The Fiat 500 is a retro design inspired by the 500 Topolino which was hugely popular in Europe from the fifties through to the seventies, similar to the original Minis. Abarth tuned 500's were Italy's version of the original Mini Cooper. In that respect it succeeds quite well but because the original 500 didn't have much of a following in North America, the new one doesn't have the same retro appeal it does in Europe.
The 500 also provides the platform of the 2nd gen Ford Ka, another popular European mini car.
