This is the 500C, Fiat's off-kilter riposte to the MINI Convertible. As four-wheeled fashion trinkets go, this is probably about the most fashionable there is - but you'll note that the Italians have unveiled a distinctly different take on the open top city car to the Anglo-Teutons over at MINI.

Fiat has taken inspiration from the original 500C and left the roof pillars intact, rather than going down the conventional convertible route. So, the roof slides electrically down tracks above the pillars and concertinas at the rear, meaning boot and passenger space isn't eaten into like rivals' open top efforts. A brake light is incorporated into the cloth top too.

Other than that it's business as usual, so the little C gets the same trio of engines as the hatch - 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol units with 69bhp and 100bhp respectively or a 75bhp 1.3-litre diesel. It also gets the just-introduced Start&Stop technology to bring emissions down a little in traffic queues. The Dualogic robotised auto gearbox is available alongside the standard five-speed manual.

The 500C's folding USP comes in three hues - ivory, red and black - and you can specify it on top of two unique bodywork colours: brilliant red and warm grey - the latter a contradiction in terms if ever there was one.

The Fiat 500C will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in spring. No word on pricing yet, but expect a healthy increase over an equivalent hatch.

Mark Nichol - 16 Feb 2009