Is this a Fiat 500T for the US?

It’s rumoured a Fiat 500T is about to launch in the USA, and we perhaps have the first look in a new Fiat 500 commercial.

Even though we’re living in a car world that’s more global in its offerings than ever before, there are still significant differences between offerings in different markets.

The Fiat 500 in the US offers an Abarth in its range, but just so the colonials don’t get confused it’s badged as the Fiat 500 Abarth rather than Abarth 500. A small difference.

But a bigger difference is that the Americans don’t get the bog standard 500 Abarth we get in Europe, instead they get what we think of as the 500 Abarth EsseEsse with a more appealing 160bhp – up 25bhp on the regular Abarth.

But the thinking is that having the EsseEsse version of the 500 as the standard Abarth offering in the US is missing a trick as it makes the Abarth a more expensive offering than it would be in standard Euro guise.

So the rumour is that Fiat will introduce a new 500 in the US with the power of the Euro Abarth and stick a Fiat 500T badge on it to mop up sales from those interested in a hot little 500 in the US but who don’t quite have the budget for the range-topping Abarth.

That rumour has been brought in to focus by a new commercial for the Fiat 500 which shows a pile of Fiat 500s diving in to the sea in Italy and appearing out of the sea in New York. As the 500s arrive on US soil we see what is thought to be a 500T driving off in to the wilds of Brooklyn.

Whether or not this is actually a Fiat 500T for the US market has no bearing on the 500 range in the UK, but whatever the outcome of this ‘spot’ is, the advert is worth a watch anyway.