USB or using the 3.5mm auxiliary jack, and music can be streamed from a compatible smartphone using Bluetooth.

 

 

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