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In October you mentioned in reply to DK of Stratford that the 2010 model year FIAT 500 would come with improved suspension. I have a 500 on order from a main dealer, due for delivery in October, but now put back to December. I called the dealer to ensure that this would be the latest model and they had no knowledge of any suspension changes to the FIAT 500. However, they did confirm that my car was coming direct from the factory. They also said that suspension changes had been introduced to the Punto. Could you clarify please?

Asked on 2 January 2010 by K.H., Fyfield

Answered by Honest John
The original suspension on the FIAT 500 is very crude. Basically the same as the Panda's with stiff springs and a twist beam between the two rear trailing arms. When Ford used the 500 as the basis for the Ka, it inserted a torsion bar into the rear twist beam, softened the rear springs and installed progressive rate rear dampers. These improvements were adopted by FIAT for the 500 Abarth and then for the 500C and were promised for 2010 500 production. I asked another reader who took delivery in mid October to check and his car still had the old suspension. I think the new suspension may come as a package with ESP and a price hike.

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