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Motor Authority - blog Category: Fiat

  • 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

  • Fiat given approval by Italian government for Bertone acquisition

    Fiat given approval by Italian government for Bertone acquisition August 6th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, August 6th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 3 Comments

    Fiat given approval by Italian government for Bertone acquisition The past year has been unkind to coachbuilding and contract manufacturing firms, especially with the wealthy reining in their more extravagant purchases and automakers bringing their production back in-house. Carrozzeria Bertone, the manufacturing arm of the Bertone Group, is feeling the pinch of bankruptcy in Italy, and soon it may be called Bertone no more.

    Fiat has just been given approval by the Italian government for an acquisition of Carrozzeria Bertone. Under the plan, Fiat will invest €150 million ($215.9 million) over three years in the struggling contract manufacturer.

    Autocar recently reported that Fiat plans to use... The past year has been unkind to coachbuilding and contract manufacturing firms, especially with the wealthy reining in their more extravagant purchases and automakers bringing their production back in-house. Carrozzeria Bertone, the manufacturing arm of the Bertone Group, is feeling the pinch of bankruptcy in Italy, and soon it may be called Bertone no more. Fiat has just been given approval by the Italian government for an acquisition of Carrozzeria Bertone. Under the plan, Fiat will invest €150 million ($215.9 million) over three years in the struggling contract manufacturer. Autocar recently reported that Fiat plans to use Bertone’s Turin factory and its workforce to produce niche products while dumping the Bertone brand name. Fiat has since revealed that these products would be sold in both Europe and North America. Fiat's on a shopping spree of late, buying a hefty stake in Chrysler and making an offer on Opel as well. Now trying to add Bertone to its collection, it's clear the Italian auto giant is trying to make the most of the current industry and economic downturn. Bertone's most recent project of note is the Mantide, designed by Jason Castriota under the Stile Bertone banner, a separate division under the Bertone Group. Read More

  • Alfa Romeo could kick off U.S. return with Giulia large sedan instead of MiTo hatchback

    Alfa Romeo could kick off U.S. return with Giulia large sedan instead of MiTo hatchback August 4th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, August 4th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 6 Comments

    Alfa Romeo could kick off U.S. return with Giulia large sedan instead of MiTo hatchback Americans still haven't fully embraced the concept of the hatchback as a useful, practical vehicle for families, and nowhere is this more true than in the luxury segment. BMW and Mercedes-Benz both make premium small cars, but neither sells the hatch versions in the U.S. And so it appears Alfa Romeo is following a similar line of business logic, with the latest reports indicating the Giulia sedan - a replacement to the European 159 (pictured) - may be the first Alfa Romeo to return to U.S. shores.

    Of course, the Alfa 8C Competizione has been sold in here in the 15 years since the brand left, but the Giulia would mark the return of the... Americans still haven't fully embraced the concept of the hatchback as a useful, practical vehicle for families, and nowhere is this more true than in the luxury segment. BMW and Mercedes-Benz both make premium small cars, but neither sells the hatch versions in the U.S. And so it appears Alfa Romeo is following a similar line of business logic, with the latest reports indicating the Giulia sedan - a replacement to the European 159 (pictured) - may be the first Alfa Romeo to return to U.S. shores. Of course, the Alfa 8C Competizione has been sold in here in the 15 years since the brand left, but the Giulia would mark the return of the everyday production cars to American sales. Earlier reports had pegged the MiTo and Milano as the first models destined for the land of the Stars and Stripes, but a new interview with Alfa Romeo CEO Sergio Cravero points in the opposite direction. "The Giulia is a car that could be the most interesting for the U.S. market,” Cravero told Bloomberg. “We need to build cars together with Chrysler that have an Alfa Romeo soul." And that tells a lot of the story right there - Alfa Romeo is already a none-too-successful division of Fiat in the rest of the world. Making the costly re-entry to the U.S. market can't be another cash-sink for the brand. It needs a financial success more than ever. "We have to find a solution that makes sense economically," Cravero said. "We can’t wait 10 years to see results." The new stance on the Giulia also fits well with recent statements from Alfa that the U.S. simply isn't ready for the MiTo. Large sedans typically have more headroom in their price, meaning more profitability per unit sold compared to small cars like the MiTo. In the currently still-depressed market and with the American intolerance for pricey small cars, the Giulia intro may be the smartest decision. The question then becomes: how do Chrysler and Alfa Romeo build the car to share a platform while maintaining sufficiently independent brand identities while also being competitive in their segments and profitable at the same time?Alfa Romeo Mi.To Official debutAlfa Romeo Milano spy shots Read More

  • Chrysler cars could get Fiat's efficient Multiair technology

    Chrysler cars could get Fiat's efficient Multiair technology August 3rd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, August 3rd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 5 Comments

    Chrysler cars could get Fiat's efficient Multiair technology Getting more out of the current generation of hardware is becoming increasingly important for the major carmakers as fuel and emissions standards tighten, but getting more power out of smaller, less expensive engines is also advantageous from a cost perspective. That's what makes Fiat's Multiair technology so attractive, and explains why Chrysler might get the technology in the very near future.

    It's actually surprisingly easy to retrofit the Multiair valve system to an existing engine, Lucio Bernard, director of Fiat Powertrain Technologies, told Automotive News. Internally, the groundwork is already being laid for Chrysler's use of... Getting more out of the current generation of hardware is becoming increasingly important for the major carmakers as fuel and emissions standards tighten, but getting more power out of smaller, less expensive engines is also advantageous from a cost perspective. That's what makes Fiat's Multiair technology so attractive, and explains why Chrysler might get the technology in the very near future. It's actually surprisingly easy to retrofit the Multiair valve system to an existing engine, Lucio Bernard, director of Fiat Powertrain Technologies, told Automotive News. Internally, the groundwork is already being laid for Chrysler's use of Multiair tech. But what exactly is Fiat's Multiair system? Put simply, it's an electronically controlled valvetrain that enables more efficient and dynamic control of the air coming into the engine. That, in turn, improves efficiency for a given displacement and load, and reduces emissions. Power gains of up to 10% are normal as well. Like most modern automotive innovations, it's not the hardware that's the tricky part. The software that controls the intake valve events and how they change dependent upon driving conditions is quite complex, and Fiat says it could take competitors two to three years to catch up. That would mean Chrysler's inclusion in the technology loop could be a huge boon to the company, giving it a selling point not available to any other domestic manufacturer. So far, only the Alfa Romeo MiTo hatchback has the Multiair technology, but Fiat is planning to roll the technology across its brands and engines over the coming year. If Chrysler does take advantage of the technology, expect it to start on the company's smaller four-cylinder engines before moving to V6 or V8 solutions.Fiat MultiAir engine technology Read More

  • Alfa Romeo: U.S. not ready for MiTo

    Alfa Romeo: U.S. not ready for MiTo July 27th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, July 27th, 2009 James Martinez 12 Comments

    Alfa Romeo: U.S. not ready for MiTo Alfa Romeo has been planning a return to the U.S. market for some time now, but the latest news emerging out of Italy suggests that the brand will not be bringing its recently introduced and ultra stylish MiTo hatch to American dealers, instead focusing on larger cars.

    The news comes directly from Alfa Romeo CEO Sergio Cravero, who revealed to Automotive News that the business case for the MiTo hatch coming to the U.S. just didn't add up. Cravero explained that the current U.S. market is not comfortable enough yet with small, luxury cars such as the MiTo. He estimated that volume in the U.S. would only amount to "roughly 20,000 units a... Alfa Romeo has been planning a return to the U.S. market for some time now, but the latest news emerging out of Italy suggests that the brand will not be bringing its recently introduced and ultra stylish MiTo hatch to American dealers, instead focusing on larger cars. The news comes directly from Alfa Romeo CEO Sergio Cravero, who revealed to Automotive News that the business case for the MiTo hatch coming to the U.S. just didn't add up. Cravero explained that the current U.S. market is not comfortable enough yet with small, luxury cars such as the MiTo. He estimated that volume in the U.S. would only amount to "roughly 20,000 units a year", a figure that is too low to make an American MiTo a viable business proposition. Rather than the smaller Alfa Romeo MiTo model, the U.S. market will be receiving the upcoming Milano model, a mid-sized five-door hatch that was snapped up close by spy photographers last week. While company officials have settled on bringing the Milano to the U.S., other models that could be coming Stateside have yet to be decided as U.S. partner Chrysler must still decide which platforms it will be using for production in North America. Alfa Romeo's parent company, Fiat, and their recent alliance with Detroit-based Chrysler will see the American brand borrowing platforms from the Italian manufacturer. Alfa Romeo's Milano model will serve as the underpinning for a future Chrysler sedan, but other models are still being decided upon by Fiat and Chrysler higher-ups.Alfa Romeo Mi.To Read More

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