Autoblog

All Fiat 500 production moving to Poland by 2015?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Fiat

With the next-generation Fiat 500 expected to debut in 2015 with more of a global presence, there is a growing possibility that production of the cute little hatchback will be consolidated to a single plant in Poland. According to Automotive News Europe, Fiat plans to end production of the 500 in Toluca, Mexico, which is expected to better fill Fiat's European production capacity, free up more North American capacity and create a single Fiat 500 design for all markets.

Currently, Fiat builds two similar but structurally different 500 models for Europe and North America, and assembling just one version at the Tychy, Poland would allow it to cut costs for development of the new car. This would also help fill some of the capacity void that Tychy has suffered in recent years, building just 300,000 units last year compared to more than double that in 2009. The report says that while Chrysler's North American production capacity is near its limit, Fiat's European plants will be used to meet increased demand before a new plant is built in North America. As for Toluca, there is no indication as to what vehicle Chrysler would replace the 500 with at this facility, which also builds the Dodge Journey.

All Fiat 500 production moving to Poland by 2015? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 Fiore Rosa is Italian-Japanese cute-overload fusion

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Japan, Hatchback, Fiat

If you live in Japan and you want to get something for your special someone for Valentine's Day, then slow dance down to your Fiat dealer and check out the Fiat 500 Fiore Rosa. A holiday special, the pale metallic pink Cinquecento is limited to 150 examples and only on sale from February 14-17. But beware the connotations, because as far as we can glean from Google Translate, the 500 Fiore Rosa is a bargain model, getting halogen lights instead of bi-xenons, manual air-con instead of climate control, 14-inch steel wheels instead of 15-inch alloys, and going without chrome trim, glass roof, parking sensors and alarm.

It's fitted with the TwinAir engine and gets the same price as the regular 500 TwinAir, however - 2,200,000 yen ($23,559 US). Other than the special name, we can't figure out where the 500 Fiore Rosa is hiding its treats, especially because it gets the el-cheapo wheel covers of the 500 Pop fitted with the 1.2-liter engine instead of the 500 TwinAir wheels. But if you want to make a statement, it's there. And we're talking to the women of Japan, because apparently they're the ones who buy the gifts on Valentine's day in Nippon.

Fiat 500 Fiore Rosa is Italian-Japanese cute-overload fusion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat brings Café Racer, Beach Cruiser and Magneti Marelli samplers to SEMA

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:41:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Budget, Hatchback, Fiat

The retro-coolness of the Fiat 500 is such that it naturally lends itself to customization. So, when we first heard tell that the company was preparing a stripped-down Café Racer concept, a beach-ready 500C and a brace of Magneti Marelli cars for this year's SEMA show, our interest was piqued.

Now that the curtain has dropped on the mean Cinquecento posse, we can confirm that the reality is nearly as good as our expectation lead us to believe.

The Café Racer, in particular, is a pretty cool custom car. The Fiat has been stripped to the bare essentials on the inside, showing only a pair of minimal bucket seats up front as well as the typical driver controls. The racer may be slowed down a bit by the motorcycle trailer that it's toting, but considering the Abarth-badged single-cylinder bike is so cool, we'll let it pass.

The 500 Beach Cruiser, with teak floor mats and roof rails and a sinister looking paintjob, we've detailed for you earlier. The two Magneti Marelli cars are still veiled in some secrecy, save that they are meant to serve as demonstrators for the company's aftermarket support.

Fiat brings Café Racer, Beach Cruiser and Magneti Marelli samplers to SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five-door Fiat 500 headed to Geneva

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Fiat

According to The Detroit Free Press, a plus-sized version of the cheeky little Fiat 500 is heading to the Geneva Motor Show in March. Olivier Francois, head of the Fiat brand, has reportedly confirmed that a five-door 500 will be shown in Geneva, and that the new vehicle will be sold here in the United States starting in 2013.

Sound familiar? About one year ago, we reported that Fiat was working on a four-door (or, five-door) 500 internally known as Project L-Zero. This larger 500 was specifically being designed to round out the automaker's portfolio here in the U.S., though at the time, it was unclear whether or not the vehicle would be sold in other markets. Judging by the fact that the five-door 500 will debut in Switzerland, we can only assume that worldwide consumption is in the cards.

Five-door Fiat 500 headed to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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