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[Abarth 695 Maserati Edition bows at Mille Miglia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/abarth-695-maserati-edition-bows-at-mille-miglia/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/abarth-695-maserati-edition-bows-at-mille-miglia/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/21/abarth-695-maserati-edition-bows-at-mille-miglia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Fiat 500 in its various guises positively romps on its popularity, making special-edition hay with terrific frequency. This latest outing in the form of the Abarth 695 Maserati Edition follows a familiar trail, coming three years after the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari that debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

That hatch had a tuned 1.4-liter turbo four putting out more than 180 horsepower, a variable exhaust system and paddle-shifting automated manual under its Ferrari 430 Scuderia-mimicking paint scheme. But aside from the paint, this one gets much the same treatment: 180-hp output, Abarth Competizione gearbox and dual mode exhaust.

It goes the GranTurismo route instead of hard-core sports car, though, using the convertible Abarth as a base and adding Pontevecchio Bordeaux paint with a gray top, sand-beige leather and black interior, Jaeger instrumentation, and 17-inch Maserati-style Neptune wheels and hexagonal tailpipes. Still, it gets even bigger Brembo brakes than the Ferrari version.

Just 499 will be made for "mainly" European markets, naturally, so the closest we'll get to it is the high-res gallery above the the press release below.

Continue reading Abarth 695 Maserati Edition bows at Mille Miglia

Abarth 695 Maserati Edition bows at Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 abarth500c500c abarthabarthabarth 695 maserati editionfiatfiat 500fiat 500 abarthMon, 21 May 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20241355/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/21/abarth-695-maserati-edition-bows-at-mille-miglia/20241355/article-detail.xml 20241355 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/abarth695maseratied_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/abarth695maseratied.jpg <![CDATA[Another slew of Fiat 500 Abarth ads with Catrinel Menghia released]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/another-slew-of-fiat-500-abarth-ads-with-catrinel-menghia-releas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/another-slew-of-fiat-500-abarth-ads-with-catrinel-menghia-releas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/another-slew-of-fiat-500-abarth-ads-with-catrinel-menghia-releas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Ah, Catrinel Menghia. Fiat knows a good thing when it finds one, and so it's no surprise to see a trio of new advertisements staring the Romanian-born and Italian-speaking model alongside the 2012 500 Abarth.

First up is a minute-long montage showing the Scorpion-addled Abarth flung around the desert while Catrinel... well, stands around looking beautiful. Next, the turbocharged 500 drives down the Las Vegas Strip while Ms. Menghia walks around looking beautiful. Notice a trend?

In the third video of this new series, Catrinel finally gets to drive the Abarth in a race against a lucky cameraman. Well, sort of. The two cars are actually piloted by "professional drivers on a closed course" - as you can see, they are wearing helmets. Catrinel and the cameraman, on the other hand, emerge from their black and white 500s with hair blowing in the wind.

No matter. Clearly these videos are meant to build upon the first extremely successful tie-up between the model and the Italian hatchback. We've gone ahead and included that initial commercial, along with the three new ones, below. Enjoy!

Continue reading Another slew of Fiat 500 Abarth ads with Catrinel Menghia released

Another slew of Fiat 500 Abarth ads with Catrinel Menghia released originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500 abarth500500 abarthabarthcatrinel menghiacinquecentofiatfiat 500videoFri, 27 Apr 2012 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20226129/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/another-slew-of-fiat-500-abarth-ads-with-catrinel-menghia-releas/20226129/article-detail.xml 20226129 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/abarth-500-model-3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/abarth-500-model-3.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat 500L seven-seater spotted]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/fiat-500l-seven-seater-spotted/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/fiat-500l-seven-seater-spotted/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/fiat-500l-seven-seater-spotted/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fiat 500L 7-passengerWe like the small Fiat 500 a lot, but we're not so fond of the upsized version Fiat is planning. When the five-door 500L debuted at Geneva, calling it homely was being generous, indeed. We can't deny the logic in offering a more family friendly 500, however. But a size-large seven-seater? This quite literally stretches the limits of the 500's ethos.

Yet Auto Express has captured spy shots of a full-size design study for exactly that: A 500L with a third row. The magazine is reporting that the mockup it spotted in the automaker's Turin, Italy, design studio rides on the same wheelbase as the five-door model, but with its rear overhang extended by nearly eight inches to accommodate what must surely be the smallest third row of seats to ever grace the interior of a vehicle not made of Lego.

The report goes on to say that the seven-passenger model would use the same body panels and doors as the five-door 500L, basically everything from the C-pillar forward. Check out Auto Express for more images and info.

Fiat 500L seven-seater spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinquecentofiatfiat 500fiat 500 7-seatfiat 500lFri, 20 Apr 2012 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20219829/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/20/fiat-500l-seven-seater-spotted/20219829/article-detail.xml 20219829 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiat-500l-7-passenger-1334868854_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiat-500l-7-passenger-1334868854.jpg <![CDATA[Gov't. documents suggest Fiat readying 500T turbo and Abarth convertible]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/govt-documents-suggest-fiat-readying-500t-turbo-and-abarth-con/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/govt-documents-suggest-fiat-readying-500t-turbo-and-abarth-con/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/govt-documents-suggest-fiat-readying-500t-turbo-and-abarth-con/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth - front three-quarter view, white

According to a report from Car and Driver, documents submitted to the California Air Resources Board and to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration both point to a new arrival in the Fiat 500 line: a turbocharged hatch called the 500T Sport. The NHTSA document was a key for decoding a car's VIN, the "500T Sport" moniker appearing in the Series classification. The CARB paperwork approved California's certification of a boosted 1.4-liter engine for an unnamed Fiat product, along with the the Dodge Dart and 500 Abarth, which use the same engine.

There is currently a 59-horsepower spread between the 500 and the 500 Abarth, as well as a $6,500 difference in MSRP, which is a chasm offering plenty of space to mine a middle model.
C/D figures the 500T Sport will put out something around 130 hp and debut sometime over the next year, and a fan site, Fiat500USA, has found pics of what might be the car we'll get.

Gov't. documents suggest Fiat readying 500T turbo and Abarth convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 fiat 500t sport500500t sportcinquecentofiatfiat 500fiat 500t sportWed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20213031/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/govt-documents-suggest-fiat-readying-500t-turbo-and-abarth-con/20213031/article-detail.xml 20213031 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiat500tcoming_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fiat500tcoming.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Fiat 500 America is a patriot from afar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Behold, the stars and stripes of the Fiat 500 America. As you may recall, this patriotic little hatchback isn't headed to our shores anytime soon. Fiat has decided to offer up the America F-Yeah edition 500 to European customers only, which seems like an odd move to us. Fiat seems to agree. The company is only producing a total of 1,000 units draped in the U.S. theme, with 500 of those leaving the factory in hard-top guise and the rest as convertibles. Changes are pretty scarce beyond the special decal treatment and unique wheel accents.

Fiat says the 500 America will go on sale this March, followed shortly by the new Fiat 500 Color Therapy edition in June. No matter how badly we wish it were, that's not a joke. Look below for the press release.

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500 America is a patriot from afar

2012 Fiat 500 America is a patriot from afar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500 america2012 fiat 500 america edition500500 americaamericafiatfiat 500fiat 500 americagenevageneva 2012geneva motor showTue, 06 Mar 2012 22:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20186869/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-2012/20186869/article-detail.xml 20186869 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/000-2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/000-2012-fiat-500-america-geneva-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Fiat 500L is one homely Cinquecento [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500l-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500l-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500l-geneva-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Fiat 500 wins hearts and wallets by trading in large measure on its unassailable cuteness and compact dimensions. But that's not enough for Sergio Marchionne and Company, who are looking to broaden the range's appeal with this new 500L. Certainly, it's bigger by nearly every measure, but after having clapped eyes on this thing in person at the Geneva Motor Show, we think it gives up a disturbing amount of the standard car's adorableness in exchange for the extra utility.

Clearly, it's not for lack of trying - Fiat has splashed out not just on a lot of new sheetmetal and light fixtures, it has also opted for a very different (and markedly more conservative) instrument panel inside. The family-minded Cinquecento has a roofline that apes that of the Mini Countryman, but like the 500, there should be no lack of customizability, including a whopping 30 different paint colors.

When it launches in Europe at the end of this year, the 500L will be available with Fiat's groundbreaking 900cc, two-cylinder TwinAir and 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines, along with a 1.3-liter MultiJet diesel. No North American release date has been made public, though the model is expected to be available in our market before too long. Check out the gallery of live shots above, then look below for a short official video and press release.

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500L is one homely Cinquecento [w/video]

2012 Fiat 500L is one homely Cinquecento [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500L500500 Large500Lcinquecentofiatfiat 500genevageneva 2012geneva motor showtwinairTue, 06 Mar 2012 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20186767/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/06/2012-fiat-500l-geneva-2012/20186767/article-detail.xml 20186767 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/fiat-500l-geneva-2012_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/fiat-500l-geneva-2012.jpg <![CDATA[Why the Fiat 500 isn't the flop it's being made out to be]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/why-the-fiat-500-isnt-the-flop-its-being-made-out-to-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/why-the-fiat-500-isnt-the-flop-its-being-made-out-to-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/why-the-fiat-500-isnt-the-flop-its-being-made-out-to-be/#commentsFiat 500 C

The poor Fiat 500. The adorable three-door hasn't exactly been the resounding success Fiat had hoped, missing sales projections by a wide margin. As you may recall, the company managed to sell just 17,945 units between March and December of 2011. That's a far cry from 50,000 units annually the company projected before the 500 landed in dealerships. But, according to Polk, things may not be as bad as they seem. While it's true that the 500 managed to pull down just four percent of the subcompact car segment, the results look a bit rosier when you compare the 500 to other three-door B-segment offerings.

In that admittedly small group, the 500 did quite well, pulling down 27 percent of all sales and landing in second place behind the Mini Cooper. The plucky Italian even manged to best the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris. Still, as Polk points out, that's a good portion of a very small corner of the total subcompact segment, and an even thinner slice of the American car market.

The upcoming five-door 500 will likely give Fiat an extra edge, though whether the vehicle helps the automaker crest its 50,000 unit goal remains to be seen.

Why the Fiat 500 isn't the flop it's being made out to be originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500fiatfiat 500fiat 500 salesfiat salessalesThu, 23 Feb 2012 09:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20177330/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/23/why-the-fiat-500-isnt-the-flop-its-being-made-out-to-be/20177330/article-detail.xml 20177330 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/fiat-500-c-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/fiat-500-c-628.jpg <![CDATA[Abarth pays homage to Maserati with Geneva-bound 695 cabrio special]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/21/abarth-pays-homage-to-maserati-with-geneva-bound-695-cabrio-spec/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/21/abarth-pays-homage-to-maserati-with-geneva-bound-695-cabrio-spec/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/21/abarth-pays-homage-to-maserati-with-geneva-bound-695-cabrio-spec/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati

The Fiat group has a knack for (or a habit of) dressing up its most affordable hatchbacks in tribute to its most expensive exotics. Alfa Romeo did a special MiTo and Giulietta for Maserati dealers, and Abarth did a special 500 to honor Ferrari. But since the latter has run its production run, the Scorpion marque is celebrating Maserati with this latest version.

Destined for unveiling at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the new Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati features the same 180 horsepower 1.4-liter turbo four as the aforementioned Tributo Ferrari, but with different 17-inch alloys. The Maserati version also adopts the 500C's retracting roof panel and a more elegant design approach than the previous Ferrari edition, topped by a three-layer burgundy paint job and sand beige Pontrona Frau leather.

Only 499 examples will be offered, and probably spoken for in quick order. But whether you think this gussied-up Cinquecento is any more worthwhile than the Mini Goodwood edition or the Aston Martin Cygnet will probably depend mostly on whether you've ever tried to drive a GranTurismo or Quattroporte through Europe's notoriously crowded city streets. Check it out in the trio of high-res images below and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Abarth pays homage to Maserati with Geneva-bound 695 cabrio special

Abarth pays homage to Maserati with Geneva-bound 695 cabrio special originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 geneva motor showabarthabarth 500abarth 695abarth 695 tributo maseratifiatfiat 500genevageneva 2012geneva motor showmaseratiTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20175458/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/21/abarth-pays-homage-to-maserati-with-geneva-bound-695-cabrio-spec/20175458/article-detail.xml 20175458 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/web695tributomaserati01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/web695tributomaserati01.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat dishes up more information on 500L five-door]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/fiat-dishes-up-more-information-on-500l-five-door/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/fiat-dishes-up-more-information-on-500l-five-door/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/fiat-dishes-up-more-information-on-500l-five-door/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat 500

Fiat has served up a few more tidbits on the upcoming 500L five-door expected to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. According to Automotive News, the vehicle will feature a taller roof than the thee-door Fiat 500, and while the two sill share a front fascia, the larger vehicle will ride on a widened version of the same chassis that underpins the Fiat Punto. All told, the Fiat 500L will be around 163.38 inches long, which is around 2.36 inches longer than the current 500.

Interestingly enough, Fiat plans to introduce both five-seat and a seven-seat version of the 500L in the near future, though American buyers are only likely to be able to enjoy the former configuration. The 500L is expected to touch down on dealer lots in Europe in July, while Americans will have to wait until early 2013 to plop themselves in the driver's seat.

In Europe, the vehicles will likely be available with with a turbocharged two-cylinder 900cc gasoline engine with 85 horsepower as well as a 1.4-liter four-cylinder good for either 77 or 105 hp depending on configuration. A 1.3-liter diesel will also be an option across the pond with either 75 or 99 hp. Odds are American buyers will simply see the 1.4-liter Multiair four-cylinder on their option sheets.

Fiat dishes up more information on 500L five-door originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500 five-door500lcrossoverfiatfiat 500fiat 500lfive-doorgenevageneva motor showSun, 29 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159344/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/29/fiat-dishes-up-more-information-on-500l-five-door/20159344/article-detail.xml 20159344 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/fiat-500-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/fiat-500-628.jpg <![CDATA[Abarth 695 shines in Tokyo with full chrome job [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/abarth-695-shines-in-tokyo-with-full-chrome-job-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/abarth-695-shines-in-tokyo-with-full-chrome-job-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/abarth-695-shines-in-tokyo-with-full-chrome-job-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari in chrome

The Abarth 695 was originally intended as a Fiat 500-based tribute to Ferrari. Hence the 695 Tributo Ferrari moniker. But this one looks more like a salute to McLaren.

Created by Japanese tuner Office-K and unveiled this week at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this special Abarth has had its Scuderia Red paint hidden under a full chrome vinyl wrap - similar to the one we reported on back in May - and capped with a tricolore racing stripe up the nose.

Otherwise, it's mechanically the same as the stock 695, which means a 1.4-liter turbo four driving 180 little prancing stallions through a five-speed manual to the front pair of 17-inch wheels with their Brembo brakes. It also means an interior with a chunky steering wheel, Sabelt racing buckets and Abarth's signature turbo boost gauge. Check it the chrome job in the video after the jump and the images in the gallery above.

Continue reading Abarth 695 shines in Tokyo with full chrome job [w/video]

Abarth 695 shines in Tokyo with full chrome job [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500500695abarthabarth 695abarth 695 tributo ferrarifiat 500office-ktokyo auto salonvehicle wrapvideoTue, 17 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20150457/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/17/abarth-695-shines-in-tokyo-with-full-chrome-job-w-video/20150457/article-detail.xml 20150457 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/abarth-695-tributo-ferrari-42-1326826162_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/abarth-695-tributo-ferrari-42-1326826162.jpg <![CDATA[Marchionne admits 50,000-unit sales goal for Fiat 500 "incredibly naive"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/marchionne-admits-50-000-unit-sales-goal-for-fiat-500-incredibl/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/marchionne-admits-50-000-unit-sales-goal-for-fiat-500-incredibl/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/marchionne-admits-50-000-unit-sales-goal-for-fiat-500-incredibl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Fiat 500C front three-quarter

When Fiat pronounced that it was planning to sell 50,000 Fiat 500 models in 2011, we were more than a little skeptical. And now that 2011 is in the rear view mirror, it seems CEO Sergio Marchionne is ready to admit that the sales target was not very realistic.

CNN Money reports that the charismatic Fiat/Chrysler boss is now calling the 50,000 number "incredibly naive," adding that the goal was to best Mini Cooper's 2010 sales total of 45,644. Fiat only managed to sell 19,769 Cinquecento models for the year.

Given that Mini has been in the U.S. for a decade and the marque already has an established dealer body and marketing presence - as well as an entire range of products - critics have said that clear that Fiat's 50,000-unit first-year goal was ambitious to a fault. Marchionne went on to add "we set ourselves up for a fall," but the chief executive insists that the future of Fiat in the U.S. is still very strong.

Even though sales of the 500 came nowhere near 50,000 units, Marchionne says that the Mexico plant that builds the A-segment ride is still profitable. That's because the plant also builds models for South America and China. Marchionne is reportedly hoping to sell between 25,000 and 30,000 copies of the 500 in the U.S. in 2012. While the 500 will likely be the only Fiat-branded model available in U.S. showrooms in 2012, the lineup is at least set to expand with models like the $22,000 high-performance 500 Abarth.

Marchionne admits 50,000-unit sales goal for Fiat 500 "incredibly naive" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500500500 abarthchryslercinquecentofiatfiat 500fiat salesmarchionnesergio marchionneTue, 17 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20149282/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/17/marchionne-admits-50-000-unit-sales-goal-for-fiat-500-incredibl/20149282/article-detail.xml 20149282 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat 500, Chevy Volt listed among biggest product flops of 2011... but should they be?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fiat 500c

Chevrolet Volt'Tis the season for thin news cycles and cheesy top ten lists. Yahoo! Finance has thrown its hat in the top ten ring with its list of the biggest flops among all consumer goods introduced for 2011. Both the Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Volt have made it among the chosen few, rubbing elbows with such luminaries as Netflix's Qwikster and Disney's Mars Needs Moms.

Why the Volt? Yahoo! points to the vehicle's underwhelming sales, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fire investigation and misguided General Motors executives as indicators of the plug-in hybrid's failure. We think that's a bit harsh given the fact that the Volt wasn't on sale across the country for most of the year, and we've harped on how absurd the NHTSA fire issue is in the past, so we'll save the digital ink here.

And what of the Fiat 500? It's no secret the adorable Italian hatchback has missed its sales goals by a country mile. While Chrysler had hoped to move 50,000 models this year, actual U.S. sales for the year will probably end up around 20,000 units, which really isn't too bad. Those early sales targets were picked straight from the crazy buffet to begin with, and the fact that the 500 suffered production delays, dealership network woes and a botched marketing effort didn't help matters. Still, do those issues make the 500 one of the biggest product flops of 2011?

For our money, it's too early to call either of these vehicles flops - moving 20,000 relatively expensive very small cars for a new-to-the-U.S. (well, "new again," at least) brand doesn't sound too bad to us, and putting the Volt on the list when it wasn't available to most consumers strikes us as Yahoo! Finance trolling for controversy. What say you? Drop us a line in Comments...

Fiat 500, Chevy Volt listed among biggest product flops of 2011... but should they be? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112011 chevrolet volt2011 fiat 500500biggest flops of 2011chevroletchevrolet voltfiatfiat 500flopstop ten listvoltThu, 29 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137092/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/20137092/article-detail.xml 20137092 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628.jpg <![CDATA[VH1 does the Pop-Up Video thing with Abarth's "Seduction" ad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/vh1-does-the-pop-up-video-thing-with-abarths-seduction-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/vh1-does-the-pop-up-video-thing-with-abarths-seduction-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/vh1-does-the-pop-up-video-thing-with-abarths-seduction-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fiat 500 Abarth

There's no question that Fiat's "Seduction" ad was a big success. Launched just a few weeks ago to coincide with the North American debut of the Fiat 500 Abarth, the minute-long commercial quickly went viral to amass over two million views. And with good reason. The spot's got everything: cars, sexy, funny.... So what more could Fiat do with the ad? Pop-Up Video, of course!

The VH1 program was most popular in the late 90s, but was revived just a couple of months ago by the (*ahem*) music television channel. So Fiat handed its precious video over to VH1 for the full pop-up treatment, complete with random snippets of information about its production and such. Follow the jump to check it out, along with the press release and - just because we love our readers so much - a special bonus video from the Abarth PR crew.

Continue reading VH1 does the Pop-Up Video thing with Abarth's "Seduction" ad

VH1 does the Pop-Up Video thing with Abarth's "Seduction" ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abarthcatrinel menghiacommercialfiatfiat 500fiat 500 abarthpop up videopop-up videoseductionsexy advh1vh1 pop up videovideoThu, 08 Dec 2011 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20123781/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/08/vh1-does-the-pop-up-video-thing-with-abarths-seduction-ad/20123781/article-detail.xml 20123781 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-abarth-seduction-pop-up-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-abarth-seduction-pop-up-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat 500 nets three-star NHTSA safety rating; Toyota Camry and Cadillac CTS get five]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/fiat-500-nets-three-star-nhtsa-safety-rating-toyota-camry-and-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/fiat-500-nets-three-star-nhtsa-safety-rating-toyota-camry-and-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/fiat-500-nets-three-star-nhtsa-safety-rating-toyota-camry-and-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fiat 500 crash test photo

The 2012 Toyota Camry and 2012 Cadillac CTS have joined the ranks of vehicles that have earned the coveted five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicles mark the 15th and 16th models to nab the top rating under the tougher NHTSA crash test standards enacted for 2011 models. Last year, the 2011 Camry took home four stars in the evaluations. Toyota reminds us that the 2012 Camry is built with high-strength steel to help protect the passenger cell against deflection in the event of an accident, and that the vehicle comes standard with 10 airbags, all of which contribute to the new model's superior score.

The Fiat 500, meanwhile, didn't fare so well under the range of crash evaluations. The tiny hatchback collected just three stars overall. The side-impact test was particularly cruel to the Italian compact, with NHTSA awarding the vehicle two stars in that category - a somewhat surprising result considering that Fiat went to the trouble of redesigning the 500 for U.S. crash test compatibility. The 500 finds itself in the company of the Dodge Caliber and outgoing Ford Escape as the only models tested so far to receive the three-star designation.

Fiat 500 nets three-star NHTSA safety rating; Toyota Camry and Cadillac CTS get five originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500cadillaccadillac ctscamrycrash testcrash testsctsfiatfiat 500National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationnhtsatoyotatoyota camryThu, 08 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20123728/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/08/fiat-500-nets-three-star-nhtsa-safety-rating-toyota-camry-and-c/20123728/article-detail.xml 20123728 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-crash-test-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-crash-test-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/03/chrysler-settles-with-graffiti-artists-over-j-los-fiat-500-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/03/chrysler-settles-with-graffiti-artists-over-j-los-fiat-500-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/03/chrysler-settles-with-graffiti-artists-over-j-los-fiat-500-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fiat 500 Jennifer Lopez ad

Fiat has had nothing but trouble from its 500C commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez. After enduring a body double scandal and reports that the vehicle actually broke down during filming, Chrysler then found itself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit. The artists behind a copyrighted mural in the Bronx sued the automaker for using the image without their permission, but The New York Times now reports that the two parties have settled their differences out of court. Neither side is disclosing the details of the settlement at this time, but Fiat and artists TATS Cru have conveniently announced a new collaboration.

Fiat will provide the artists with a 500 to be painted and then auctioned off at a later date for charity, though no one is saying whether the group received any compensation for the use of its artwork in the Jennifer Lopez ad. Hit the jump to check out the ad in question for yourself.

Continue reading Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video]

Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 ad500cfiatfiat 500fiat 500 adjennifer lopezSat, 03 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20119885/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/03/chrysler-settles-with-graffiti-artists-over-j-los-fiat-500-ad/20119885/article-detail.xml 20119885 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-ad-628-1322863145_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-ad-628-1322863145.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat Group bringing bagful of new models to Bologna Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-group-bringing-bagful-of-new-models-to-bologna-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-group-bringing-bagful-of-new-models-to-bologna-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-group-bringing-bagful-of-new-models-to-bologna-motor-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fiat 500 for Bologna 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-liter 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 color choices - two reds, a black and a two-tone black and red scheme - with either 69-hp 1.2-liter 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-liter turbo four with two flavors of style. The 695 Assetto Corse takes 205 horsepower to the track, while the Punto Scorpione packs a 180-hp 1.4-liter four for a 7.5-second sprint to 62 mph, 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.

Like what you see? Check out all the images in the high-resolution galleries - one above, one below and two more after the jump - along with the plethora of press releases detailing each of these new debuts.

Continue reading Fiat Group bringing bagful of new models to Bologna Motor Show

Fiat Group bringing bagful of new models to Bologna Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 bologna motor show2012 fiat sedici500abarthabarth 595abarth 595 competizioneabarth 595 turismoabarth 695abarth 695 assetto corsebolognabologna 2011bologna motor showbologna motors howfiatfiat 500fiat 500 nationlancialancia ypsilonlancia ypsilon blackredsedicisx4ypsilonMon, 21 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20111401/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/21/fiat-group-bringing-bagful-of-new-models-to-bologna-motor-show/20111401/article-detail.xml 20111401 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/595-competizioneweb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/595-competizioneweb.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat USA has half-year supply of 500 models, 29 of 130 dealers didn't sell one last month]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-usa-has-half-year-supply-of-500-models-29-of-130-dealers-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-usa-has-half-year-supply-of-500-models-29-of-130-dealers-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/fiat-usa-has-half-year-supply-of-500-models-29-of-130-dealers-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2012 Fiat 500C

The 2012 Fiat 500 seems to be having trouble gaining sales momentum. Automotive News reports that the Italian hatch is likely to fall well short of its admittedly very ambitious 50,000 unit sales target this year. The model hit the market back in March and has only sold 15,826 units through October. The report also says that of the 150 Fiat dealers in the States, 29 didn't sell a single one last month (presumably at least some of them haven't shifted a vehicle because they were late opening in the first place). Either way, that's a lot of sales people looking longingly out of the show room glass. As a result, Chrysler is now offering a $500 rebate on the vehicle in an effort to entice buyers as the year comes to a close.

More alarmingly, Automotive News says that it has obtained internal company documents that indicates Chrysler has around a half-year supply of 500 models on hand if sales continue at their current pace. The automaker has even begun to scale back production in light of slow demand, reassigning 65 workers at the Dundee, Michigan plant responsible for assembling 500 engines.

Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler's CEO, says that the problem lies with the distribution network, while dealers claim that American buyers aren't interested in such a small vehicle. It remains to be seen whether the addition of the Jennifer Lopez-led national advertising campaign and the arrival of the 500 Abarth and related lifestyle models like the Gucci will result in a meaningful increase in sales.

Fiat USA has half-year supply of 500 models, 29 of 130 dealers didn't sell one last month originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500500500ccinquecentofiatfiat 500fiat salesj.lojennifer lopezmarchionneMon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20111519/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/21/fiat-usa-has-half-year-supply-of-500-models-29-of-130-dealers-d/20111519/article-detail.xml 20111519 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/2012-fiat-500c-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/2012-fiat-500c-628.jpg <![CDATA[Laura Soave out at Fiat [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/laura-soave-out-at-fiat/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/laura-soave-out-at-fiat/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/laura-soave-out-at-fiat/#commentsFiled under: ,

Laura Soave, Fiat bossBloomberg is reporting that Laura Soave, the head of the Fiat brand in North America, is leaving the company. The executive helped usher Fiat back into the U.S. market with the 500, but flagging sales, slow dealer network expansion and marketing disasters have fallen on Soave's shoulders, as have rumors of improper professional relationships. Rumors of her ousting/departure have been swirling for some time, making the announcement of little surprise.

Fiat has managed to move less than half of the 50,000 units per year that the company had projected for the 500 in 2011.

Soave will be replaced by Tim Kuniskis, a marketing executive within Fiat, according to the report.

UPDATE: It's official. Chrysler has released a statement confirming Soave's exit and Kuniskis' ascendance. Check out the release after the jump.

Continue reading Laura Soave out at Fiat [UPDATE]

Laura Soave out at Fiat [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500500chryslerfiatfiat 500laura soavesoavetim kuniskisMon, 21 Nov 2011 14:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20111569/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/21/laura-soave-out-at-fiat/20111569/article-detail.xml 20111569 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/soave-200_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/soave-200.jpg <![CDATA[J.Lo struggles to open door of Fiat 500 on stage during AMA performance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/j-lo-struggles-to-open-door-of-fiat-500-on-stage-during-ama-perf/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/j-lo-struggles-to-open-door-of-fiat-500-on-stage-during-ama-perf/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/j-lo-struggles-to-open-door-of-fiat-500-on-stage-during-ama-perf/#commentsJennifer Lopez at 2011 AMA

Never underestimate a vehicle's willingness to lock you out in the cold. Or, in Jennifer Lopez's case, on stage. Lopez once again teamed up with the Fiat 500 for the 2011 American Music Awards this weekend. The choreography during a performance of "Papi" called for the singer to hop into the driver's seat for a quick spell, but when she tried the door handle, the car was locked. Fortunately, the windows were down, and the quick-thinking performer immediately popped the locks from inside. The rest of the performance went off without so much as a hitch.

Lopez has already starred in a number of Fiat 500 ads as part of the Italian automaker's new advertising offensive for the retro hatch. The 500 also spent some time on screen during the "Papi" music video. Hit the jump to check out the video of the lockout for yourself, as well as the Fiat press release on the AMA awards.

Continue reading J.Lo struggles to open door of Fiat 500 on stage during AMA performance

J.Lo struggles to open door of Fiat 500 on stage during AMA performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 ama500american music awardsfiatfiat 500j lojennifer lopezMon, 21 Nov 2011 13:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20111362/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/21/j-lo-struggles-to-open-door-of-fiat-500-on-stage-during-ama-perf/20111362/article-detail.xml 20111362 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/j-lo-lockout-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/j-lo-lockout-628.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat brings J.Lo back for 500C Gucci edition ad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/20/fiat-brings-j-lo-back-for-500c-gucci-edition-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/20/fiat-brings-j-lo-back-for-500c-gucci-edition-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/20/fiat-brings-j-lo-back-for-500c-gucci-edition-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



First, Fiat went back to the Bronx with J. Lo to advertise the 500, then it spoke to us in Italian for the first 500 Abarth ad, now it's gone back to J. Lo - again - for a spot featuring the Fiat 500C Gucci Edition. The theme is "making elegance look easy," which you can do when you have a fat budget to spend on an A-lister in your TV spots.

Have a look at the results for yourself in the video after the jump. The bigger question is whether J. Lo or Gucci can make selling Fiat 500s in the U.S. any easier.

Continue reading Fiat brings J.Lo back for 500C Gucci edition ad

Fiat brings J.Lo back for 500C Gucci edition ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 gucci edition500ccommercialfiat 500fiat 500 commercialfiat 500 gucci editionguccij lojennifer lopezSun, 20 Nov 2011 20:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20110498/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/20/fiat-brings-j-lo-back-for-500c-gucci-edition-ad/20110498/article-detail.xml 20110498 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/jlogucci500_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/jlogucci500.jpg -1 2