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Pics Aplenty +Video: Fiat 500 Cabrio introduced at global sales milestone
Fiat 500C – Click above for high-res image gallery
With the rampant acquisition streak Fiat's embarked on, the Italian automaker has clearly emerged as a power-broker in the global automotive industry. The auto group has always been strongest in its home market, but with the ink on the Chrysler deal still wet and more mergers and acquisitions looming on the horizon, Fiat has reached a new milestone: for the first time in the company's history, it's sold more of one model outside of Italy than within.
The model in question, it should come as no great surprise, is the 500, with 54% of sales currently take place outside its home market. The retro hatchback has been selling like hotcakes in every locale it's been introduced, and is slated to come Stateside within a couple of years.
The announcement of the 500's international sales success came at the market introduction of its convertible version, the 500 C, which goes on sale next month in Italy, France and the UK, with more markets to follow. We've loaded a whole new crop of high-resolution images into the gallery below, and posted a video after the jump to satiate all your quaint Italian cabrio fantasies, so enjoy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pat 8:51PM (6/26/2009)
This car is perfect for California! Bring this car over here....pleeasssse....
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Rick C. 12:24AM (6/27/2009)
Yeah, that would be perfect for cruising PCH and the coastal canyons. Of course it needs to be the Abarth version.
Quantumphysics 8:30AM (6/27/2009)
The new Chrysler might turn out not to be so bad after all.
HJC 2 12:23PM (6/27/2009)
I don't understand you people..... This car is fugly.... This car will not sell in big #'s
SMALL- FUNNY LOOKING- PRICEY FOR IT'S SIZE
Protzenegger 1:11PM (6/27/2009)
@ HJC 2:
1) "Fugly" is a matter of opinion. I think it looks great, inside and out.
2) Won't sell well? I take it you've never been to Italy.
3) Small? Not for folks who already have a car for everyday practicality.
Mike M. 9:19PM (6/26/2009)
This convertible is cool because not only can you have the wind in your hair, but a bit of privacy as well, especially if you tint the windows. A regular convertible with the windows up never looks right to me.
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GOT 7:57AM (6/27/2009)
Agreed. Love this cabrio styling with rigid door/window frames. Seems a lot safer and more structurally sound.
EU_reader 9:20PM (6/26/2009)
I want one, and cruise along the riviera.
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EU_reader 7:25PM (6/27/2009)
Besides, it's pretty simple. I like the mini cooper (nothing more, nothing less, just 'like') But that's overpriced for very little practicallity. I'm not saying that the 500 is any more practical (although interior room is a bit better) but at least it's not so expensive as that overpriced fashion icon that the mini is.
Still, I might be persuaded to buy a mini, but there's simply ONE thing I will never be able to live with, and that's that stupid, central mounted railway clock in the mini. So no matter how dynamically fun it is, I will have to buy a 500, alfa MiTo, Golf GTi. Simple
kevinm 9:33PM (6/26/2009)
I'll get one in a heartbeat. It looks fantastic and will give Mini/BMW a run for their money.
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Grand Dayum! 9:47PM (6/26/2009)
Fantastic?! It looks like a scrotum.
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ConceptVBS 12:57AM (6/27/2009)
If your scrotum was missing a flap of skin, I'd be worried.
Bobs 12:51AM (6/27/2009)
Ah not so much in the Canadian winter over here ...
If it is reasonably priced you could probably afford to finance one of these and buy a good and used AWD SUV for decently cheap nowadays.
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larry raines 1:45AM (6/27/2009)
I will buy one now. I hope they do an Abarth version of the 500c, because I want the drive train to be sportif.
Even if I can get an Abarth version of the 500c, I will chip it with the ess-ess kit and then stick a widebody kit on it. ms-design widebody with offset rims. I wish Abarth would do something truly wide. - no fender flares from Abarth yet.
I hope I can get the ess-ess chipset without the wheels and big box. I want to chip it (500c Abarth) with the ess ess chipset, but do my own thing with body and wheels.
Q: Does the ess ess chipset need an Abarth version 500 to bring the motor up to 160 hp? or can you buy the base 500c and just chip it with the ess ess chipset and make the exhaust mods?.
OR will they allow you to buy a stock 500c, and add Abarth components to the drivetrain only.......? Then to upgrade the upgrade by chipping the Abarth powertrain upgrade with an Ess Ess upgrade to the Abarth upgrade?
many questions about how they will sell their trim/upgrade packages.
Shoot, all I want is a 500c Abarth 500c Ess Ess - and then to make it a widebody with the MS design kit.
http://www.ms-design.com/produkte/singleview/marke/fiat-1/offer/1.html
so it is FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Colin Smith 5:01AM (6/27/2009)
Yes, the Abarth ss version does need an Abarth version to work from, because the Abarth is a turbocharged 1.4, unlike the normal car, and has a number of significant modifications. Most obviously this includes a reprofiled front bumper to incorporate oil coolers etc, but there are also suspension and internal tweaks.
As yet there is no Abarth c, but next year the 500 gets whole new set of engines anyway, based on the new 900cc twin, and the top version of this should have a useful 105bhp. The Abarth will continue, but doubtless with the new Multiair technology as well.
Xa 3:40AM (6/27/2009)
is it anything like the 300c?
*joke*
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cheap kaspersky key 7:00AM (6/27/2009)
Nice looking little car and cute as well just nice for city roads to safe gas
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Blake Luttrell 7:29AM (6/27/2009)
What exactly is "safe gas" and where in the city are these roads to it?
Colin Smith 8:45AM (6/27/2009)
It's saVe isn't it. I just got it.
AntBee 10:30AM (6/27/2009)
MINI who?
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