This Aria will be music...

This Aria will be music to the ears of eco-friendly drivers! Hot on the heels of the sporty Abarth – revealed in Issue 1,000 – comes this green Fiat 500.

Thanks to its frugal diesel engine and stop-start technology, the Aria emits only 98g/km of CO2 – which is 13g/km less than the least-polluting model in the current line-up.

The Aria will debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show billed as a concept, but Auto Express can reveal its features are set to be available in UK dealers before the end of the year.

Under the 500’s stubby bonnet is a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel, fitted with a particulate filter to cut emissions. It is mated to Fiat’s Dualogic robotised manual box, which has been specially tuned to optimise fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust fumes. The show car also has Stop&Start technology which cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary. This works with the clever transmission to improve economy by 10 per cent over the normal 1.3-litre diesel.

A spokesman for Fiat told us - “The Aria is a truly attainable eco-friendly car. It shows what can be done using real-world solutions that don’t cost a fortune.” Yet the environmental touches aren’t restricted to the mechanicals – inside, the floor of the Aria is covered in rubber recycled from old car tyres. What’s more, the seats are trimmed in pre-used leather, while some of the fixtures and fittings are produced from natural fibres.