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Motor Authority - blog Category: 500

  • First Fiat 500s Will Be Sporty Abarth Version

    First Fiat 500s Will Be Sporty Abarth Version October 28th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, October 28th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 4 Comments

    First Fiat 500s Will Be Sporty Abarth Version

    Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, and according to latest reports it won’t be the ordinary model that’s coming first but rather, the high performance Abarth.

    The 500 is scheduled to hit showrooms in 2011 and it’s set to be the only Fiat-badged model coming here. According to Ward's Auto, Chrysler dealers...

    Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, and according to latest reports it won’t be the ordinary model that’s coming first but rather, the high performance Abarth. The 500 is scheduled to hit showrooms in 2011 and it’s set to be the only Fiat-badged model coming here. According to Ward's Auto, Chrysler dealers have been advised that the first batch of 500s will be the Abarth. To differentiate the Abarth 500 from the standard version, the new car comes with a sporty bodykit with larger air intakes, side skirts, a rear diffuser, pumped fenders, Abarth decals and new alloys plus the famed scorpion logo on the grille. Up back is an integrated rear diffuser and dual exhaust tips finished in chrome. The interior continues the sporty theme with new bucket seats, alloy pedals, leather trim and 16 inch wheels. Power comes from Fiat’s turbocharged T-Jet petrol engine, developing a peak 135 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 132 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. Drive is sent to the front wheels and 0-60 mph times should fall in the low 7 second range. Mileage rates in around 25-33 mpg. Fiat forecasts first-year sales of 20,000-25,000 Abarth 500s in the U.S., with pricing coming in around the $18,000-$19,000 mark. [Ward's Auto] Read More

  • Chrysler Handling Distribution Of Fiat 500 In U.S.

    Chrysler Handling Distribution Of Fiat 500 In U.S. September 27th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran's avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, September 27th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    Chrysler Handling Distribution Of Fiat 500 In U.S.

    Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, though it’s launch is still more than a year away.

    We can confirm today that the 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships and it will be the only Fiat-badged model in the U.S. market. It will come in four different versions, all of which will be manufactured at a Chrysler plant...

    Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, though it’s launch is still more than a year away. We can confirm today that the 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships and it will be the only Fiat-badged model in the U.S. market. It will come in four different versions, all of which will be manufactured at a Chrysler plant either in the U.S. or in Toluca, Mexico in late 2010 or early 2011. Mexico is the preferred choice by Fiat because of a free-trade agreement with Brazil. Annual production is expected to top 100,000 units. The four models that will eventually make their way to the U.S., meanwhile, include the regular hatchback, the new 500C convertible, a ‘Giardinetta' wagon, and a high-performance model--possibly the Abarth version currently on sale in Europe. There is also a strong chance that a fifth, AWD SUV version will be launched further down the track. According to Chrysler brand CEO and head of sales for all Chrysler Group brands, Peter Fong, the 500 will likely have a dedicated corner in Chrysler-brand showrooms rather than its own retail network like Mini--the 500’s expected nearest rival. With news of Fiat bringing the 500 to U.S. shores, other automakers may feel compelled to compete with the little hatch. This could mean that we'll be seeing Ford's Ka coming to the States around the same time as the two cars share the same platform. [AutoNews, sub req'd] Read More

  • Chrysler will sell four different Fiat 500 variants in U.S.

    Chrysler will sell four different Fiat 500 variants in U.S. June 29th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, June 29th, 2009 James Martinez 6 Comments

    Chrysler will sell four different Fiat 500 variants in U.S. Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, though it’s launch is still 18 months away.

    The 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships and it will be the only Fiat-badged model in the U.S. market. It will come in four different versions, all of which will be manufactured at a Chrysler plant either in the U.S. or in Toluca,... Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the first model to arrive under the new alliance will be the 500, though it’s launch is still 18 months away. The 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships and it will be the only Fiat-badged model in the U.S. market. It will come in four different versions, all of which will be manufactured at a Chrysler plant either in the U.S. or in Toluca, Mexico in early 2011. The four models available will include the regular hatchback, the new 500C convertible, a ‘Giardinetta' wagon, and a high-performance model – possibly the Abarth version currently on sale in Europe. There is also a strong chance that a fifth, AWD SUV version will be launched further down the track. The information was revealed to Automotive News by the 500’s designer Roberto Giolito at the launch of the new 500C convertible. The fact that the Fiat 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships, however, is not some sort of hint that Fiat is planning on bringing a raft of Fiat vehicles to the U.S. and rebadging them as Chryslers. While Chrysler is expected to take platforms engineered by Fiat to create its own vehicles, Giolito insists that these will not be simple rebranding jobs, but rather they will be "specific to Chrysler". While the platforms and certain powertrains are expected to be shared by around six or seven Fiat-based Chrysler models, Giolito was quick to assure that "the vehicles will be U.S. vehicles, designed for U.S. customers by a U.S. company". With the news of Fiat bringing the 500 to U.S. shores, other automakers may feel compelled to compete with the little hatch. This could mean that we'll be seeing Ford's Ka coming to the States around the same time as the two cars share the same platform and production facility. Read More

  • Video: U.S.-bound Fiat 500C convertible on the road

    Video: U.S.-bound Fiat 500C convertible on the road June 23rd, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, June 23rd, 2009 Jeremy Weber 6 Comments

    Video: U.S.-bound Fiat 500C convertible on the road Fiat's 500 minicar has been a smash hit since its debut, winning car of the year awards from numerous publications and organizations. Earlier this year it was joined by a convertible variant called the 500C and just yesterday the automaker released a flood of new images, revealing the car in much better detail. Now we have a video of the car in action on public streets.

    The new convertible is distinguished by an automated sliding soft-top with an integrated glass backlight and built-in center high mounted stop light. The lining for the roof is a new weather resistant canvas that is available in three different colors, ivory, red and black,... Fiat's 500 minicar has been a smash hit since its debut, winning car of the year awards from numerous publications and organizations. Earlier this year it was joined by a convertible variant called the 500C and just yesterday the automaker released a flood of new images, revealing the car in much better detail. Now we have a video of the car in action on public streets. The new convertible is distinguished by an automated sliding soft-top with an integrated glass backlight and built-in center high mounted stop light. The lining for the roof is a new weather resistant canvas that is available in three different colors, ivory, red and black, and has been designed to match the car’s exterior color palette, which also expands with two new entries - Pearl Red and Warm Grey. Inside, there's still enough space for four adults but legroom in the rear is ideally suited to small children. The powertrain lineup for the 500C is identical to the hardtop, which means three powerplants ranging in size from 1.2 to 1.4L. The entry-level 1.2L petrol model develops just 69hp (52kW), while the range topping 1.4L version develops 100hp (75kW). In the middle is the 1.3L Multijet turbodiesel with 75hp (56kW) on tap. Available transmissions include a five-speed manual and robotized Dualogic automatic. New to the 500 range, including the latest 500C, is a fuel-saving engine stop-start system. Whenever the vehicle comes to a stop and the driver releases the clutch, the engine is switched off and then restarted simply by selecting a gear. Production will be handled at Fiat’s Tychy plant in Poland, with first sales scheduled for the third quarter of the year. Of most importance is the likely availability of the stylish convertible in the U.S. now that Fiat has inked an alliance deal with Chrysler. The 500 hardtop is all but confirmed for a U.S. launch, which means the 500C convertible is almost guaranteed. However, don’t expect to see the cars in local showrooms for another year at least.2009 Fiat 500 ConvertibleFiat 500C hits the street Read More

  • New Alfa Romeo 169 flagship may ride on Chrysler 300 LX platform

    New Alfa Romeo 169 flagship may ride on Chrysler 300 LX platform June 15th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, June 15th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 10 Comments

    New Alfa Romeo 169 flagship may ride on Chrysler 300 LX platform The long-awaited return of Fiat and Alfa Romeo is due to get underway soon following the signing of the new alliance with Chrysler, and word of the first cars to be brought in is finally emerging. While most of the Italian cars will be skewed towards the smaller end of town, one of the most anticipated, the Alfa 169 (the replacement for the aging 166), will be a large, luxurious, RWD saloon.

    Reports coming out today claim that the Alfa Romeo 169 could be manufactured at Chrysler’s Brampton plant in Ontario. According to research firm IHS Global Insight, the 169 will most likely ride on the RWD platform that underpins the Chrysler 300... The long-awaited return of Fiat and Alfa Romeo is due to get underway soon following the signing of the new alliance with Chrysler, and word of the first cars to be brought in is finally emerging. While most of the Italian cars will be skewed towards the smaller end of town, one of the most anticipated, the Alfa 169 (the replacement for the aging 166), will be a large, luxurious, RWD saloon. Reports coming out today claim that the Alfa Romeo 169 could be manufactured at Chrysler’s Brampton plant in Ontario. According to research firm IHS Global Insight, the 169 will most likely ride on the RWD platform that underpins the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models and will be priced around the $40,000 mark. If the research firm’s predications prove true, the new Alfa Romeo 169 would likely be powered by Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 engine and would share much in common with the next-generation Chrysler 300 sedan due next year. Production volumes would be low, with only about 10,000 units expected annually. Chrysler spokeswoman Mary Gauthier told the Financial Post that the company is still reviewing production plans and no final decisions on building Fiat vehicles in Canada have been made. Tax incentives and loan commitments to the Canadian government, however, suggest that it is a very real possibility. Read More

  • Fiat will use 500 ‘Giardinetta’ wagon as basis for AWD variant

    Fiat will use 500 ‘Giardinetta’ wagon as basis for AWD variant May 28th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, May 28th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 5 Comments

    Fiat will use 500 ‘Giardinetta’ wagon as basis for AWD variant Fiat will be bringing an AWD variant of its acclaimed 500 minicar to market in an effort to compete with the slew of recently launched and upcoming models from Mini. The Italian carmaker will release a car next year with a distinct wagon-like appearance, which we previewed earlier in our story on the Fiat 500 Giardinetta. Part of the reason for launching a larger version of the 500 is due to the release of Mini's Clubman, which the 500 Giardinetta will hope to steal sales away from. The new AWD variant, based on the Giardinetta, will go up against Mini’s own upcoming crossover.

    This AWD Fiat 500 will use the same 4WD system used in... Fiat will be bringing an AWD variant of its acclaimed 500 minicar to market in an effort to compete with the slew of recently launched and upcoming models from Mini. The Italian carmaker will release a car next year with a distinct wagon-like appearance, which we previewed earlier in our story on the Fiat 500 Giardinetta. Part of the reason for launching a larger version of the 500 is due to the release of Mini's Clubman, which the 500 Giardinetta will hope to steal sales away from. The new AWD variant, based on the Giardinetta, will go up against Mini’s own upcoming crossover. This AWD Fiat 500 will use the same 4WD system used in the Panda 4x4 hatch, with which the 500 already shares its platform. This should help keep development costs fairly low, and this in turn will mean a better deal for customers when it appears in showrooms late next year. Previous reports speculated that Fiat will be trying to sell around 32,000 units of the Giardinetta globally every year, and when the car finally arrives it should see Mini looking at least a little concerned with its added functionality. If you can't wait until next year to get your hands on a wagon variant of the Fiat 500, you can check out this example produced by Italian coach-builder Castagna. Nicknamed the Woody Wagon (thanks to its wood trimmings), that model was 30cm longer than the production Fiat 500 and should give a good indication as to what the actual Giardinetta model could look like. Read More

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