Autoblog

Fiat boosts Uno with Cabriolet concept and Sporting trim in Sao Paulo

Noah Joseph — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows, Fiat, South America

Fiat Uno Cabriolet Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've traveled overseas and seen the tiny Fiat Panda zipping around town, you'd probably scratch your head in bewilderment as to how much more "no frills" a car could get. Well, the Fiat Uno is your answer. Like the Fiat 500, the Uno is built atop the same chassis as the Panda, but unlike the retro-hatch with its cutesy charm, the Uno is all about getting back to basics. But even basic cars can get an added dose of excitement..."excitement" here being used as a relative term.

The Uno is built by Fiat's South American unit for the Brazilian market where the Italian automaker is, in more ways than one, a driving force. And for the Sao Paulo Auto Show currently under way there, Fiat unveiled two sporty(er) versions of the little economy car.

The more exciting of the two is the Uno Cabriolet, which receives modified bodywork in a roadster style with two seats, a molded cowl, an aggressive aero kit and 17-inch wheels. Under the hood resides a 1.4-liter turbo four producing 152 horsepower, which is a whopping figure for a car that looks like it could fit in your shirt pocket.

Unfortunately the Uno Carbio is strictly a showcar for the time being, but while they were at it, Fiat also took the occasion to introduce the new Uno Sporting, pictured at right. The new (production) trim level packs an 85-horsepower 1.4-liter engine, a sport suspension lowered by 20mm and it rides on 15-inch alloys. A special body kit, badges, interior trim and unique shade of orange paint round out the package, which you can see for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Fiat Uno Cabriolet Concept

Gallery: Fiat Uno Sporting

[Source: Fiat]

Fiat boosts Uno with Cabriolet concept and Sporting trim in Sao Paulo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat Uno supermini leaks out

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat, Russia, South America

2011 Fiat Uno - Click above for high-res image gallery

The crew at Carscoop have managed to get their hands on a bevy of images of the new Fiat Uno. Judging from the photos, it looks like the company will be offering its tiny hatchback in two varieties - the standard base model and the Uno Way. Expect the Way to boast a slightly taller ride height and off-road inspired looks once the cars hit markets in Brazil, Europe and Russia.

There's no word on whether or not the Brazilian-built machines will find their way to the U.S. via Fiat's new partnership with Chrysler, but judging from what's rumored to be under the hood, we doubt it. Odds are both the standard Uno and the Way will get their grunt from tiny 1.0- or 1.4-liter engines - not exactly American fare.

The new Uno resurrects a name that had been abandoned by Fiat since the early 2000's, and the company says we can expect the model to slot between the Panda and the Grand Punto when it hits the scene.

Gallery: 2011 Fiat Uno

[Source: Carscoop]

Fiat Uno supermini leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat confirms two new small cars under development

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Fiat

Fiat has confirmed rumors that it is developing a new low-cost world car. However while earlier reports suggested a single small car was under consideration, a senior company executive revealed that Fiat is actually developing two new models.

The first will be a B-segment car positioned above the Panda but below the Grande Punto, the latter of which went up-market in its current iteration over the previous model. Eying the success of Renault's low-cost Dacia range, Fiat is toying with the idea of spinning off the car, currently dubbed the "new Uno", as a separate brand. Over the years Fiat has absorbed a wealth of Italian auto brands and, as it did with Abarth, could revive either the Innocenti or Autobianchi marques.

The second vehicle, tentatively carrying the same "Topolino" name as the concept which previewed the new 500, will be a microcar based on and positioned below the Panda, with both expected to hit the market around late 2009 or early 2010.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport and Italiaspeed]

Fiat confirms two new small cars under development originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat to produce budget car?

Noah Joseph — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Budget, Fiat, Rumormill

It's hard to imagine, but Fiat is rumored to be developing an even smaller car than the 500 and Panda. The new model would be a low-cost vehicle targeted at markets in South America, Russia, India and China.

Depending on how the Italian automaker determines a budget automobile would reflect on the company's other products, the vehicle could be marketed under the Fiat nameplate, or possibly under a different one altogether. If the company decides it will wear the Fiat badge, it could revive the Uno nameplate and effectively replace the Palio (pictured above), which currently serves as Fiat's "world car", with production in Brazil, India, Turkey, South Africa, North Korea and China, in hatchback, sedan, wagon and pickup body-styles. Fiat's close relations with Tata, makers of the Nano, could come into play, but one way or another, nobody does small cars like Fiat, so the competition had better take note.

[Source: paultan.org]

Fiat to produce budget car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat Uno low on horses, but full of bull

Chris Tutor — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Fiat

The Fiat Uno has never been considered a powerful vehicle, and we're sure there have been many attempts to boost its horsepower. But one man in South Africa took a different approach to performance. Instead of trying to add horses to an Uno, he went with other farm animals, stuffing his tiny Italian car with a pair of cows and a couple of goats. Did we mention he stole them?

Of course, as many hot rodders have learned before him, the man's attempt at a performance boost was totally offset by the added weight, which was a huge hindrance when he tried to outrun the cops. Even in an unmoooo-dified Uno, we can guess how the chase might have ended. But with a back seat of beef and the Billy Goats Gruff for co-pilots, the cops probably could have caught him on one of those Ferrari Segways.

As far as we know, hauling livestock in Italian-marque econo cars isn't illegal, even in South Africa. However, going for a Sunday drive in your Italian econo car with livestock that isn't yours is illegal almost everywhere.

The ill-gotten goats as well as the cows were recovered, while the would-be stock car driver managed to escape being corralled.

[Source: AP]

Fiat Uno low on horses, but full of bull originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BusinessWeek profiles world's cheapest cars

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Budget

What a difference a day makes, or a few years at least. While many automakers were rushing to add premium models to their lineups just a few years ago, today the buzzword is affordability. Perhaps a ripple effect of high gas prices, or the green movement, or even the emerging third-world automotive markets, everybody seems to be thinking cheap. In response, BusinessWeek has compiled a list of super affordable vehicles that will be available over the next couple of years. The common factor here is that all will have an MSRP of less than $10,000. Some as low as $3,000!

Don't expect supercars or luxury rides at these bargain basement prices, but you might actually get more than you realize for your money. These are reasonable alternatives to eight-year-old Civics and Corollas, rather than the equivalent of modern-day Yugos. And the list isn't filled with just microcars, either. Sure, there are small cars aplenty, but the list includes sedans, SUVs and even a minivan.

BusinessWeek credits Renault with launching this new wave of cheap cars with its Logan sedan back in 2004. That initial sedan has proven popular and spawned a range of six different models. The cheap-car list includes names like GM, Hyundai, Chery, Dacia, Suzuki, Geely, Fiat and Tata. But new entries from Nissan, Fiat, VW, and Toyota are in the works, showing the increasing importance of this segment. Renault-Nissan has even announced it is planning to build a car for under $3,000, perhaps as low as $2,500 according to Chief Executive, Carlos Ghosn. He made the announcement at a plant-opening ceremony on April 4.

A brief description of each car follows the jump, but click the Read link to see a slideshow of the world's cheapest cars at BusinessWeek.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Continue reading BusinessWeek profiles world's cheapest cars

BusinessWeek profiles world's cheapest cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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