Published on Thursday March 08, 2012

With the prestigious 5-star EuroNCAP and 40 awards it has won at an international level to date, the Fiat 500 has proven since its launch in July 2007 that it is not merely a city car, but an authentic icon upon which Fiat will build a whole family of cars with innovative technologies and attention to detail worthy of a higher category.

Sold in 110 countries around the globe and with over 800,000 units sold since 2007, the Fiat 500 has set important records in its segment because of its innovation, its "made in Italy" design and its state-of-the-art engine technology embodied by the revolutionary and multi-award-winning TwinAir engine.

500 "America"

The "500 America" numbered edition emphasises the global soul of the Fiat 500 in Geneva, where it is displayed in the saloon version. With only 500 numbered saloon units and 500 numbered convertible units produced, the new Fiat 500 America is celebrating the country where the model was sold in 2011 and where its collaboration with the American pop singer Jennifer Lopez started. The Fiat 500 co-stars with Lopez in her videoclip of the "Papi" track taken from the "Love?" album. An enthralling 30- and 60-second TV commercial was born from this collaboration.

In the Saloon version, the 500 America is offered in the exclusive metallic shade America Blue and it is distinguished by mirror covers with "Stars & Stripes" graphics, stickers, dedicated beltline and 16" alloy rims with red cap edge. American inspiration and iconography are also found in the interiors with red/ivory seats and contrasting white dashboard. The white three-layer paint and "Stars & Stripes" mirror covers are combined with the red top and the graphics in the colours of the American flag in the beltline in the convertible version. In this case the elegant 16" alloy wheels are finished with a blue rim edge.

The 500 America is equipped as standard with manual air conditioning and is enriched with the kit complete with exterior chrome-plating in both saloon and convertible versions.
Lastly, a badge on the pillar bearing the serial number (from 1 to 500) of this ultra-exclusive limited edition makes this car unique.

Publshed on Tursday March 01, 2012

If Jennifer Lopez singing, shaking and driving her way through the Bronx in a cute Fiat 500 was too girly, the marketing gurus at Chrysler have come up with a fix: Charlie Sheen.

A commercial for the Fiat Abarth -- the "bad boy" version of the Italian brand, more powerful and less precious than the 500 model -- breaks tonight on network TV. The spot, called "House Arrest," features the charming but somewhat erratic Mr. Sheen racing a black Abarth inside a luxurious mansion. When he screeches to a stop in the lobby, he emerges -- wearing an ankle monitor -- and embraces a sexy young woman. "I love being under house arrest," he says. "What do I get for good behavior?"

The text superimposed on the screen reads: "Not all bad boys are created equal."

Careful watchers of Fiat's marketing campaign will note that the woman, the cappuchino-foam-dripping Catrinel Menghia, last strutted her stuff in the first ad for the Abarth, called "Seduction," created by The Richards Group. The ad ran online in November and was later booked for last month's Super Bowl.

"The Fiat 500 Abarth is the 'small but wicked' personality of the Fiat 500 and this spot captures that attitude and spirit," said Olivier Francois, had of Fiat Brand worldwide and chief marketing officer, Chrysler Group, responding to questions from Ad Age. "Our campaign with Ms. Lopez was very successful and helped to increase the awareness of the brand. Clearly Abarth, at the opposite of the spectrum, gave us a chance to complete the J. Lo campaign with a different kind of messaging."

Mr. Francois said the spots were created by two of Chrysler's agencies, Doner and Richards Group. Automotive News said "House Arrest" had initially been slated for the Super Bowl. The company said today that "House Arrest" had been a Super Bowl contender, but the spot wasn't ready in time for the game.

Tim Kuniskis, who was appointed last year to succeed Fiat Brand Manager Laura Soave in the U.S. market, said the "Seduction" spot was originally not intended for TV. "It was born for the Abarth reveal at the L.A. Auto Show," he said. "We streamed the video live, it grew organically and achieved 1 million hits in less than a week. With all of the positive feedback that we received not only from consumers and dealers, 'Seduction' was the perfect choice for Super Bowl to generate brand awareness." It has received almost 8 million hits in YouTube.

Mr. Kuniskis said Fiat "will also have new commercials in the pipeline that will begin running in the next few weeks for the Fiat 500," and that the company plans to "continue with the advertising strategy that we have set in place for 2012 which includes advertising for both the Fiat 500 and the Fiat 500 Abarth."

Besides the J. Lo fiasco -- which Mr. Francois conceded earlier this year was a miscue -- Fiat has been troubled by a delayed dealer rollout in the States and by a lack of new products. Mr. Francois said that dealers "were looking for us to build a plan that supported their local-markets efforts in terms of marketing and advertising to accelerate awareness. And this is exactly what we are doing."

Unit sales of the Fiat 500 were up 69% to 3,227 units in February compared with the previous month, the company said. The sporty Abarth goes on sale later this year at a base price of $22,000.

News Source February 29,2012

Published on February 20, 2012

At last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Abarth showed its 695 Tributo Ferrari, a tuned and customized version of the Fiat 500 dedicated to Ferrari's racing legacy. For this year's Geneva show, it's Maserati that gets the tribute.

The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati, like the brand it honors, errs more on the luxurious side of the performance spectrum, while still packing Abarth's characteristic bite.

Just 499 of the cars will be sold. Designed and built in collaboration with Maserati, the 695 Tributo is designed to "epitomize sheer elegance united to the comfort of a 'GranTurismo', but with the handling of a car fit to take to the road every day."

Big words for a small car, to be sure, but with a boosted 1.4-liter T-Jet 16-valve engine rated at 180 horsepower, electrically-operated Abarth Competizione gearbox with paddle shifters, 305-mm Brembo brakes, 17-alloy wheels from Maserati, and a dual-mode Record Monza exhaust, the car may just be able to back up its claims.

Painted in Pontevecchio Bordeaux, a three-layer paint from Maserati, with an electric soft-top in grey fabric, it's sure to be noticed. Inside, the 695 Tributo Maserati is decked out with sand beige Poltrona Frau leather, matte-finish carbin trim, and Jaeger-produced instruments, it's more Maserati than Fiat.

News Source [MotorAuthority]

Published on Wednesday February 15, 2012

 

After three decades away from the American market, Fiat is back in a big way with a really small car. The Fiat 500 Abarth 695 Competizione made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, replete with a scorpion logo and $23,000 price tag. The small car comes hot on the heels of the base Fiat 500 models in an attempt to debunk the car's cutesy image.

For those unfamiliar with the Abarth name, the Italian tuning brand is deeply rooted in racing heritage and performance pedigree. Karl Abarth?a racing legend?is best known among aftermarket aficionados for transforming small, lightweight cars into powerful, track-tuned machines. Suffice it to say that Abarth's engineering prowess is evident in this particular Fiat 500 model.

The Italian tuning house was able to massage 160 hp and 170 ft lbs of torque out of the Fiat with a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine?nearly double the power ratings of the base model. While its expected zero-to-60 mph time of seven seconds does not sound impressive on paper, it is certainly enough to embarrass any Smart car that crosses its path.

Apart from its signature scorpion logo, passersby will be able to differentiate this special model Fiat 500 at first glance by its blacked-out grille, red brake calipers, and rear spoiler. Moving to the interior, the driver will notice an Abarth-themed steering wheel wrapped in perforated black leather and bolstered seats befitting of a true sportscar.

Simply put, this Fiat 500 Abarth 695 Competizione is proof that great things can come in the smallest of packages.

News Source [fiatUSA]

Published on Tuesday January 03, 2011

It looks like Fiat's next major launch in the U.S. will be a compact crossover internally referenced as the "Ellezero" (pronounced L-0) and due for a world debut at March's 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The vehicle, which is predicted to resemble a five-door Fiat 500 on steroids, will go on sale in Europe by the middle of the year and arrive in the U.S. not too long after as a 2013 model.

While its styling may mimic the cute lines of the Fiat 500, most of the similarities end there, according to Inside Line.

The Ellezero is expected to ride on Fiat's newly developed SUSW (Small U.S. Wide) platform, which will also spawn a new compact crossover for Jeep. Key competitors will be Fiat's upcoming Fiesta-based crossover, which has been seen testing in the U.S., as well as a new compact soft-roader being developed by Opel for the European market and the existing MINI Cooper Countryman.

Power should come from the same 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with MultiAir technology found in several Fiat models, including the 500. Expect output to be slightly higher than the 101 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque found in the 500, though. It's also very likely that a sportier Abarth model will be launched further down the track.

Production of the Ellezero will take place at the former Zastava plant located in Serbia, which previously built the Fiat-based Yugo.

The good news is that we can expect even more Fiat models in the not too distant future. In addition to the Fiat 500 'Elettra' electric car due next year, as well as the long-rumored 500 'Giardinetta' wagon, Fiat is also expected to bring its Doblo commercial vehicle as new compact entry in the Ram lineup.

News Source [MotorAuthority]

Published on Tuesday December 27, 2011

It was born over 50 years ago sporting a two- cylinder, 480cc engine. The new versions range from a 135hp Arbath specs to a diesel that can cover 100km with just 4.2 litres.

The car's latest stylish version to hit the roads here is the 500 by Gucci. The colourful moving fashion statement has won 12 orders at $150,900 each.

It made its South-east Asian debut yesterday evening at the Paragon atrium before a few hundred appreciative invited guests.

The vehicle is a Fiat-Gucci joint project. It marks the 90th anniversary of the Gucci brand and 150 years of Italian unification.

Finished in glossy black or white pearl glass paint, it shines like a gem. There is also a convertible version with a sliding electric top.

Sporting 195/45 tyres on 16-inch rims, Gucci's signature green-red-green stripe runs completely around the perimeter.

The stripe also appears inside on the seats, the key-cover, the carpets and the seat belts.

Gucci creative director Frida Giannini said: 'In the 50s, the Fiat 500 created a style revolution when it first hit the road. It quickly became the must-have car of its time. Travelling in style has also been at the heart of Gucci ever since Guccio Gucci founded his company as a producer of leather trunks, suitcases and handbags in 1921.'

Completing the customisation is an exclusive range of 500 pieces of fashion wear by Gucci. These include travel accessories, small leather goods, drivers' tracksuits, bombers, gloves, sunglasses and a watch

News Source [Business Times]

Published on Tuesday November 22, 2011

Of all the major international auto shows on the calendar each year, the Bologna Motor Show may not rank among the most important. But it is vital for the Fiat Group, whose numerous brands make up more than just one lion's share of the Italian auto industry. As such, it's not a show for Fiat to take lightly, and this year, it's coming with a whole mess of new debuts.

Discounting Maserati and Ferrari (who kind of do their own thing), the Fiat Group divisions are displaying a freshly facelifted version of the Fiat Sedici, a Fiat 500 Nation Limited Edition, Lancia Ypsilon Black&Red edition and four new specials from Abarth.

2012 Fiat SediciSix years since its launch, the Sedici (Italian for Sixteen, the product of 4x4 ? also known as the Suzuki SX4) has been been treated to a minor facelift. Available in three trim levels, buyers can choose between a 120-horsepower 1.6-litre four or a 135-hp 2.0 MultiJet diesel in either front-wheel drive or selectable all-wheel drive.

The Fiat 500 Nation Limited Edition will be offered in both hatchback and convertible versions, of which a suitable 500 examples of each will be offered. The American version of the hatchback is painted blue with Stars & Stripes graphics, while the cabrio comes in white with similar graphics and a red roof.

The Black&Red edition of the Lancia Ypsilon, meanwhile, is distinguished by four colour choices ? two reds, a black and a two-tone black and red scheme ? with either a 69-hp 1.2-litre gasoline engine or a 95-hp turbodiesel.

Finally, Abarth is coming to Bologna in full force with four special editions. The 595 Turismo and Competizione models pack a 160-hp version of the Abarth's 1.4-litre turbo four with two flavours of style. The 695 Assetto Corse takes 205 horsepower to the track, while the Punto Scorpione packs a 180-hp 1.4-litre four for a 7.5-second sprint to 100 km/h, distinguished by matte-on-gloss black finish and a special snowboard in an edition limited to 99 examples.

An additional "by Abarth" package is also on offer for the Fiat 500 TwinAir that offers some of the visual excitement of an all-out Abarth performance model without modification to the 85-hp two-cylinder engine.

News Source [MotorBlog]

Published on Wednesday November 16, 2011

Fiat unveiled the American version its Abarth 500 compact car at the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday. This is the performance-tuned version of the Fiat 500 minicar.

This Abarth 500  has a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a maximum 160 horsepower compared to the 101 horsepower one available for the Fiat 500. It will also be equipped with a heavy-duty five-speed transmission.

Fiat's been promising a Fiat 500 Abarth for those of us who don't own capri pants, but we've wondered if it would be the wimpy 135-hp lame one or the Bunga Bunga 160-hp version. Wonder no more. This new econobox is as wicked as Berlusconi.

The name "Abarth" means almost nothing to North Americans not well-versed in Italian ways, but to the most of the world its a reminder of a time when a guy named Karl Abarth attempted to make performance cars out of Fiats. The legacy continues in this latest U.S. version of the Cinquecento.

Fiat's taken the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine, swapped in a turbocharger with two small intercoolers, and boosted power to an impressive 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 RPM. That's a nearly 60% improvement in power over the base Fiat 500 with what Chrysler promises is a 70% increase in engine RPM torque.

Aesthetically, the gigantic Abarth scorpion logo pokes out like Superman's chest to let you know this isn't J. Lo's Fiat 500 . A more pronounced front fascia blends into flared wheel arches and an aggressive look that finishes in a spoiler mounted above the liftgate.

News Source [CNN Money]

Published Monday October 31, 2011

That Fiat's sporty 500 Abarth was destined for our market was no surprise. That said, Chrysler did publish the first official press photos of the U.S.-spec 2012 500 Abarth this morning, while confirming that the car will formally debut at the 2011 Los Angeles auto show on November 16th.

Developed by Fiat's long-time in-house tuning brand, the Abarth 500 injects the little Cinquecinto with additional power and some sporting flair. Abarth models receive a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels, and a muscular stance courtesy of flared wheel wells and a blistered front clip. Apart from new reflectors placed on the edges of the wheel wells, American models appear to be almost visually identical to their European cousins.

Beneath the skin, the 500's 1.4-liter I-4 remains in place, although it's blessed with a turbocharger in Abarth guise. In Europe, this turbocharged four is able to produce 135 hp and 152 lb-ft of torque ? small figures, perhaps, but perfect for hustling the 500's lithe frame around. European customers desiring additional power can always spring for the Esseesse package, which cranks output up to a crazy 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque.

News Source [MotorTrend]

Published Wednesday October 26, 2011

In and amongst all the Chryslers, Dodges, and Ram pickups on show at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show will be a pair of pintsized 2012 Fiat 500 hatchbacks dressed up in the latest accessories from Mopar.

The two custom 500s will be the 500 Titanium, previewed here in this official teaser, as well as the 500 Carbon.

Importantly, the modifications shown on both cars will be available to the public via the Mopar catalog, which certainly can't be said for many of the other concepts that will be on show at SEMA next week.

So what can we expect from Mopar for the 500?

Well, the 500 Titanium comes with a custom grille, revised front bumper, and glossy black paint scheme, as well as 16-inch wheels, a lowered suspension setup, uprated brakes, sporty side skirts, and door handles and mirror housing with a matte titanium finish.

Some performance modifications include a custom cold-air intake, high-flow exhaust, a strut-tower brace, and a large liftgate spoiler at the rear.

Inside, the Fiat 500 Titanium continues the athletic look with black leather trim highlighted by titanium look accents, sporty bucket seats, and black floor mats with a titanium look "500" logo.

As for the Fiat 500 Carbon, it's based on the 2012 Fiat Sport model but gets a custom blue paint scheme, blackened exterior and interior appointments, a revised front bumper, 17-inch alloy wheels, and tinted glass.

Its performance modifications include lowered suspension, a strut-tower brace, a cold-air intake, and a high-flow exhaust system with a powder-coated carbon fiber tip.

Inside, there's custom piping on the seats, more custom stitching on the sport-steering wheel, and black chrome adding detail to the cabin. The final touch is a carbon fiber highlighted instrument panel.

News Source [Motor Authority ]

Published on Tuesday October 18, 2011

We hear it all the time people ask: "Is that little car safe?" Well, if it's a  FIAT 500, our answer should be affirmative, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The venerable independent testing agency has issued a Top Safety Pick award to the diminutive Italian cutemobile, as one of the only minicars to earn such praise.

The only caveat is that IIHS has specifically excluded 500's that were built before August 2011. According to the group, the driver's seat structure was modified to improve safety, and those cars without the improved seat were judged only "marginal" in the frontal offset test. The new seats help the 500 to score "Good" in that test, a rating the car also achieved in side impact tests and roof strength.

Check out the full Review here

News Source [Autoblog ]

Published Tuesday October 11, 2011

Italian car maker Fiat began running a television ad for the 2012 Fiat 500 subcompact car featuring the singer and actress Jennifer Lopez.

The spot is aimed at winning a wider, more diverse audience for the 500 compared with the perceived market for rivals like the BMW Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Beetle. It is also meant to present the Fiat as a car that reflects authenticity, an elusive quality increasingly pursued by car companies.

In the commercial, called "My World," Lopez provides the voice-over and is shown driving a white 500 convertible through Manhattan and into the Bronx where she came of age. The ad includes the song "Until It Beats No More," from Lopez's new album, "Love?" and is airing on national broadcast and cable networks.

"The commercial tells the story of how the simple elements of our upbringing can help explain who we are, where we're going and serve as a source of inspiration to achieve our goals in life," said Olivier Francois, head of Fiat and marketing boss for Chrysler Group LLC. "That drive and determination is the common thread that is shared with the Fiat brand and our philosophy that 'Life is Best When Driven.'"

Fiat last month announced its alliance with Lopez and showed teasers for coming ads. The "My World" spot is expected to be the first of several marketing  projects with Lopez.

News Source [WallStreetJournal ]

Published on October 05, 2011
 
Fiat and MOPAR have come up with a neat contest to design your own vehicle wrap. Prizes will be awarded and the winning designs will be displayed at this year's SEMA show in November. Be sure to check out the details below and GO FOR IT!

The FIAT Brand Teams Up With Mopar® to Announce the 'FIAT SEMA Design Challenge'

• FIAT fans can create their own custom Fiat 500 vehicle wrap and enter for a chance to win prizes
  
  
• The top three winning designs will be wrapped live within the Mopar Alley at SEMA
  
  
• Complete list of Mopar accessories at www.mopar.com
  

The FIAT brand has teamed up with Mopar® to launch the 'FIAT SEMA Design Challenge,' a social media contest allowing fans to create a custom Fiat 500 vehicle wrap. Participants can enter their design to win prizes and have the opportunity to see their vehicle design wrap on display Tues., Nov. 1 through Fri., Nov. 4 within the Mopar Alley at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.

"The FIAT SEMA Design Challenge encourages the core values of the FIAT brand; self-expression, inspiration and creativity and there is no better place than the annual SEMA show, where passionate owners and fans can showcase their customized creations," said Laura Soave, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "We know just how creative our fans can be and this is an excellent opportunity to showcase their talent and see their designs come to life."

Published Tuesday September 27, 2011

The 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon limited-edition model designed to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation debuted on Tuesday, as the Chrysler brand jumps on a bandwagon that was long owned by Ford.

Just 250 units of the Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon will be built. The vehicle is priced at $22,500, including a $500 destination charge. Fiat will donate $1,000 per purchase to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Pink Ribbon edition will go on sale in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Pink Ribbon edition is an appearance package that comes in either silver or white exterior paint accented by a dark pink body-side stripe with the 500 logo and a ribbon in light pink. The cabin gets leather seats with pink stitching and a pink ribbon embroidered on the floor mats.

Laura Soave, the head of Fiat North America, said the special model is designed to "drive change."

The National Cancer Institute predicts that 39,520 women and 450 men will die of breast cancer in the U.S. in 2011. The NCI says that 12.2 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.

News Source [Inside Line ]

Published on Thursday September 15, 2011

The thing about scorpions is that they pack a mean wallop in a small package. And the same can be said of the auto marque that hoists the scorpion as its emblem. As promised, Abarth rolled into the Frankfurt Motor Show three cars deep. Or three new versions of their existing lineup, which is essentially centred around two cars, anyway.

Replacing the sold-out 695 Tributo Ferrari is the new 695 Competizione. Based on the 500 hatchback, it's essentially the same as the Maranello homage, only it replaces the former's striped bright paint and Prancing Horse emblems with a slick matte finish. The 500 Cabrio Italia, meanwhile, celebrates 150 years of Italian unification with a special package that encompasses Abu Dhabi blue paint (huh?), tan leather, folding roof panel and 160-horsepower turbo four. Finally, the new SuperSport is based on the Punto decked out in pale gray with matte black stripes, 18-inch alloys, 180-horsepower engine and Koni suspension.

News Source [Autoblog ]

Published on Thursday September 22, 2011

• The FIAT brand teams up with Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) as a platinum sponsor of Detroit's second annual 'Dining by Design' event
  
  
• Dining by Design is a one-of-a-kind, spectacular event that showcases local talent in the design, artistic and architectural community while raising funds for the Michigan AIDS Coalition
  
  
• Detroit native Antonio 'Shades' Agee to create a unique dining installation for the FIAT brand to showcase at the event
  
  
• Attendees will enjoy creations featured by the Detroit Design Community
  
  
• The FIAT brand will display three 2012 Fiat 500 vehicles, including the newly revealed 500 by Gucci special edition model throughout the entire three-day event
  

The Fiat brand is uniting with Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) to host the second annual 'Dining by Design' event, to benefit the Michigan AIDS Coalition. The event will be held Thursday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Sept. 24, at Willy's Overland Lofts in Detroit.

'Dining by Design,' DIFFA's signature event, showcases local talent in the design, artistic and architectural community by pairing them with Table Sponsors or hosts to create three-dimensional dining installations that are works of art and wild beyond the imagination.

"The FIAT brand is honored to be part of this remarkable and unique event that brings the design community together for such an important cause," said Laura Soave, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "'Dining by Design' is an event that is aligned with some of the core values of the FIAT brand, such as passion, self-expression, inspiration and creativity."

The FIAT brand is collaborating once again with native Detroiter, DIFFA board member and professional graffiti artist, Antonio 'Shades' Agee, for a custom table design that will bring the FIAT brand's key attributes to life.

"It means so much to me to be a part of this event as an artist in Detroit," said 'Shades.' "FIAT has been great to collaborate with because they share the passion and creativity of self-expression that an artist has. The table installation is a cool way to bring all of that to life."

In addition to the one-of-a-kind table installation created by 'Shades,' the FIAT brand also will feature three 2012 Fiat 500 vehicles: the 2012 Fiat 500 Sport, Fiat 500 Lounge and the recently announced Fiat 500 Cabrio by Gucci. All three vehicles will be on display during the entire three-day event.

News Source [Sacramento Bee ]

Published Thursday September 15, 2011

Italian car maker Fiat is trying to make a splash with its 500 subcompact model through high-fashion promotions like the recent launch of the Gucci special edition model during at Gucci's Fashion Night Out event in New York. Now the car maker is intensifying its effort with an alliance between the brand and Jennifer Lopez.

The singer and actress will appear in television spots for the 2012 Fiat 500 that are scheduled to begin airing later this year. The ads are aimed at raising the car's profile as it seeks to compete in the crowded small-car market against everything from the pricey Mini Cooper to less-expensive models like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. The spots are also designed to expand the car's appeal to a wider range of demographic groups.

"Jennifer fits perfectly with the brand not because of who she is but because of what she is ?authentic, passionate, modern and a fighter determined to stand out from the rest. As you look at her career path, she embodies the Fiat philosophy, 'Life is Best When Driven,'" said Olivier Francois, chief marketing officer for Chrysler Group LLC, which is controlled by Fiat.

Another product of the alliance is the use of a new Fiat 500 Cabrio in a 30-second trailer for Jennifer Lopez's new "Papi" video. The trailer made its debut during the first "Monday Night Football" game of the National Football League's 2011 season on ESPN.

Here is a preview of the 500 New 500 Ad:

NewsSource [WallStreetJournal]

Published Wednesday September 14, 2011

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and FIAT Brand North America is proud to partner with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® in their mission to prevent breast cancer and achieve a cure in our life-time. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. The Foundation provides critical funding for increased public awareness and innovative clinical and genetic research.

Our partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation will allow us to produce 250 Pink Ribbon Limited Edition vehicles scheduled to arrive in Studios late-September. In addition, FIAT will donate $1,000 per vehicle to an effort to support the cause.

The Fiat 500 is an expression of the brand's stylistic and engineering excellence. The Limited Edition Pink Ribbon Content Includes: Limited Edition Pink Ribbon Decal Body Stripe, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with Pink Accent Stitching, Leather Seats with Pink Accent Stitching, Floor Mats with Pink Accent Stitching, 15" Optional Aluminum Alloy Wheels, Pink Ribbon Key Fob Case. Vehicle is available in two exclusive colors: Argento and Bianco.

News Source [ FIAT IRELAND]

Published on Monday September 12, 2011

The Fiat and Chrysler product osmosis continues. Chrysler first revealed its plan for a Fiat collaborated small commercial van for the North American market back in November 2009. Finally, here it is. Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi, Fiat's Turkish joint venture, announced that it will supply Ram with 190,000 units of the Fiat Doblo small panel van over the course of seven years.

Launched in Europe early 2010, the Doblo is already proving to be very popular amongst businesses. But in North America, expect the upcoming Ram van to compete against the segment leader Ford Transit Connect. In the past year, Transit Connect sold 20,496 units in the United states, a 31 percent increase.

In addition, as the Ram Sprinter was discontinued in 2009, expect Fiat to fill in the gap by providing a larger commercial van for the North American market.

News Source [Autoguide ]

Published Friday September 09, 2011

Fiat will be breaking the tradition mold of car advertising and bringing their cars directly to customers at local shopping malls across the United States. Potential customers will be able to see the 2012 Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio up close and personally.

Fiat will visit 20 different shopping malls in a matter of approximately three months time. The lucky shoppers who are present while Fiat is in their local malls, will be able to sit behind the wheels of the cars and experience first-hand, the "simple design, beautiful craftsmanship and timeless value of the new Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) models".

Fiat is an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Fiat, founded in 1899. It is an Italian automobile manufacturer and engine manufacturer, and a financial and industrial group based in Turin in the Piedmont region.

Fiat has also manufactured railroad vehicles, tanks and aircraft as well. As of 2009, Fiat is the world's ninth largest carmaker as well as Italy's largest carmaker. Fiat cars are built around the world and Brazil is where they seem to sell the best.

In a press release, Laura Soave, the Head of Fiat Brand North America made this statement: "Our new Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio deliver simply more ? more Italian-by-design styling, more value and more efficiency, all intelligently tailored for our American customers. We want people across the country to personally experience the exceptional attributes of the Fiat 500 so they know that there is a new alternative within the small-car segment."

Fiat will be on its tour to shopping malls around the United States from September through November. At all exhibitions, product specialists will be there to talk with consumers about the Fiat 500 and answer any questions potential buyers may have. All test drives will take place during mall hours, and test-drive participants will each receive a great incentive of a $15 mall gift card.

The 2012 Fiat 500 has been described in the press release as having "beautiful Italian styling, timeless functionality, fuel efficiency and innovative technology ? the same attributes that made the original version an icon ? the 2012 Fiat 500 is relevant for an entirely new generation of drivers."

The 2012 Fiat 500 offers great safety features, great fuel efficiency in a 1.4 liter MultiAir® engine with eco:Drive™, extremely high quality and advanced technology. It has a roomy interior that fits four, Navigation with BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication technology, seven standard air bags and more. Furthermore, the car offers "Fiat forward care™, which is a standard four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, four years of unlimited roadside assistance and a three-year/36,000-mile maintenance program that includes wear-and-tear items.

News Source [TorqueNews]

Publushed Tuesday September 06, 2011

NEW DELHI: Italian automobile major Fiat's Indian subsidiary said on Tuesday it will set-up stand-alone showrooms for its cars in 20 cities within one-and-a-half years but its co-manufacturing arrangement with Tata Motors will continue.

"We will set up Fiat's own showrooms in 20 cities within one-and-a- half years," Fiat India president and chief executive Rajeev Kapoor told reporters on the sidelines of an Automotive Component Manufacturers Association ( ACMA) event here.

Under a 2007 joint venture agreement between Fiat and Tata Motors, the companies share distribution facilities and co-manufacture products at the Italian auto-manufacturer's Ranjangaon facility in Maharashtra.

According to Kapoor, the existing dealers in the 20 cities would now sell the Italian auto major's cars in the new facilities.

"The dealers would be the same. They will now have new showrooms for Fiat cars," Kapoor said.

He did not divulge any financial details for the new showrooms or further plans to introduce the concept in other cities.

The company would also set up two Fiat cafes in New Delhi and Pune to promote the brand, the top official said.

News Source [TheEconomicTime ]

Published on Wednesday 17 August 2011 05:46

What do you want your family hatchback to be? Good value? Well equipped? Great looking? Economical? Versatile? In truth, Fiat's Bravo ticks many of these boxes, so why is it so overlooked by buyers and pundits alike?

Perhaps it's a badge snobbery thing. Either way, Fiat is attempting to breathe new life into the Bravo with the MyLife makeover previously introduced on the Panda and Punto.

Car buyers these days are a canny bunch, well attuned to the achievements and culture of various car companies. They bring with them a level of expectation which the manufacturers attempt to exceed.

Fiat buyers have come to expect a bit of personality, some occasional build flakiness and a fun drive but the Bravo has never quite conformed to the archetype. It's not up and in your face and it's built like a rock.

In making the Bravo more mainstream and a little more buttoned-down, had Fiat rather lost its spark? There weren't any obvious danger signs. With its practical considerations firmly grounded, the Bravo didn't make you suffer for choosing a sharp Italian suit. Trouble was, sales remained stubbornly earthbound, too.

The good news for potential customers is that slow sales usually lead to some kind of incentivisation programme and, in Fiat's case, it's called MyLife. There's nothing particularly original about this: a few styling and trim licks look all the more attractive when you can throw in a bundle of extra kit and keep the pricing keen. Applied to something of a 'sleeper' like the Bravo, the package seems all the more tempting.

None of the MyLife extras can disguise the fact that this isn't the sharpest handling car in its sector, but it's close enough to the class leaders for most potential buyers not to notice ? or indeed to care.

They'll probably be more bothered about the fact that the interior feels very well built. Bright finish plastics lift the cabin and the controls are easy to figure out without recourse to the manual. It all looks agreeably Italianate as well.

Fiat has really got the hang of the whole soft-touch dashboard moulding in recent years and the new Bravo's supple, textured finish wouldn't look out of place in an Audi.

Fiat is arguably being a little mean by restricting the MyLife spec to just the 1.6-litre Multijet diesel engine with 105bhp, though this strikes a good compromise between driveability, performance and economy, though all the engines come with Fiat's Start & Stop system.

Fiat's Dualdrive electrical steering assistance is fitted, which lightens the steering around town and at parking speeds by pressing a button on the dashboard. A bit more feel at higher driving speeds would be welcome however.

It's easy to forgive the Bravo any minor shortcomings when you walk round the car, taking in its beautifully integrated detailing and elegant proportions and the MyLife cosmetic tweaks serve only to enhance the good looks. They include a glossy black finish for the upper and lower grilles, B-pillars and fog light framings, plus new 16-inch two-tone wheels and chromed door handles and grille borders. It all looks very smart.

There are also two body colours available, Distinct Grey and Superb Red. Though this isn't the largest car in the class, there's a decent amount of luggage space in that curved rump.

Aside from the added value MyLife brings to the party, the big draw for family buyers is undoubtedly the amount of safety gear Fiat has packed into the new Bravo. Winner of a coveted five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating, the Bravo score a very impressive total of 33 points on the NCAP scale.

The Bravo is the product of over 60 crash tests, 15,000 hours of computer simulations, 150 simulations with a crash sled and more than 100 crash tests on components and subsystems.

News Source [ TheSussexReport]

Published on August 12, 2011
 
Begins Aug. 13 in NYC

Taking a page from its current TV advertising "Drive-in ," Fiat kicks off the first of its multi-city outdoor cinema showings this weekend.
The Italian auto brand, being reintroduced into the U.S. market by Chrysler, is taking over New York's Times Square Aug. 13 and 14 for an all-afternoon promotion that culminates in a double feature that viewers can watch while sitting in 36 2012 Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio models.

Events, rather than mass media, are central to the relaunch of Fiat in the U.S. after an absence of a quarter century. In bringing Europe's popular "Cinquecento" to the States, Fiat chose Southfield,
Mich., Impatto as its marketing partner, an experiential agency that Laura Soave, head of Fiat brand North America, had worked with on the Lincoln marque while at Ford. Getting consumers up close to a Fiat is critical to a brand that earned a bad reputation for quality to Americans in the 1970s and '80s.

"It's very important for any new brand to get its name out there and the best way to do that is at a grassroots level. Americans have a lot of misperceptions about small cars, thinking they're cheaply made; they don't have enough space; they don't have a lot of features," Soave told Adweek. "The best way to show people is to 'show people.' They're surprised to find there's a lot of space and to see the quality of finishes like leather and all the other content in the vehicle."

Beginning at 2 p.m. in Times Square, Fiat will serve espresso and gelato, host rounds of bocce ball and play music from local DJs and bands amid cars on display. At dusk, the carmaker is showing remakes of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer's Night Dream on the Jumbotron, an allusion to the 500's updated design of the classic car first introduced in 1957. Fiat will expand the scale of the event as it moves to other cities: Chicago, Aug. 19-21; Miami, Aug. 26-28; and Los Angeles, Sept. 3-5.

The summer film offerings follow earlier Fiat event promotions. In March at South by Southwest, Fiat partnered with the Fader Fort installation, where participants were given Fiat 500 car parts with which they could make music. Last December at Art Basel in Miami, Fiat invited artists to use the 500 as inspiration for work: Some mounted car parts to frames and others used the vehicle as a canvas. Fiat has also dispatched 500 teams to major U.S. cities to attract attention to the car and show off its features.

U.S. availability of the Fiat 500, with a starting price of $15,500, has been delayed as it took longer than expected for franchise holders to get necessary government permits. Rather than sell through existing Chrysler showrooms, Fiat has set up separate "studios," which now number 99. (The plan is to have 130 by the end of the year.) Soave said the Fiat 500 has been available in the U.S. since March and has sold about 8,000 cars so far; in July, Fiat sold 3,038 vehicles, an increase of 68 percent from the previous month.

She downplays the notion of the 500 as targeting a particular consumer, describing the model as an option for the creative class.
"The car is a more of a lifestyle choice than an age or demographic," she explained. "We have a lot of very young buyers; a lot of buyers over the age of 60. It's a very design-driven choice by people who appreciate culture and like the simplicity and uniqueness of Italian design."

News Source [ ADWeek ]

Published on July 02, 2011

Fiat and Gucci have joined forces to give the small 500 model an exclusivist touch and their collaboration has just taken a new step by developing the convertible version.

The Fiat 500C is painted in white for a more obvious contrast. However, the soft-top will remain black, with Gucci's longitudinal lines on it. Being a special edition of the 500, the small car couldn't miss a fresh new set of alloy wheels, 16-inch, painted white, with the Gucci logo in the center.

Customers who will choose the 500C will benefit from Frau bi-color leather seats, chromed finishes, new materials and the Gucci logo insertion in various elements of the interior, including the safety belts.

The Fiat 500C is equipped with an automatic climate system, seven airbags, a blue&me system, parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an audio CD and MP3 system.

The small car made by the Gucci and Fiat will be presented in "fashion cities" like Saint Tropez, Berlin, London, Rome, Milan, Geneva and Barcelona and after this the 500C will be available for selling at a starting price of 20.000 euros.

News Source [INAutoNews ]

Fiat is launching its first national ad campaign in the U.S. this month. The national and cable broadcast, print, digital and experiential effort, via Southfield, Mich.-based AOR Impatto and Santa Monica, Calif.-based digital agency 72andSunny, bows with a TV advertisement but includes a range of other elements with a focus on programs to get the car in front of potential buyers.

The campaign, with the tag line "Simply More," starts with vintage footage from 1957 of a Fiat 500 rolling into a drive-in movie. Elvis' 1957 hit, "Jailhouse Rock," plays as the setting morphs into a modern take on drive-in theater and the 2011 Fiat 500. Two additional feature-focused TV ads will follow the launch spot.

Laura Soave, Fiat's U.S. marketing chief, tells Marketing Daily that the campaign is meant to tout the brand's heritage in the U.S. "It is a reengineered icon and it has a history story," she says, adding that the effort is also tied through experiential programs to the return of the drive-in movie itself. "Urban drive-ins are popping up again all over America, so it's bringing back a cool old-school experience."

Indeed, Fiat will launch a series of "pop-up" drive-ins showing vintage films. But in keeping the theme, the movies will be original versions of films that have been remade. Soave says each event will have some 50 Fiat 500s on hand in which people can sit to watch the movies or take out for test drives.

The first drive-in will be in New York's Times Square on Aug. 19, with the Jumbotron serving as movie screen showing the original "Ocean's 11." The cars will be there but, because the square is now a pedestrian mall, there won't be test drives. After New York, the drive-in events will be in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Washington, D.C., with smaller activations in secondary markets. "Ultimately, it is very important for the brand to have people touch and experience the car," says Soave.

The campaign also has print ads that will feature lines like "Form & Function meet. And begin a torrid affair"; "Bigger isn't better. It's just harder to park"; and "139.6 inches. Every one tells a story."

Soave says that, so far, buyers of the new car, which went on sale in March, have run the gamut. "We started selling the first vehicles in March, with the majority going to die-hard fans, many of them members of the U.S. Fiat fan clubs," she says, adding that 20% of sales of the re-envisioned 500 car have gone to people who had never heard of the brand.

"I have owners who are 16 year olds who have never driven a manual and learned in the dealership parking lot, and an 85-year-old pig farmer in northern Michigan, who wanted a fuel-efficient car to drive around town." She says buyers are about 70% male, and that the age skew is bi-modal. "It's not a bell curve," she says. "We have lots of buyers in their 30's and younger and buyers over 50."

Fiat is launching the campaign now, per Soave, because there is enough inventory in the pipeline and retail operations on the ground to justify it. The company now has 94 Fiat Studios (Fiat showroom environments for the brand at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealerships) with a goal of reaching 130 studios by year end, the majority in major East/West coastal markets.

Soave says that while national advertising is important, opportunities for consumers to see and feel the vehicles will make the big difference in consideration. "To me, advertising is the necessary evil, since the quickest way to get awareness is traditional national print, TV, and out of home, but what really changes consumer mindset is when they get in it and experience it. We spent lots of time over the past year doing grass roots efforts around the country, and we are going to keep doing that."

News Source [MediaPost ]

Published on July 28, 2011

While the fact that the Americans will get their own version of the hottest Fiat 500 is no longer a novelty, the exact moment of when it will be unveiled on US soil was still under the question mark.

Now, courtesy of a Twitter feed from Fiat USA, it looks like the Los Angeles will be the place for the much awaited moment.

Specifically, the company will take the wraps off the US-spec 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.

And that's about all the details that Fiat was kind enough to offer related to this subject. However, we can expect the US incarnation of the Abarth 500 to come with certain modifications that will help it pass the specific crash tests and will come with a modified rear axle.

Various changes to the interior are also likely to take place, but we'll have to wait four more months to see it.

In regards to the performance details, the Italian automaker is yet to confirm whether the European-spec configurations will also make it to the United States, or it plans a completely new variant specifically for the North American market.

As a fresh reminder, the European-spec 500 Abarth turbocharged 1.4-liter unit, which delivers 135 hp in standard version (or 160 hp on the Esseesse version).

However, we still have to wait for the LA Auto Show to open its gate this November to find out exact details and pricing for the model.

Before we end this story we'd like to tell you that we tested the Euro-spec Abarth 500, a review of which can be accessed at the following link.

News Source [autoevolution]

Published on July 27, 2011

Fiat is launching an iPad app that is both a product catalogue and an arts and lifestyle journal -- kind of an animated, interactive coffee table book about Fiat and the latest emerging artists and trends.

The "Fiat Source" is free at iTunes and lets users study the Fiat 500 car from all angles and configurations with 360-degree images, video and specs. The app -- which is launching with a summer "issue" featuring profiles of a Detroit-based graffiti artist, a young professional photographer, an emerging graphic artist whose recent work included using a Fiat 500 as a canvas, and a member of the Austin, Texas, art collective Public School -- will remain live through Twitter feeds, artist blogs, and other social media connections.

It also has an interactive Fiat history timeline. Forthcoming issues will involve music entertainment, fashion, travel and art.

Josh Donnelly, who works in Fiat brand marketing, tells Marketing Daily that the goal was to create an app that wasn't a flash in the pan. "When we sat down with the creative team, my mission was to create an application that people want to open frequently," he says. "With lots of apps you open it once, have fun spinning the car around, you get what it's about, you close it and never have reason to open it again. The idea is to give our fan base -- the people interested in learning about Fiat -- a reason to want to open the application again and again."

According to Donnelly, the project was about three months in development from pre-production into post, with the brand idea as the fulcrum even for content about artists, travel, or whatever finds its way into its virtual pages in forthcoming issues. "It speaks to what Fiat is as a brand, not just as a product," he says. "[Fiat Source] lets you mold and shape the experience to be what you want it to be." He says about the assortment of artists appearing in the summer issue, "really also ties into the Fiat story, which is about appreciating well-defined craftsmanship and art."

Donnelly says that the onus isn't solely on Fiat to drum up buzz about the app, since the artists themselves are talking up the app through their own social networks. "What's really cool about leveraging these artists is we get to also interact with their communities," he says.

The artists are touting the project through their blogs and social networks, and Fiat will also distribute a video demo of the platform through its own channels, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

"Within the app we want to draw them back to our Web site, to Facebook and Twitter, which is content we are constantly updating, and we are toying around with incorporating different blog feeds directly into the app itself," says Donnelly.

To learn more take a look at this video.

News Source [MediaPost ]
Photo credit: motorauthority.com

Published on July 27, 2011


Fiat's reentry into the American automotive market continues apace. Even though Alfa is delayed (again) Fiat's diminutive 500 is already here, in both coupe and convertible form. And even better news for the performance minded among us gearheads is that the Abarth addition of the toaster-sized 500 will be rolling out in the City of The Angels.

Fiat, trying to be everso hip, made the announcement via twitter that its U.S. spec 500 Abarth performance model will take a bow before the klieg lights at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show this coming November.

Sure, we knew the Abarth variant was coming anyway, but confirmation like this is still nice to have. The 500 is aimed squarely at BMW's Mini line of sub-compacts (and, by extension, the upcoming Scion iQ), so, if Mini gets the John Cooper Works performance package, then Fiat better have something to answer with in that department as well.

Enter the Abarth package. Of course Fiat would go with the venerable and respected Turin tuning firm of Abarth in much the same way that Mini going with John Cooper's outfit made sense. Both firms, back in the 60s, took unassuming commuter cars and turned them into full-blown track terrors. Abarth, with the original 500 and Cooper with the original Mini. Abarth took the first 500 and doubled the horsepower output (which is sort of damning with faint praise, since the original 500?s plant put out something frighteningly low like 32 ponies) and made it into a terror in its class. And Cooper turned the original Mini into one of the most successful and well remembered rally cars of all time.

Fast forward 45 or 50 years, and here we go again.

Although we here in the good ol' U. S. of A. won't get a lot of the real cool goodies, like the sequential semi-auto gearbox (sniff-sniff), we will get the more powerful 1.4-liter turbo with Multiair technology that cranks out around 175 horsepower. Which is not bad for a car as small and light as the 500.

Yes, yes I know that's not as much as the JCW package on the Mini puts to the tarmac, but then again, the 500 weighs a lot less ? as in the order of hundreds of pounds. And why is it, by the way, that Germans still can't figure out how to make something lightweight? Seriously, they've been doing this 'more is more' stuff since the 30s, near as I can tell.

No doubt the Abarth 500 will get some snazzy graphics to set it apart from its lesser brethren, but most likely they won't be as over the top as what you see here. I believe these shots are from a Continental Tire event from a while back, and Conti did the graphics treatment.

And even though all this is good news (funner small hot rods to blast around urban environments in), it is still news that is, by and large, happening before the event, so to speak. Look, let me just put it this way: I would be all over the new 500 and especially the 500 Abarth except for two things (one minor and one major), no semi-auto box and reliability.

The 500 is an unknown quantity on these shores. Sure, the little guys have been running rampant all over Europe for three or four years now, but that's cold comfort to me. Look at Citroens as an example. Huge seller in France, seemingly indestructible on punishing rally stages ? but you get them over here, and they last about as long as a tissue in a flu ward. And Fiat, less face facts, doesn't have the most stellar of reputations when it comes to reliability. So whoever jumps in first is going to be a fairly brave soul in some ways (or someone who's rich and just wants to get "that cute little car" for his second trophy wife).

Fiat both knows that sad fact, and they also know something else: They have to make it in America this time round. Why? Because they own Chrysler now, and they are in the U.S. to stay AND they're going to be bringing in a bunch of Fiat brands to our shores under the Chrysler banner (e.g. Lancias).

So, not only do we have some interesting cars from Fiat heading out way, we also seem to have the full might and backing of one of the worlds largest carmakers putting their full weight behind it. Now if they'd just put that semi-auto box in the little guy ?

News Source [Automoblog ]

Published on July 25, 2011

The 2012 Fiat 500 is a car that, at first blush, seems to have missed the call for Y-chromosomes - its gently rounded roofline, softly pudgy sheet metal and large, round headlamps make the 500 appear as cuddly as a basket of pup-pies, accord-ing to the re-view pub-lished by the Edmonton Journal . The big question for many folks is: How does it perform? The answer: acceptably, the review said. There's enough power from the 101-horsepower 1.4-litre engine to adequately move the car whether mated to the five-speed manual transmis-sion or the six-speed automat-ic, the review said. Ride quality is surprisingly good for such a short car, the review said. Grip is excellent; so is build quality, the review said. Pricing is cheap enough to make this the perfect car no matter who you hope to impress, the review said.
Speaking on the 2012 Fiat 500, wheelsonedge.com says, FIAT is back! And with the little 500 they're back in a BIG way. A stylish Euro cutie that will appeal to people that want the mini but can't af-ford it says the article. The website said I don't think we'll ever see them over here in the numbers you see them in Italy, but that's just fine. What a fun car!

Although Chrysler ex-ecs make the Mini Cooper Convertible the prime target for the new Fiat 500C, there is no denying the car has a much broader appeal than the Mini said Joe Duarte reviewing for Au-tonet.ca. What the 500C does have, though, (like its hatchback sibling) is an Eco-Drive (actually displayed with an EcoDrive function, whereby a USB drive can be plugged into a port in the glove box and the car takes note of the driver's driving habits. The drive can be removed and plugged into a home computer and a site dis-plays economy information and tips on how to maximize econ-omy. That's a neat little feature for today's tech- hungry con-sumer says the article .
Patricia Cancilla re-viewing for The National Post said in an article, ?The driver's seat was very comfort-able and I had plenty of head- and legroom. In fact, the 500 is exceeding-ly spacious for such a small car ? even more so than some bigger compacts I've driven. Smaller passengers, such as my mom and sisters, thought the passenger seat was roomy and legroom plentiful.

News Source [ChryslerNews ]