Category: Fiat

Fiat is considering launching a low cost brand that would sell budget models like Renault did with Dacia.

The Italian carmaker is studying the opportunity to launch a new brand devoted to budget models. A final decision will be made has announced Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne at a congress in Turin. Launching a low cost brand after other carmakers will be a difficult move. So, Fiat is considering launching a famous model under the future brand. According to the rumour, the Italian group would be ready to launch a modern ‘Topolino” whose price tag would be around £4,800.

Secrecy surrounds the future model although some observers believe that the Topolino might share its inner-structure with Punto platform. Shortened, the Topolino would be powered by petrol engine delivering less than 100bhp. Production would be done in Serbia where Fiat recently acquired Zastava.

The Fiat 500 is a sexy small car, but its driving experience can’t be compared to the Mini. Novitec might have the answer.

The tuner applies its knowledge to two engines offered on the Fiat 500, the 1.4-litre petrol engine and the 1.3-litre diesel unit. The diesel engine gets a 13bhp boost and delivers 88bhp. The 1.4-litre gets a more interesting treatment. Novitec has added a supercharger which increases the power from 100bhp to 131bhp. The modified Fiat 500 runs the 0-62mph in just 8.89 seconds instead of 10.5 seconds with the unchanged engine. The top speed jumps from 113mph to 131mph.

The two cars also comes with visual accessories: twin-tip stainless steel exhaust, a front spoiler and 16in or 17in wheels. The suspension has also been modified and the Novitec 500 can be lowered form 30 mm to 80 mm.

With a supercharger under the hood and a lowered suspension, the Fiat 500 modified by Novitec might become a good choice for racetracks.

According to rumours, Fiat is currently working on a hybrid-powered 500 which would offer impressive fuel economy and very low CO2 emissions.

As a hot and iconic model, the 500 has to jump on any trendy bits and as hybrid is the latest hype in the car industry, Fiat had to release a hybrid 500. The engine is reported to be the 900cc two-cylinder petrol unit which will hit the showrooms in July. The engine will be associated to a small electric engine and a battery pack which will enable the 500 to run on electricity in cities.

In addition to the electric engine, this special 500 will be equipped with a stop-start system and dual-clutch gearbox. If the final spec such as consumption remains secret, it is rumoured that the hybrid 500 will achieve an impressive low emission below 90g of CO2/km.

While revealing the 500 Abarth, Fit opened a new design studio and workshop dedicated to the sporty label.

In an attempt to confirm that Abarth is really revived, the Italian group has opened a 23,000 square meter building where 100 will soon work on future models and competition. Inside, the new building has been divided into several different areas: competition cars, prototype development, cars derived from standard production, and the Racing Department.

The workshop is equipped with eight vehicle lifts and will feature in the future an assembly line for specialist cars in small production runs.

Yesterday, Petrol-Head released an official picture of the long-awaited 500 Abarth. In the meantime, Fiat unveiled the first technical details of one of the hottest small cars of the year.

The 500 will be the second model to receive the Abarth treatment in an attempt to revive the famous brand. Compared to the normal version, the Abarth evolution features a bodykit which transforms the girly 500 into a macho car ready to race in the Alps. The visual kit comes with larger air intakes, side skirts, a rear diffuser, pumped fenders, Abarth decals and new alloys plus the famed scorpion logo on the grille. At the rear end, there are a diffuser and two exhaust pipes. On the inside, the car will feature two bucket seats, alloy pedals and leather.

The most anticipated bit is the engine range. As said yesterday, the power will come from the 1.4-litre turbocharged which will have an output of 135bhp at 5,500 rpm and a torque of 153 lb ft at 3,000rpm; however in ‘Normal’ mode, torque is reduced to 180 Nm at 2,500 rpm. There are no information regarding the Esse Esse version.

In order to transmit efficiently the power to the wheels, the 500 Abarth features a new traction control system called TTC, for Torque Control Transfer which shares the power between the front wheels.

After standing everybody up at the last Tokyo Motor Show, the Fiat 500 Abarth is finally coming to Geneva and here is the first picture of the sporty small car.

As predicted, the design is bold with an agressive body kit: new bumpers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, widened fenders, a roof spoiler, red mirror caps and two exhaust pipes at the rear end. On the inside, the car comes with two red bucket seats. Without a doubt, the 500 Abarth has already sent the Twingo RS to the forgotten pages of the automotive history books.

The Fiat 500 Abarth would feature the turbocharged 1.4-litre seen on the Punto. A normal version would have an out put of 120bhp while a esse esse would offer 150bhp.

Source: CarScoop

Less than a month after its launch on our shores, the 500 is already sold out. The initial 2008 quota, 4,500 units, has been entirely sold since its introduction on January 21st.

Thanks to a successful campaign, Fiat UK has emptied its showrooms and from now on, you will have to wait six months between the time you sign the order and the time you get the car delivered. Will Mini sell more vehicles? Nothing is certain as the price difference between both cars is high enough to be patient and wait for your little Fiat.

Nevertheless, Fiat has to solve its production capacity limitation as soon as possible. At a time when cars are designed and considered like Kleenex, Fiat might not be able to sell the 500 by the time it increases its production. The 500 might not be fashionable anymore.