2017 Fiat 500 Riva coming to UAE and GCC

The reborn Fiat 500, which debuted in 2007 and has been hugely popular in Europe but has remained externally unchanged since then, is getting a new variant called the 500 Riva. And it’s coming to the UAE and other GCC countries.

The Riva branding comes from an Italian luxury-watercraft maker of the same name, and as such, the limited edition 500 Riva hatchback and convertible models will have wooden detailing to reflect boat construction, such as the gear knob which is carved from solid mahogany and the mahogany dashboard with maple inlays. These superior woods are used to make Riva yachts and normally only used in top-end premium cars. 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.

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. Other details include chrome-plated mirror caps and handles, among several other minor touches. All-new exclusive 20-spoke light alloy 16-inch rims with a blue finish were 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.

Fiat’s 1.4-litre “MultiAir” 4-cylinder engine with 6-speed automatic transmission delivers 100 hp at 6500 rpm and 131 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. MultiAir is an 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. This world-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

The new 500 Riva special series features an extensive range of tech and safety equipment. 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, 3.5mm auxiliary jack or Bluetooth.

The Fiat 500 Riva is coming to the Middle East next year, but an exact date has not been specified.

For current prices and specs, visit the Fiat buyer guide.