Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2012 Fiat 500c drops its top in New York]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/officially-official-fiat-500c-drops-its-top-for-new-york/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/officially-official-fiat-500c-drops-its-top-for-new-york/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/officially-official-fiat-500c-drops-its-top-for-new-york/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2012 Fiat 500c
2012 Fiat 500c - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat will unveil the brand's newest take on the tiny 500 at the 2011 New York Auto Show later today. The 2012 500c delivers a unique power-operated dual-layer panoramic folding top that leaves the vehicle's roof arches in place, and Fiat says that the design protects vehicle occupants from wind noise and buffeting unlike any other convertible on the market. The design also keeps the roof from impeding on rear passenger and cargo room, which is a nice touch on vehicle about the size of a ballet slipper.

The drophead can lose its canvas cover at speeds up to 60 miles perh our, and the roof can be partially closed to serve as a large sunroof should the driver so desire. The 500c also makes use of a slightly taller windshield compared to its hatchback brethren - a trait designed to give occupants a little more outward visibility.

Inside, the back seats can still be folded down to offer up to 23.4 cubic feet of cargo area. With the rear thrones in place, that number drops to a scant 5.4 cubes.

The 2012 500c will get its pep from a Multiair 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine when it goes on sale later this spring. Buyers can expect to play with 101 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. When coupled to a five-speed manual transmission, the engine is also good for up to 38 miles per gallon, and a six-speed automatic is also available. Follow the jump for Fiat's full press release.


Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500C


[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500c drops its top in New York

2012 Fiat 500c drops its top in New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 new york2011 new york auto show20122012 fiat 500 cabrio2012 fiat 500c500 cabrio500cfiatnew yorknew york auto showThu, 21 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19913630/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/21/officially-official-fiat-500c-drops-its-top-for-new-york/19913630/article-detail.xml 19913630 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-fiat-500c-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-fiat-500c-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. "just in time for spring"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/14/fiat-500-cabrio-released-in-u-s-just-in-time-for-spring/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/14/fiat-500-cabrio-released-in-u-s-just-in-time-for-spring/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/14/fiat-500-cabrio-released-in-u-s-just-in-time-for-spring/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio
2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio - Click above for high-res image gallery

Good news, lovers of open-air motoring: Fiat has just announced that its diminutive little 500 Cabrio will be hitting the U.S. market "just in time for spring" as a 2012 model. That's a little nebulous, mind you, as the announcement doesn't specifically say when we should expect the droptop 500c to actually hit a dealership near you.

In any case, the North American 500 Cabrio mimics its European cousin with an electrically powered fabric roof that can be opened while driving at any speed up to 60 miles per hour. Unlike most convertibles, the 500 Cabrio keeps its fully-framed side windows, as the top slides back and forth on roof rails instead of folding down into a pile at the rear of the car.

Fiat will offer the 500 Cabrio with three different soft top colors, 14 exterior colors and 12 combinations of interior colors and fabrics. Customization is a good thing, no? We'll get our first live impressions of the 500c at the New York Auto Show next week. Hit the jump for the official press release and be sure to check out some fun-in-the-sun motoring in our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500c

2012 Fiat 500c2012 Fiat 500c2012 Fiat 500c

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. "just in time for spring"

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. "just in time for spring" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500 cabrio500500 cabrio500cfiatfiat 500 cabrioThu, 14 Apr 2011 12:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19913365/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/14/fiat-500-cabrio-released-in-u-s-just-in-time-for-spring/19913365/article-detail.xml 19913365 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-2012-fiat-500c630opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-2012-fiat-500c630opt.jpg <![CDATA[Spy Shots: Fiat 500 "Cabrio Coach"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/spy-shots-fiat-500-cabrio-coach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/spy-shots-fiat-500-cabrio-coach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/spy-shots-fiat-500-cabrio-coach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The only thing that could possibly make the Fiat 500 any cutesier than it already is - short of a Hello Kitty sticker job - would be to turn it into a convertible. Castagna tried its hand at just that with the unique Tender Two concept, but the latest batch of spy shots indicate that Fiat's own is getting closer to completion.

In fact, reports now indicate that Fiat will offer not one, but two different types of convertible Cinquecentos. The one seen in the spy shots is being dubbed the "Cabrio Coach" and features a retro-style targa top, with a solid frame and a cloth folding roof sliding back in between the bodywork frames. The roof style, not unlike the back end of the bizarre Maybach Landaulet at the complete other end of the spectrum, will offer buyers a rigid frame and unmolested lines for the cloth-roofed retro-mini. A second, full convertible version is also expected, while engine options are expected to carry over from the existing model, including the 68hp 1.2-liter eight-valve four, the 100hp 1.4-liter 16-valve four, the 74hp 1.3-liter 16-valve turbodiesel and the upcoming 900cc two-cylinder engine. No telling at this point, however, if an open-air Abarth version is also in the mix.

[Source: NextAutos]

Spy Shots: Fiat 500 "Cabrio Coach" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 cabrio500 cabrio coach500 coach cabrio500Cabrio500CabrioCoach500CoachCabriocinquocentefiatfiat 500fiat 500 cabriofiat 500 cabrio coachfiat 500 convertiblefiat cinquocenteFiat500Fiat500CabrioFiat500CabrioCoachFiat500ConvertibleFiatCinquocenteThu, 11 Sep 2008 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1310633/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/11/spy-shots-fiat-500-cabrio-coach/1310633/article-detail.xml 1310633 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/500cabriocoach-spy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/500cabriocoach-spy.jpg <![CDATA[NSFW Pics Aplenty: Castagna Tender Two]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nsfw-pics-aplenty-castagna-tender-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nsfw-pics-aplenty-castagna-tender-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nsfw-pics-aplenty-castagna-tender-two/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Castagna Tender Two

Remember the old days when relating a car to a boat was a negative thing? The Mercury Villager Nautica Edition certainly didn't do much to convince us otherwise. But those days are long behind us, replaced by Range Rovers designed by naval architects, Volkswagens with poop decks, Audis that require their own crew to dock park and even Rolls-Royces with teak decking, to say nothing of Fiat's own Portofino concept. Castagna has a well established expertise in turning retro hatches into pseudo-runabouts, case in point the new Tender Two, based on the Fiat 500, which we brought you a few days ago.

In case you didn't get enough from the solitary initial picture, Castagna has floated us a whole mess of high-res pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Just click on the thumbnails below, but we'd suggest waiting until you get home, because where there are stylish boats, there are bound to be girls in bikinis.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Tender Two by Castagna

[Source: Castagna]

NSFW Pics Aplenty: Castagna Tender Two originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 cabrio500Cabriocastagna fiatcastagna fiat 500castagna tender twoCastagnaFiatCastagnaFiat500CastagnaTenderTwocastangafiat 500fiat 500 cabriofiat 500 convertibleFiat500Fiat500CabrioFiat500Convertiblenauticaltender twoTenderTwoWed, 10 Sep 2008 10:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1309398/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/10/nsfw-pics-aplenty-castagna-tender-two/1309398/article-detail.xml 1309398 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/tendertwo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/tendertwo.jpg -1 2