Americans love their big, brawny muscle cars. Europeans have a similar affection for tiny vehicles that graduated their owners from two to four wheels. In Italy, the most-loved was Fiat's 500, manufactured from 1936 to 1948 and affectionately known as the Topolino or "Little Mouse." It had a diminutive 4-cylinder engine, two seats, a roll-back canvas roof; the latter well-suited to the warm Italian climate. The Fiat 500(Cinquecento in Italian) was an instant success and is regarded as one of the great designs of automotive history.

An all-new Fiat 500 has just made its debut on the 50th anniversary of the original. The new-age version goes on sale immediately and, as Autoblog reports (with multiple photos), "pays homage to its predecessor in glorious retro style. The little Polish-built 3-door will bow with a 1.3L 16-valve turbodiesel good for 75 horses, a 69-horsepower 1.2L 8v four, and a 1.4L 16-valve good for 100 hp. A hopped-up Abarth version is well into development."

Fiat has been long absent from the North American scene but its Ferrari and Maserati brands are doing well here and will soon be joined by Alfa-Romeo. With gas prices soaring and a new appreciation of a small car's charms, this is the ideal moment for an Italian Renaissance on our shores. Bring on the 500! Chiao.