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Report: Fiat Planning Four-Door 500 For U.S.

 
6 1,838 views Apr 19, 2010
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2009 fiat 500 convertible 500c 2 005

2009 fiat 500 convertible 500c 2 005

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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 six months away.

The 500 will be sold in Chrysler dealerships and it will be the only Fiat-badged model in the U.S. market, but it appears there will be several different variants, possibly up to four. The four models are likely to include the regular hatchback, the 500C convertible, a ‘Giardinetta' wagon, and the high-performance Abarth version.

While the hatchback and 500C are near-certainties for the U.S. market, a new report claims a four-door model is also headed our way, likely to be the Giardinetta wagon. This four-door model isn’t expected to be launched in Europe until the end of 2011 so any U.S. release won’t be until after that.

It is described as a compact minivan because of its hatchback rear opening and high roof design, and its footprint is both longer and wider than the regular 500 hatchback on which it’s based.

In addition to the four-door Fiat 500, a new compact sedan model may also be imported and sold under the Chrysler brand. More details should be revealed following the release of Fiat’s latest five-year plan on Wednesday the 21st.

[Automotive News, sub req’d]





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Comments (6)

  1. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 4/19/2010 6:47am PDT

    A more-door 500? Sounds like the underpinnings of the next PT Cruiser- it would be about the right shape and proportions, and we all know the PT is Sergio's "pet" car, since he still wants to peddle the current one.
     
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  2. By bepsf Posted: 4/19/2010 9:13am PDT

    NO!
    Nobody who wants a 500 needs 4 doors - Let them have a Punto or a Brava instead
     
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  3. By NoNameDenton Posted: 4/19/2010 4:44pm PDT

    I dunno, the rumored wagon version of the 500 sounds cool
     
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  4. By Saabaru5 Posted: 4/20/2010 3:38pm PDT

    @Escobar-
    That is EXACTLY what I thought of when I read the article.. The PT Cruiser replacement. Not sure how I feel about that idea..
     
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  5. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 4/20/2010 7:06pm PDT

    I'd be fine with them selling a reworked 4door 500 as the next PT Cruiser, as long as I can have an UN-ALTERED FIAT 500 Abarth. I've wanted a new 500 since 2007. I never thought I'd actually be able to buy one in the US!
     
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  6. By B-Man Posted: 5/9/2010 12:30pm PDT

    I would welcome a 4-door Giardinetta wagon with open arms. This was the last frontier that I needed to conquer before purchasing one of these and lookie-there Louie, it's coming to America. I'm talkin' about 4 doors. Coolio with a view-lio. Bring it and I will buy Fiat-sler!! WHOO-HOO!
     
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