Fiat and Diesel get together for one-off 500C for AIDS auction
Fiat 500C by Diesel – Click above for a high-res image gallery
When the American Foundation for AIDS Research kicks off its seventeenth annual Cinema Against AIDS Gala later this month at the Cannes Film Festival, they'll be shooting to raise major coin and in the process, hopefully break their record of $7 million taken in at last year's event. Big names like former President Bill Clinton, actress Sharon Stone, movie producer Harvey Weinstein and singer Annie Lennox will be on hand to help the foundation achieve its goals, along with the special one-of-a-kind car you see here.
Melding the best elements from the Fiat 500C unveiled in Geneva this past March and the Fiat 500 Diesel Edition unveiled last fall in Paris, the Fiat 500C by Diesel features a special dark green metallic paint job and special detailing inside and out, topped by the Italian automaker's retro folding fabric roof. The plethora of Diesel logos and special denim interior trim are motivated by Fiat's 100-horsepower 1.4-liter engine in the place of the fixed-roof Diesel Cinquecento's 75hp 1.3-liter unit. Only one example will be made, and the bubble bauble will go home with the highest bidder at the charity event on May 21. Details can be found in the press release after the jump, and a pair of high-resolution photos in the gallery below.
Gallery: Fiat 500C by Diesel
[Source: Fiat]
PRESS RELEASE
Fiat "500C by DIESEL": playing the starring role at the charity auction in favour of AmFAR
The Cinema Against AIDS Gala in favour of AmFAR (the American Foundation for AIDS Research), the association in charge of fund-raising for the fight against AIDS, is to be held on 21st May 2009, during the 62nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The charity auction, now in its seventeenth edition, will be taking place at Hotel du Cap in Antibes this year.
Bill Clinton will be the most eagerly awaited guest of this edition and will be hosting the auction alongside the event's godmother Sharon Stone and film producer Harvey Weinstein. Singer and founder of the Eurythmics Annie Lennox will be performing to numerous big names from the fashion and film industries, who will be helping raise funds for AmFar in an attempt to exceed the record amount of seven million dollars raised during the 2008 edition.
A large number of significant items will be up for grabs during the most eagerly awaited Gala of the film festival: these include an exclusive Fiat "500C by DIESEL", resulting from the joint effort of Fiat and the lifestyle brand by Renzo Rosso. This cabrio model, a one-off car that is not available for purchase, combines two apparently distant worlds: fashion and motoring. As a matter of fact, they share some important concepts, such as talent, creativity, appeal and innovation, the winning ingredients of Italian style, which is famous all over the world.
Made on the basis of the Special Series of the same name and equipped with the powerful 1.4, 100 HP engine, this special version Fiat "500C by DIESEL" stands out for its black top combined with the matching "DIESEL green" bodywork. Both cars feature all the same aesthetic features for a strong visual impact: on the exterior, the 16" alloy wheels marked with the Diesel logo will catch your eye, along with the brake calipers which have been painted yellow, the side moulding marked DIESEL and the specific rear view mirror cover. These last two features are painted in satin steel finish, along with the grille, bumpers and the characteristic "feelers" on the bumper. Last but not least, the rear panel features the DIESEL logo and five air vents reproducing the characteristic detail of the cooling system of the historic 500. The same strong personalisation can be found in the interiors, such as the specific denim upholstery (with yellow stitching) branded DIESEL. The brand logo can also be found on the instrument panel (distinguished by a yellow background) and on the gear lever knob, while a special pocket reminiscent of the fifth pocket on DIESEL jeans is featured on the side of the front seats.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sea Urchin 8:32AM (5/19/2009)
Interesting color, rarely do we see the use of dark green.
More importantly, if this car will be offered in USA, how much will it cost? This car will either kill or save Chrysler.
Reply
Bloke 8:54AM (5/19/2009)
Peugeot used a similar colour for its Roland Garros limited edition versions of the 205, 309 etc, along with cream leather upholstery.
Quantumphysics 8:41AM (5/19/2009)
Chrysler and Fiat
A merger of equally inferior products.
This "500C" is just stupid. "C" should always imply "Hemi" engine.
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Sea Urchin 8:46AM (5/19/2009)
Does name matter that much to you?
Bloke 8:52AM (5/19/2009)
"This "500C" is just stupid. "C" should always imply "Hemi" engine."
Not in Europe it doesn't, which is the 500's primary market. Whatsmore, all 300 models sold in international markets were 300C models, including those with V6 and the diesel.
Co.Bra. 8:56AM (5/19/2009)
This "Quantumphysics" is just ignorant. "Quantumphysics" should always imply "Can't look beyond his backyard" bigotry
BTW, the "C" in "500C" means "Convertibile"
Dude 8:58AM (5/19/2009)
AIDS? isn't that an 80's 90's disease?
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richard 9:17AM (5/19/2009)
Thanks to Bush and the criminally-stupid Rick Warren, AIDS is rising in Africa due to "Abstinence" programs, after years of decline due to condom distribution.
artandcolour 9:47AM (5/19/2009)
i really hope you're not that ignorant, and i really hope you didn't say that in some sort of misguided attempt at humor.
AIDS is still killing millions of people yearly, and is still a huge problem in every country, on every continent, of this world. there is still no cure, and the rate of newly infected people, both men and women, straight and gay, continues to rise.
Brent 10:55AM (5/19/2009)
Richard,
Quit crying. The US shouldn't even be sending aid to any country. That is what non-profit organizations should do, not the state.
Rich 10:57AM (5/19/2009)
Brent: people shouldn't receive aid based on how much people care about them. They should receive an appropriate amount based on their need in relation to other needs. That is what social responsibility is all about. Pay your taxes and shut up.
Dude 12:29PM (5/19/2009)
@richard
Jesus loves you. Brent is correct.
@artandcolour
Line is from South Park. Cancer is new AIDS. With the exception of Southern Africa, more people die from drowning every year than from AIDS.
@Brent
Great response
@Rich
You know, the problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.
jharlan 9:20AM (5/19/2009)
I don't get it. Why isn't this on the showroom? It is obviously a winner for these times.
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timo 9:27AM (5/19/2009)
But does it have a Diesel engine?
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AutoFreak 10:27AM (5/19/2009)
"The plethora of Diesel logos and special denim interior trim are motivated by Fiat's 100-horsepower 1.4-liter engine in the place of the fixed-roof Diesel Cinquecento's 75hp 1.3-liter unit."
- No diesel engine here.
Rich 10:55AM (5/19/2009)
But is the denim actually from Nîmes?
nuggetsmcduggets 1:14PM (5/19/2009)
I'm in love with this car, despite the fact that I'm a man.
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Colin Smith 1:45PM (5/19/2009)
The Diesel's (engine) going to be uprated to 95 bhp when Multiair 2 arrives later in the year. Nice.
And next year it'll get the 105 bhp petrol twin. Even nicer.
Reply