Fiat has released the first pictures of the updated 500, complete with ‘airy glasshouse’ and rear lights that ‘almost look like illuminated tattoos’.

More than 1,800 innovative detail changes have been made, says Fiat, on a car that intends to keep its crown as the high-cost city car of choice. Such an overhaul of minor details has left the styling largely alone, which will be music to the 500 fan club’s ears, although the front does now have rounded LED daytime running lights for a more ‘2016’ look.

It’s also the same size as before, at 3.57m long, 1.63m wide and 1.49m tall, with the signature clamshell bonnet but slightly more angled headlights for a bolder and more confident look.

Inside the ‘airy glasshouse’ – basically the passenger area – things are just as familiar despite claims of extensive revisions. But all versions now feature the Uconnect entertainment system, previously only offered on high-end grades.

Three petrol engines will be offered; a 68bhp 1.2 as the cheapest option and two versions of the 0.9-litre TwinAir two-cylinder turbo, spitting out 84bhp and 104bhp respectively. The TwinAir 84bhp has achieved an average of 74.3mpg in official tests.

Safety is boosted by larger brakes than before, while somehow the engineers have stuffed seven airbags into the tiny cabin... or should that be ‘glasshouse’?!