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Photo of a Fiat Cinquecento

Fiat Cinquecento

704 cc twin lengthwise, fours sideways: two engine layouts in one tiny city car.1

Researched October 25, 2026 from 23 sources

Also called

  • CieniasPolish nickname used in recollections of the model winning buyers' affection.2
  • CienkiPolish nickname used in the story of its climb to the market's top spot in 1997.2

At a glance

0100200
12.3–54 hpPower
01530
13.8–30 s0–100 km/h
0100200
80–158 km/hTop speed
0150300
47–86 N·mTorque
05001,000
675–810 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.357891213

Engine
704 cc twin; 899/903 cc fours; 1108 cc FIRE four; Elettra electric35
Layout
Front-engine, FWD; longitudinal twin, transverse fours13
Gearbox
4-speed (704 cc); 5-speed manual (fours/Elettra); Sporting close ratios135
Built at
Tychy plant, Poland: FSM (1991-1992), Fiat Auto Poland (1992-1998)3
Units built
1,164,525 cars (1991-1998)3

The story

Made to replace the Fiat 126, the Cinquecento offered four seats in a 3.23-meter body on a 2.20-meter wheelbase, with independent suspension at both ends, front discs, side-impact beams and galvanized panels.3

1987: X1/79 production license signed19871992: Elettra keeps a five-speed manual19921993: Auto Europa winner · 903 cc becomes 899 cc19931994: FIRE power for the Sporting19941995: Driver airbag joins the options19951996: Gigi Galli wins the Cinquecento Trofeo19961998: 1,164,525 built, then the Seicento1998 Fiat 500: 1957–1975Fiat 500Fiat 126 (126): 1972–2000126Fiat 126 BIS: 1987–1991Fiat Cinquecento (170): 1991–1998170Fiat Seicento: 1998–2010Fiat Seicento 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones3121718
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1957–1975Fiat 500
1972–2000Fiat 126 (126)
1987–1991Fiat 126 BIS
1991–1998Fiat Cinquecento (170)
1998–2010Fiat Seicento
1987X1/79 production license signed
1992Elettra keeps a five-speed manual
1993Auto Europa winner
1993903 cc becomes 899 cc
1994FIRE power for the Sporting
1995Driver airbag joins the options
1996Gigi Galli wins the Cinquecento Trofeo
19981,164,525 built, then the Seicento
  1. 1987

    X1/79 production license signed

    Early-1980s economy-car research led to the X1/79 license in September 1987; FSM's competing Beskid 106 was later dropped after Fiat's takeover.34

  2. 1992

    Elettra keeps a five-speed manual

    The 12.3 hp Elettra kept a five-speed manual and had only two seats. About 100 were built to order through 1996.135

  3. 1993

    Auto Europa winner

    The Cinquecento took the 1993 Auto Europa award.6

  4. 1993

    903 cc becomes 899 cc

    Tax rules cut the four from 903 to 899 cc; single-point injection and a catalytic converter accompanied its 38 hp rating.37

  5. 1994

    FIRE power for the Sporting

    A 1108 cc FIRE four and close-ratio five-speed transformed the Sporting; lowered suspension and 13-inch alloys completed the package.38

  6. 1995

    Driver airbag joins the options

    A driver airbag and front belt pretensioners became optional across the range apart from the ED.9

  7. 1996

    Gigi Galli wins the Cinquecento Trofeo

    Five wins in eight rallies gave Gigi Galli the Italian Trofeo; 1996 also brought the seven-round Sporting Europa series.1011

  8. 1998

    1,164,525 built, then the Seicento

    Production closed with 1,164,525 built. The Seicento replacement kept the basic design and most mechanicals alive until 2010.3

Every generation

  • Fiat 500
    Fiat 5001957–1975
  • Fiat 126
    1261972–2000
  • Fiat 126 BIS
    Fiat 126 BIS1987–1991
  • Fiat Cinquecento
    1701991–1998
  • Fiat Seicento
    Fiat Seicento1998–2010

Power over the years

From 31 hp to 54 hp in 3 years.

0204060 199019921994 hp 1991 · 31 hp · 704 cc ED1991 · 39 hp · 903 cc four-cylinder1993 · 38 hp · 899 cc single-point injection1994 · 54 hp · 1108 cc FIRE Sporting 54 hp 1108 cc FIRE Sporting 31 hp 704 cc ED
389
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
199131704 cc ED
199139903 cc four-cylinder
199338899 cc single-point injection
1994541108 cc FIRE Sporting

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • ED

    Standard

    ED

    31 hp

  • Standard

    SX

  • Standard

    Suite

  • Sporting

    Performance

    Sporting

    1994–1998

    54 hp

  • Special

    Hobby

    1997–1998

    54 hp
  • Soleil

    Special

    Soleil

    1996–1998

  • Special

    Tour de France / Shopping FM

    1996–1997

  • Abarth accessories

    Special

    Abarth accessories

  • Special

    Giannini / Scioneri conversions

  • Special

    ID Cinquecento / Lucciola concepts

    1992–1993

How to spot one

Look for

  • Tiny, upright, box-shaped three-door hatchback.915
  • Long, rectangular blue Fiat badge.79
  • Blunt, rectangular door handles.15

Year by year

  1. 1993–1994 update

    Nose badge shrinks by about 30%; the ED's exposed fuel cap gives way to a body-colored flap.9

  2. 1993–1994 update

    A light-gray dashboard and newer instrument cluster replace the early black dash and 126 Bis-style instruments.7

  3. 1995 S trim

    S gains a two-tone dashboard and Fiat CODE immobilizer.914

  4. 1996 Sporting update

    Red rear-lamp lenses and a smooth tailgate replace the earlier multicolor lamps and crease.1214

  5. Late production

    The two vents below the windshield become a single vent.14

Don’t confuse it with

  • Cinquecento 'Hawaii' (fictional edition)

    Yellow paint is inconclusive: the Sporting's four-spoke alloys, painted mirror caps and red Sporting badge are better checks.15

  • Seicento

    Look for the Cinquecento's crisp edges and simple panels; the Seicento has a fuller, softer restyle.115

Against its rivals

  • Mini Cooper

    Cinquecento vs Mini Cooper

    List price lower is better

    Cinquecento6,195 £
    Mini Cooper7,495 £
    8

  • Cinquecento vs Citroën AX 1.1 Forte

    List price lower is better

    Cinquecento6,195 £
    Citroën AX 1.1 Forte7,465 £
    8
  • Peugeot 106 Rallye

    Cinquecento vs Peugeot 106 Rallye

    List price lower is better

    Cinquecento6,195 £
    Peugeot 106 Rallye9,585 £
    8

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 10 stories from its legend
    • “A5463: 903 cc and up to 65 hp”
    • “37th and 38th at Monte Carlo”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 23 sources
  1. FIAT Cinquecento: The Forgotten 500 (Part 2) – Driven to Write driventowrite.com
  2. Szalona podróż w czasie w MM Cars – Brykacz brykacz.com.pl
  3. Fiat Cinquecento - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. 30 lat FIAT Cinquecento - od śmietnika do Klasyka muzeumskarbnarodu.pl
  5. Le Fiat Elettra. C'erano una volta la Panda e la Seicento elettrica. La storia - Auto elettriche - Automoto.it automoto.it
  6. Home cinquecentovoltepassione.it
  7. Fiat Cinquecento - Forum LANCIA NET forum.lancianet.fr
  8. Never has so little bought so much | The Independent | The Independent independent.co.uk
  9. Fiat Cinquecento - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  10. Quando Fiat Auto Corse aveva il suo Trofeo Monomarca - Rallyssimo rallyssimo.it
  11. Gigi Galli Official Web Site - #25 airraidsiren.it
  12. Fiat Cinquecento Sporting (1994-1998) : mini-taille, maxi-plaisir, dès 1 400 € caradisiac.com
  13. Fiat Cinquecento 1.1i cat Hobby: prezzo e scheda tecnica - Automoto.it automoto.it
  14. buying a cinq | FIAT Cinquecento / Seicento | The FIAT Forum fiatforum.com
  15. The Late Film: Mistaken Identity – Driven to Write driventowrite.com
  16. The Lucciola is a youthful and dynamic car destined for leisure use italdesign.it
  17. Fiat 500 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. Fiat 126 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  19. Fiat Cinquecento group A (1992) - Racing Cars tech-racingcars.wikidot.com
  20. juwra.com  |  Rallies - Rallye Monte Carlo 1995 final results juwra.com
  21. Gran Turismo 2: le 5 auto italiane mai più apparse nella serie - News - Automoto.it automoto.it
  22. Fiat Cinquecento (1991-1998) - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  23. Fiat Cinquecento caradisiac.com
  • driventowrite.com
  • brykacz.com.pl
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • muzeumskarbnarodu.pl
  • automoto.it
  • cinquecentovoltepassione.it
  • forum.lancianet.fr
  • independent.co.uk
  • it.wikipedia.org
  • rallyssimo.it
  • airraidsiren.it
  • caradisiac.com
  • fiatforum.com
  • italdesign.it

Photo credits

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