Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Four versions of Fiat 500 in the U.S. by 2011, including Abarth]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/29/report-four-versions-of-fiat-500-in-the-u-s-by-2011-including/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/29/report-four-versions-of-fiat-500-in-the-u-s-by-2011-including/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/29/report-four-versions-of-fiat-500-in-the-u-s-by-2011-including/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Fiat 500 Abarth - Click above for high-res image gallery

Four 500s by 2011. That is the latest word out of Italy concerning the adorable Fiat 500. While the Chrysler/Fiat merger chugs along, the tiny 500 is the only model that has been officially greenlighted for American consumption under the Fiat banner. To make up for that dearth of models, Fiat will apparently offer the 500 in four different flavors when it reaches these shores: hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback. There's also an outside chance of a micro-CUV according to this Automotive News piece.

The "sporty hatchback" will be the Abarth, Europe's 2008 Car of the Year. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls it "our iPod." Wonder if it's too late for some co-branding. While it might seem that a sporty wagon and sporty drop-top would be fairly easy to slot into the mix (Abarth Giardiniera SS Corsa, FTW!), we'll have to make due with those four iterations for the time being. The 500 family should be in U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2011. The American-market cars will likely be produced at a Chrysler plant in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico, but there's no official word on U.S. pricing yet.


Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Four versions of Fiat 500 in the U.S. by 2011, including Abarth originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500breakingfeaturefeaturedfiatfiat 500fiat 500 abarthfiat 500 cabriofiat 500 convertiblefiat 500cFiat500Fiat500AbarthFiat500cFiat500CabrioFiat500ConvertiblereportMon, 29 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Pics Aplenty +Video: Fiat 500 Cabrio introduced at global sales milestone]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/26/pics-aplenty-video-fiat-500-cabrio-introduced-at-global-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/26/pics-aplenty-video-fiat-500-cabrio-introduced-at-global-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/26/pics-aplenty-video-fiat-500-cabrio-introduced-at-global-sales/#commentsFiled under: ,


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.


Gallery: Fiat 500C

Continue reading Pics Aplenty +Video: Fiat 500 Cabrio introduced at global sales milestone

Pics Aplenty +Video: Fiat 500 Cabrio introduced at global sales milestone originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiatfiat 500fiat 500 cfiat 500 cabriofiat 500 convertiblefiat 500 salesfiat 500cfiat cinquecentofiat salesFiat500Fiat500cFiat500CabrioFiat500ConvertibleFiat500SalesFiatCinquecentoFiatSalesFri, 26 Jun 2009 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiat prices 500 convertible for UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/fiat-prices-500-convertible-for-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/fiat-prices-500-convertible-for-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/fiat-prices-500-convertible-for-uk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Fiat 500 C - Click above for high-res gallery

The hotly anticipated Fiat 500 C, which was officially unveiled earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show, has just gotten a price in the U.K. ahead of its upcoming sale date this summer. In its most basic form, the droptop Cinquocente will go for £11,300 on the road, which translates to a little over $16,000 in U.S. funds. Moving on up, buyers across the Atlantic can expect to pay £14,100 OTR for a top-of-the-line Lounge model equipped with the 1.3-liter Multijet diesel-powered engine. For what it's worth, that would equal a little over $20K in the U.S., but it's important to remember that a direct-to-dollars conversion is never an accurate measure of what an item would truly cost in the States.

All Fiat 500 C models will get an electrically operated canvas top, air conditioning, CD player with MP3 capability and seven airbags. Uplevel Lounge models get standard automatic climate control, fog lights and reversing sensors along with cool optional bits like Fiat's Blue&Me infotainment system and eco:Drive fuel-saving software. As cool as RaggaMuffin Red sounds, we'll take ours in classic white with a contrasting red roof and interior just as soon as Fiat sends the 500 C to U.S. shores. Full press release after the break.


Gallery: Geneva 2009: Fiat 500C


Gallery: Fiat 500C


[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Fiat prices 500 convertible for UK

Fiat prices 500 convertible for UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiatfiat 500fiat 500 cfiat 500 c pricefiat 500 cabriofiat 500 convertiblefiat 500cFiat500Fiat500cFiat500CabrioFiat500ConvertibleFiat500CPriceFri, 27 Mar 2009 08:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiat 500 C drop-top to debut at Geneva show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/fiat-500-c-drop-top-to-debut-at-geneva-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/fiat-500-c-drop-top-to-debut-at-geneva-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/fiat-500-c-drop-top-to-debut-at-geneva-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Click above to view the Castagna's 500-based Tender Two in high resolution

The Fiat 500 has been a runaway success, but so far only the standard hatchback body-style has been offered The first derivative, however, is tipped to debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

Like the test mule spotted previously (and unlike Castagna's concept shown above), the 500 C, as the convertible version will be called, will feature a solid frame between which a canvas roof can be deployed or retracted. Earlier reports suggested that this targa-style convertible would later be supplemented by a full cabrio, but we'll have to wait and see on that, as well as the engine options. The standard 70-hp 1.2-liter four will likely carry over along with the 100-hp 1.4L unit that transformed the ho-hum Panda - with which the 500 shares its underpinnings - into the much-loved Panda 100HP go-kart. Diesel and Abarth versions may follow as well, along with a start-stop system anticipated to save 8% on fuel consumption to be offered on both the open and closed versions of the 500. We'll bring you more on the 500 C as we approach the show in March, after which the retro targa will go on sale in England first and then other markets this spring to do battle with the new MINI Cabrio.

[Source: 4Car]

Fiat 500 C drop-top to debut at Geneva show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiatfiat 500fiat 500 cfiat 500 cabriofiat 500 convertibleFiat500Fiat500CFiat500CabrioFiat500ConvertibleThu, 15 Jan 2009 09:31:00 EST<![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<![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<![CDATA[Fiat confirms 500 cabrio]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/fiat-confirms-500-cabrio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/fiat-confirms-500-cabrio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/20/fiat-confirms-500-cabrio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fiat has confirmed it will be producing a convertible version of the 500 and although a launch date has yet to be announced, Fiat brand styling director Roberto Giolito revealed that the model is on its way... at some point.

Giolito also announced that the 500 cabrio will feature a fabric roof, and not a retractable hard-top, citing improvements in materials that remove many of the drawbacks associated with cloth roofs. The entire Fiat group does not include any hard-top convertibles, although several have been reported to be in the works, including the upcoming Ferrari California. However, the more expensive MINI convertible, which the 500 cabrio will invariably target in the marketplace, also uses a fabric top.

[Source: just-auto.com - sub. req'd]

Fiat confirms 500 cabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 May 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500500 convertible500Convertiblecinquecentofiat 500fiat 500 cabriofiat cinquecentoFiat500Fiat500CabrioFiatCinquecentoTue, 20 May 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Distinct Abarth models to follow 500 cabrio]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/distinct-abarth-models-to-follow-500-cabrio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/distinct-abarth-models-to-follow-500-cabrio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/distinct-abarth-models-to-follow-500-cabrio/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In speaking with a representative at Abath's show stand in Geneva, Autoblog received confirmation that the Fiat performance division its planning its own offering unique from any existing Fiat models. British weekly Autocar is now reporting that Abarth is preparing two new variants, a coupe and a two-seat roadster, but before that will come out with a convertible version of the 500 Abarth.

The Fiat 500 Abarth bowed at the Geneva Motor Show as the brand's second model following the Grande Punto unveiled a year prior, before the SS version debuted in Frankfurt last year. The convertible 500 Abarth is tipped to debut early next year.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth


[Source: Autocar via Winding Road]

Distinct Abarth models to follow 500 cabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500 convertible500Convertibleabarth modelAbarthModelfiat 500 abarthfiat 500 cabrioFiat500AbarthFiat500CabrioThu, 27 Mar 2008 14:41:00 EST