Jeremy Clarkson’s second job, after his work with Top Gear, is the editorial of the automobile column of the Times: a hilarious space in the authoritative British daily. We’ve already looked at various articles from this said column (Jaguar XF, Fiat Bravo), but today’s article is a little special, because firstly it shows Jeremy at the wheel of a 500 and secondly because before now, no such test has previously been seen (if we can call it such).

St. Moritz: in front of Clarkson’s eyes run images of the Drophead Coupè, Maybach, Phantom and Audi R8 parked here and there in front of hotels and boutiques. Together with the ML 63 AMG they do nothing but contribute to the supercar panorama which people who come to stay here are used to seeing. A panorama in which to stand out, to show off, you don’t need the series listed above, but something with a little extra touch. “Something more appropriate to the place than Princess Carolina,” to use the words of the Top Gear driver.

And that something is the new Fiat 500, which attracted the attention of stars, magnates and the nobility alike, who can be seen walking on the streets of the Swiss city more frequently these days. “The 500 is the best revival job of recent years, from the new Beetle until now. There’s no comparison to the Mini, as this is more beautiful. The 500 is fantastic.”

So beautiful and inexpensive (nearly 7000 euros less than the Mini) it’s make you forget its faults. And it does have faults. The headlights are too weak, as is the 1.2 petrol engine tried by Jeremy, struggling on steeper slopes. And the wheelbase is hard on the road. This is the real difference to the Mini: which is less a toy and more a car. Jeremy says: “The 500 is a car you can use to get from A to B, as long as B isn’t too far away.” And in the end, the 500 is about space and practicality.

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