Fiat is a few months away from awarding 200 Fiat-branded retail outlets to select Chrysler dealers. The first vehicle those new stores will sell will be the Fiat 500, and there won’t be any Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep-branded models in sight. But that doesn’t mean Fiat will have those dealerships to themselves for very long.

According to Automotive News, company CEO Sergio Marchionne announced at an event in Toledo, Ohio that those Fiat stores will also sell Alfa Romeo vehicles by late 2012. Marchionne has already announced that the first Alfa to hit North American shores will be the Giulia sedan and wagon, followed at some point by a midsize SUV, a subcompact, a hatchback and even a roadster. That’s a lot of Alfa, and the Italian automaker will need all of those models to be at least moderately successful if it has any shot at reaching its lofty goal of 500,000 Alfa Romeo sales by 2014.

Before we get to 2012 and the return of Alfa Romeo on our shores, we need to get a clearer picture of what Fiat’s plans are for the U.S. AN reports that the Fiat forecast will clear up soon, as the Turin, Italy-based automaker plans to educate Chrysler dealers during an August 30th briefing.

[Source:Autoblog]

How much would you be willing to pay for a Fiat 500? Fifteen grand? Twenty? Thirty? How about nearly $50,000. That’s how much the crème-de-la-crème Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is going for now that it’s reaching the market.

For a quick refresher, the special-edition 500 was unveiled almost a year ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It packs a 180-horsepower 1.4-liter 16-valve turbocharged four-pot, beefed-up suspension, wheels and brakes and a special paint scheme inspired by its big brother, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. A scant 152 examples are being produced in right-hand drive for the British market, and each is carrying a whopping price tag of £29,600, or about $47k in American greenbacks.

Now the 695 Tributo Ferrari may be the ultimate manifestation of the Fiat 500 to date. It may even be the next best thing to a Ferrari, though we doubt it. But is it worth $47,000? Fiat will surely sell the entire production run, but then “value” isn’t the objective value it once was. Check out the press release after the jump, images in the twin galleries below and weigh in with your own thoughts.

ABARTH 695 TRIBUTO FERRARI ROARS INTO VIEW – IN RIGHT HAND DRIVE

It has already attracted critical acclaim in both hard top and convertible form, and as a potent esseesse version. Now the Abarth 500 is arriving in even more exclusive style – as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.

Every Abarth reflects the high performance brand’s direct connection with competition, and the new 695 Tributo Ferrari takes these links to a new level, with stunning performance matched to perfect day-to-day usability.

This exclusive car – just 152 examples of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari will be available in right hand drive form in Britain – is priced at Euros 35,500 (£29,600). On the outside the new car’s livery is inspired by Ferrari’s models, with carbon wing mirrors and Corsa Grey wheels and front air intakes.

Powered by a 1368cc turbocharged engine, producing 180bhp at 5500rpm and 250Nm torque at 3000rpm, the 695 Tributo Ferrari can accelerate from 0-62mph in seven seconds and has a top speed of 140mph. However, the frugal engine can return 43.3mpg on the combined cycle.

The car features a comprehensive list of equipment which includes:

* five airbags
* electronic stability programme (ESP)
* torque transfer control (TTC)
* Sport button
* power steering
* automatic climate control
* Xenon headlights
* Blue&Me hands-free infotainment
* Abarth leather steering wheel
* ‘Record Monza’ dual-mode exhaust
* Abarth Corsa by Sabelt seats
* 17-inch alloy wheels

Mounted behind the steering wheel are the paddles for the electro-hydraulic Abarth Competizione gearbox which has manual and auto modes. Pressing the Sport button on the dashboard activates a more racy setting for the gearbox, engine control unit and steering for an even more responsive drive.

The original Abarth 695 was introduced in the mid-1960s. The pinnacle of this series was a 38hp engine – though fine-tuning could raise this to over 50hp.

“Abarth and Ferrari are both iconic names in Italian automotive history,” says Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth in the UK. “Their passion and dedication helped to create a reputation for sporting excellence in Italian cars around the world, and this new Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari upholds that tradition with some style.”

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is available to special order only, through Abarth’s 17-strong UK dealer network.

[Source:Autoblog]

When Fiat and Chrysler merged, it was assumed that Fiat and Chrysler-branded products would be sharing a common showroom floor. Well, you know what happens when you assume. The Detroit Bureau reports that when Fiat-badged vehicles arrive Stateside at the end of the year they will be sold in an all-new showroom bereft of any manner of Chrysler product. The news reportedly comes from none other than Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, who adds that a total of 200 Fiat stores will come online in an undetermined time.

While Chrysler dealers are likely a bit upset that they won’t have Fiat products to sell in their dealerships, they will reportedly get first dibs to claim one of the 200 stand-alone stores. And those dealerships must be equipped with both sales and service departments as well. The first Fiat to enter the Fiat-exclusive showroom will be the diminutive 500, which has been very well-received overseas. And more product is undoubtedly also on the way, as the 500 alone is not a big enough carrot to warrant buying a new dealership.

Opening 200 new dealerships will not be cheap, as a new full-service dealer can cost $1 million or more. There are also the costs associated with marketing a new brand in the U.S., which will likely cost well over $100 million. Since Fiat vehicles haven’t been available here in States in a couple decades, the folks in Turin, Italy will likely have a lot of work to do to spread the word. Those who actually remember the Fiat brand in the U.S. market will likely need the most convincing, as horrible quality woes were a main factor in the brands failure.

[Source:Autoblog]

From Monday’s ‘More Good News’ edition, this nugget from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne: “It is clear that if we continue to perform at this rate we’re going to be in excess of the guidance that was provided in 2009.” What does that mean? It means that Chrysler is making more money and using that money more efficiently than expected. If such performance keeps up, the Pentastar will put up better than expected numbers this year, and could be ripe for an IPO ahead of anyone’s schedule.

Chrysler showed an operating profit in the first quarter of this year, but even so, it doesn’t want to change its estimates for the entire year, at least not yet. The only brand-new vehicle it will be rolling out is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and that leaves a lot of not-exactly-new product trying to keep the momentum going all the way to the end of the year.

Still, for a company that was left for dead last summer, to be here in May of 2010 talking about it at operational break-even this year and net break-even next year is not a bad year of work. With negative cash flow of $1 billion expected this year, true profit is still a couple of years away, but we can at least see the way with the Fiat 500 arriving in December, a Chrysler small car in Q4 of 2011, updates on its current offerings and an IPO. Come on, Jeep Grand Cherokee…

[Source:Autoblog]

If the Fiat 500 does as well here in the U.S. as it has in the rest of the world, Chrysler is going to have plenty to celebrate. Fiat just announced that it has sold a staggering 500,000 500s in just three years. To mark the occasion, the company is creating a special edition, complete with fan photos incorporated into the paint. Sadly, only UK residents can submit their pictures, though Fiat says it is reserving a total of 70 percent of the car’s surface for actual owners.

Alfa Romeo is rolling out a similar program to mark a special occasion of its own. The company has officially been in business for 100 years, and as such, it plans on plastering a Giulietta hatch with images from the brand’s history books. Expect to see shots from The Graduate to make the cut, as well as a handful of owner-submitted pictures and celebrity photos, too.

At this point, it’s not clear whether Fiat and Alfa are planning on working up some sort of photomosaic or simply slathering the cars with the photos and hoping for the best. Either way, the finished product should be something to behold. Hit the jump for the details.
FIAT 500 PRESS RELEASE

A new project dedicated to the Fiat 500, which has recently reached the goal of 500,000 units made in only 31 months since its launch, will be taking off on 3 May. To celebrate the record, the brand will be creating a special showcar – called “Fiat 500 Thousandth” – with the contribution of the people. The body of the car will be entirely covered by 1500 photos displaying the faces of 500 owners, celebrities and fans who have contributed in different ways to the car’s extraordinary success.

Booking a place is easy. Users can simply log onto www.fiat500.com and use the special application showing a plan view of the Fiat 500. A few minutes later, after registering, they can book one of the free spaces online by sending a photograph. 70% of the places are reserved for Fiat 500 owners. Users can also attach a short text describing their relationship with the car or a link either to a personal video on YouTube or to their personal Facebook page.

The showcar will be ready three weeks after the booking stage is concluded and will feature in forthcoming events and international motor shows. The Fiat 500 Thousandth will be the first “collective car”, a further confirmation of the spirit of the original model with potential customers being involved from the earliest steps of design. Since 3 May 2006 and for the first time in automotive history, scores of 500 enthusiasts worldwide have been directly involved in the “500 wants you” project, an international marketing platform where they have said what they wanted from the future car. These suggestions have been taken up by Fiat Automobiles designers and engineers and turned into practical objectives to be reached with solutions and equipment as close to the expectations of potential customers as possible. The Fiat 500 is truly “a car created by the people, with the people’s ideas”. Today, the fiat500.com is a community of 120,000 active users from 206 different countries who take part in over 30 online activities. The pages have been browsed nearly 240 million times.

ALFA ROMEO PRESS RELEASE

As part of Alfa Romeo’s Centenary celebrations, the marque is asking UK owners and Alfisti alike to help commemorate its 100-year history by getting involved in a unique work of art.

Until July 5, thousands of images submitted to a special online archive will be used to form a mosaic of Alfa’s Centenary model, the new Giulietta, as a visual celebration of the brand’s 100th year.

A number of iconic images will appear in the mosaic, capturing defining moments of Alfa’s rich heritage, from the 158 which took the chequered flag in the inaugural F1 European Championship race 60 years ago at Silverstone, to the Alfa 155 Touring Cars of the mid-1990s, as well as a number of famous on-screen models including the legendary Duetto from The Graduate.

However, most importantly, Alfa Romeo wants its fans, known as Alfisti, and owners to submit photos of their Alfa Romeo cars – both old and new – to tell the real story of one of the most iconic brands in motoring.

Every image successfully uploaded before June 18, will also be included in a prize draw to win an exclusive Alfa Romeo goodie bag and a pair of VIP tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place this year from 2 - 4 July, when the brand takes centre stage as the featured marque.

Following Goodwood Festival of Speed there will also be an overall prize of a luxury weekend stay at The Goodwood Hotel with a Giulietta to drive for the duration of the stay. The winner will also get the chance to drive the 8C Competizione on the famous Goodwood motor circuit.

Alfa Romeo UK Brand Communications Manager, Damien Dally, says: “2010 is a huge landmark for Alfa Romeo and we feel that this project will perfectly capture the brand’s identity and really allows us to celebrate with the thousands of people who have put us where we are today – our customers.”

[Source:Autoblog]

Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO and Chrysler Group design head, has just wrapped up an address to the Chicago Economic Club that was peppered with several choice quotes and quips. You can read the Chrysler’s PR-filtered version on its Twitter feed, but here are our favorites:

From the true: “Brands and companies don’t die. They are victims of homicide.”

To the sublime: “Viper important to image of “my brand” [Dodge]”

To the ridiculous: “The further away you are from Detroit the less you know the facts about the auto industry.”

To the more ridiculous: “I liken management to X-Men… all have special abilities.”

To the funny/creepy: Ad agency interviewed him before creating Super Bowl spot. “I had to smoke a cigarette,” afterwards, he joked.

To the important: “Fiat 500 on sale in U.S. at end of the year”

That last bit coincides with earlier reports that the Fiat 500 could reach the States as early as this year as a 2011 model. Although the 500’s importation into the U.S. has been fast-tracked, there’s still some question about whether it will meet U.S. crash and safety standards. We expect to have an exact on sale date soon, and Gilles also said that the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is due to go on sale within the next three months.

[Source:Autoblog]

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. So it was natural to expect that, with the debut of the mildly facelifted Fiat Punto Evo and its smoked headlights, we might expect an updated version of the fire-breathing Abarth to go with it. And this, according to reports, is our first look at just such a hot hatch.

A revised fascia isn’t the only change the new Abarth Punto Evo brings to the table. Confirming earlier reports, the new Scorpion will get a bump in power from 155 horsepower to 170, thanks to the use of Fiat’s new MultiAir engine technology. But that’s just the base Abarth. The even hotter EsseEsse model is tipped to have 200 hp on tap, perfect for doing battle with the recently revised Clio Renaultsport 200. The use of Fiat’s new dual-clutch gearbox is also reportedly in the mix, along with some LED lighting.

In a related development, Scottish racing team If Motorsport is reported to be considering bringing the Punto Abarth into the British Touring Car Championship. The adoption of new, low-cost NGTC rules for the 2011 series is the impetus, and if recent competition-spec Abarth machines are anything to go by, the BTCC could have a real thrasher on its hands.

[Source:Autoblog]

What better place to introduce a new set of duds than at a fashion show? Fiat chose the “Bread & Butter” youth fashion show in Berlin to debut a new color for its Fiat 500 by Diesel. The limited edition Diesel has been available in black and green up until now, with 6,000 of the planned 10,000 units already sold. Those still in the market for a 500 by Diesel can now choose to have their Cinquecento slathered in the newly available “Midnight Indigo” blue, which was specially chosen because it “recalls the denim used to make jeans,” according to Fiat.

Now, a new body color usually isn’t enough to warrant a whole post, even a sharp-looking dark denim blue. No, Fiat has more to offer in this update than just the cool new hue. Underhood they’ve stuffed their latest Euro 5 compliant 1.3-liter Multijet II engine. The second-generation turbodiesel features the company’s Start&Stop system and is good for 95 horsepower.

The Indigo version also gets the same upgrades as its predecessors – 16″ alloy wheels, a faux rear air intake, satin chrome trim, and yellow brake calipers on the 1.4-liter, 100 horsepower version. Inside you’ll find a dark denim fabric with yellow stitching that features the signature Diesel fifth pocket, the famous Mohican head on the shift knob and more satin chrome highlights. The full press release can be found after the jump and there’s a pair of big images available in the gallery below.

A new colour and the second-generation 1.3 Multijet engine make their debut on the Fiat 500 by Diesel

The Fiat 500 by Diesel has chosen “Bread & Butter”, the show dedicated to youth fashion in Berlin, to preview of two important new features: “Midnight indigo” blue, a special body colour, and the 1.3 Multijet II 95 HP (Euro 5) with Start&Stop system fitted as standard, the new second-generation turbodiesel, now even more environmentally-friendly and suitable for city driving.

The result of close collaboration between Fiat and Diesel, the famous clothing brand by Renzo Rosso, the model will be limited edition and marketed worldwide. Its success is boundless and from Italy to Japan, to France, almost 6 thousand cars have already been ordered out of the 10 thousand available in total.

In Berlin, within “Bread & Butter”, the Diesel stand and the exclusive Fiat 500 will no doubt attract the attention of the visitors, just as they did at the recent Mumbai Motor Show, India. Spanning a surface area of 700 square metres in the Denim Base section, the Italian label will present its 2010 autumn/winter collections and the new “shop-in-shop/corner” concept, conceived as a genuine stage to present and convey the values of the brand and all its creativity even within multi-brand stores. Features which can also be found in the new Fiat 500 by Diesel.

As regards the new colour, the Centro Stile Fiat (Fiat Style Centre) worked once more with the creative team at Diesel to create a dark blue which recalls the denim used to make jeans. The use of a micaceous rather than a metallic shade offers at first glance the feeling of iridescent colour which varies according to the light, very similar to stone washed fabrics. And this thanks to a finer texture of paint and its ability to create an almost 3-D effect. This new blue also, like the black and green already in the range, perfectly matches the matt paint chosen for the finishes which characterise this model.

The 500 by Diesel is distinguished by some bold aesthetic features, starting with the exterior. Everything is exclusive for this version, the result of the creativity of two teams of designers: the aggressive 16″ alloy wheels, the rear trim with imitation air intake where one of the most famous logos of Italian fashion is set, the yellow brake calipers (only on the 1.4 100 HP version) and the satin chrome painted features, including the mouldings which, with their bosses, revoke the atmosphere of the Diesel fashion world.

The interiors are also highly customised, thanks to the dark denim style fabric with yellow stitching, the fifth pocket with the unmistakable Diesel brand, the head of the famous Mohican on the gear lever knob and the specific satin chrome coloured dashboard.

The range of engines, in addition to the 1.3 Multijet 95 HP mentioned above, includes three Euro 5 power units (the 1.2 69 HP engine, the 1.3 Multijet 75 HP engine with DPF and the 1.4 16v 100 HP engine), each with their own different qualities, all exploited to the full in combination with 5- or 6-speed manual gearboxes (petrol engines can be combined with a 5-speed Dualogic robotised sequential gear box).

[Source:Autoblog]

The tiny Italians are coming! That’s right gentle readers, Fiat has dropped two little baby 500s off inside COBO Hall – and one of them’s electric. Let’s start with that one, the uninspiringly titled Fiat 500 BEV (background). The suffix stands for “Battery Electric Vehicle.” Let’s call it truth in advertising. The powertrain is carried over from the work Chrysler’s now defunct ENVIgroup had been working on for the past couple years. We can’t say too much more (hint, hint), but rumor has it that this sucker is fast. Also, no tail pipe(s).

Fast is good, however, and the Cinquecento that sets our hearts all a flutter is (obviously) the 500 Abarth SS. Or as they say in Italy, Abarth Esse Esse. That last part of the name is significant, as it indicates this particular 500 doesn’t have 133 horsepower, but rather 160 hp. The beauty part? After standing next to the Abarth for a few moments it becomes uncomfortably obvious that its much smaller than the Mini. Meaning… all sorts of wonderful things.

Other than that, the Abarth SS has five-point harnesses tied into racing seats and perhaps the best badging in the industry. Scorpions are every where. Take a close look at the shot of the wheel. Not only does the center cap sport a scorpion, but the valve-stem cap does, too. It’s all about sweating the small stuff. Lusting over it, too. No specific information is available on the time line/likelihood of either car ever showing up in a Chrysler dealer near you.

[Source:Autoblog]

Still waiting for that baby Ferrari to come along? This may be as close as you’ll get. Confirming earlier reports, Fiat’s Abarth and Ferrari subsidiaries have gotten together to collaborate on a special 500 to honor Maranello. We first heard about a special Ferrari edition 500 last year when we were in Italy test driving the new Alfa MiTo. But while the previous 500 created for Ferrari was used solely as a courtesy car for Ferrari owners bringing in their cars for service, this new Frankfurt-bound special edition will actually be available for purchase by the general public.

Called the 695 Tributo Ferrari, the special Cinquecento packs a 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four tuned by Abarth and Ferrari engineers to produce over 180 horsepower, snorting through a variable exhaust system and mated to a paddle-shift automated manual transmission. 17-inch rims crowd the little wheel wells, mounted to a sport-tuned suspension and packing 284mm Brembo brake discs.

The most attention-getting detail, of course, is the paint scheme, decked out in Scuderia Red with Racing Grey stripes to mimick the outgoing 430 Scuderia. All we’ve got on the interior so far is that Jaeger has been commissioned to make the special instruments and Sabelt provides the bucket seats (probably similar to the ones we reported on recently).

This isn’t the first time the Prancing Horse and the Scorpion marques have come together, Fiat pointing to the 1953 Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth for reference. And whether this proves to be more of a marketing ploy or a serious set of wheels remains to be seen, but it’s got to be better than the Michael Schumacher edition Fiat Stilo from a few years ago. For our part, we wouldn’t mind pitting this against the upcoming Toyota iQ-based Aston Martin Cygnet to determine who’ll be king of the exotic-branded superminis. Check it out in the press release after the jump and images in the hi-res gallery below.

PRESS RELEASE

The Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari”

The Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari” makes its world debut at Frankfurt. This new performance version of the Abarth 500 confirms the link between Abarth and Ferrari based on shared values that include a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style.

Abarth and Ferrari are two great names that have contributed, with conviction and dedication, to the legend of Italian racing that is known around the world. The legendary men behind both marques followed very similar careers: first drivers, then tuners and finally heads of companies that command genuine respect in the world of motor racing. These extraordinary men were associated in the past: in 1953, for example, a unique Ferrari-Abarth was born, the Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth. The car raced in various international trophies including the legendary Mille Miglia. The tie between the two companies has been reinforced above all by the exhaust systems designed by Abarth specifically for the cars built at Maranello: numerous exhaust systems have been made for various Ferrari models, some of which have won World Championship titles.

The two brands have recently renewed their collaboration. The first result of this was the supply of a limited and numbered series of Abarth 500’s to Ferrari’s European dealers in recent months for use as “courtesy cars”.

Now, attention turns to the new Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari”, an exclusive vehicle that not only enables Abarth to extend its range by entering into the luxury sports car market, but also offers Ferrari customers a small but exciting small car for all their mobility needs, including practical urban mobility.

The new Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari” is distinguished by a number of stylistic changes, but more importantly by substantial modifications developed by Abarth and Ferrari engineers. The engine, for a start, is a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, tuned to develop over 180 HP. This is combined with an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) electromechanical gearbox with race-inspired paddle gearshift that makes full use of the engine’s performance by reducing gearshift times.

To improve acceleration, the car is fitted with performance tyres on 17” alloy wheels featuring a design inspired by Ferrari wheels. The suspension and braking systems have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: 284 mm multi-section discs with fixed four-piston calipers, both by Brembo, and special shock absorbers let you enjoy performance in total safety.

And of course there is a “Record Monza” variable back-pressure “dual mode” exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound over 3,000 rpm.

On the outside, the car is finished in Scuderia Red, with carbon fibre door mirrors and with details like the wheels and rear air intakes in Racing Grey. This new Abarth is equipped with Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions for improved light emission and excellent efficiency under all weather conditions. Made by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting, these elements deliver three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen lamp headlights.
The interiors are also personalised and demonstrate the attention to detail and the sporting style that are common to both brands. “Abarth Corsa by Sabelt” seats are fitted and finished in black leather with a shell and seat base in carbon fibre. These seats offer a perfect blend of racing characteristics – light weight (10 kg less than the standard seat) and the ability hold the body steady against lateral and longitudinal forces, thanks to body support elements filled with crush-resistant foam – with the ergonomics and comfort of road seats.

The black leather steering wheel is characterised by red leather inserts and a tricolour hub on which the MTA gearshift paddles are mounted, while the instrument panel is specially made by Jaeger, and inspired by typical Ferrari instrumentation. Attention to detail has gone into the floor too: the foot wells are covered entirely in non-slip aluminium and the racing pedals are personalised with the Scorpion logo. The interior is embellished with other details too, like special kick plates and a plate bearing the vehicle series number.

[Source:Autoblog]