Insider: Fiat 500 Convertible to Premiere at Geneva Show

Fiat 500 ConvertibleThe Geneva Motor Show this March will see Fiat taking the top off its much anticipated 500 Convertible. As you can see in our rendering, unlike the MINI Cooper Cabrio that features a fully retractable rooftop, Fiat chose to retain the standard car's pillars and side windows, and simply fit the 500 Convertible with a folding-back canvas top that covers the roof and the rear glasshouse section. Although this solution does not offer a full drop-top experience, it helps keep the price down and logically, should make the 500 one of the most affordable cabriolets in the market.

The 500 Convertible will arrive in dealerships across Europe by summer 2009. As one would assume, the engine range will be shared with the hatchback version and include 1.2- and 1.4-liter gasoline units and a 1.3-liter turbo diesel.

Stay tuned on Auto Cars 2011 as our insiders are working overtime to bring you first all the world premieres that will take place at the Geneva Motor Show in March.