Fiat 500 to Come to USA in 2010
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Automotive writers have called it "possibly the best small car on the planet." Now, Chrysler chairman (for now) Robert Nardelli says the retro-cute Fiat 500 will be sold in the USA before the end of 2010. Since its re-introduction just two years ago, the 500 ("Cinquecento" in Italian - say "cheen kway CHAIN toh") has become one of Europe's more popular cars .
The car was first introduced by Fiat in 1957. In its original incarnation, it had a two-cylinder, rear-mounted engine which drove the rear wheels (ala Volkswagon Beetle and most other European cars of the time). "Suicide" doors opened from the front, to improve ease of access. The car was perfect for Italy's crowded cities and impossibly narrow streets. It sold better than any car Fiat had ever made. It became a quintessential symbol of Italy. By 1975, however, the car had become outdated, especially as Fiat had by then already introduced to the world by several years to a whole new concept in automotive drivetrains: transversely-mounted front engines driving the front wheels of the car (a Fiat engineering innovation which has taken the world by storm!). Production of the 500 stopped in 1975.
For the 50th anniversary of the 500, however, Fiat decided to resurrect the famous marque. On July 4, 2007, Fiat unveiled an all-new version of the 500. Although substantially larger than the original car (the wheelbase is almost two feet longer than the 1957 car), the new 500 is instantly recognizable as a Fiat 500. The retro-styling is faithful to the original design. Extraordinarily cute, the new 500 has taken Europe by storm in the last two years.
The new 500 is smaller than the BMW Mini-Cooper and the Toyota Yaris, but larger than the Mercedes Smart-for-Two. Due to tough new European crash requirements for small cars, the new 500 has an extraordinarily stiff frame, constructed of expensive vanadium steel. Seven airbags help shield occupants in a crash. Three powertrains are available in Europe: 1.2 L and 1.4 L gasoline-powered four cylinders, and a 1.3 L four-cylinder diesel. It is likely that only the 1.4 L gasoline four will come to the USA, however. That engine offers an impressive 131 lb-ft. of torque, 100 hp, and 36 mpg fuel economy! An "Abarth" sport version is available, and will likely also make the trip to America.
The 500 is already being sold in Mexico, where the basic model goes for $17,000. That includes the 1.4 L engine, A/C, ABS, AM/FM/CD player, bluetooth, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. That's expensive, but cheaper by far than either the Mini-Cooper or the Smart-for-Two. It is expected that the car will be sold in the USA through Chrysler's dealer network, as it's own "brand" (neither Fiat nor Chrysler badges will be applied).
Fiat expects to manufacture the 500 in the USA. However, it is almost certain that the first 500s sold in the USA will be manufactured in Fiat's Tychy, Poland plant. Here is a (very interesting) video of the cars being made in Poland (no sound, but notice how few human beings are involved in the assembly of these cars!):
hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH4CpONk0tg
Official Fiat 500 Promotional Video:
hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQgx2fgyuEs
I think Chrysler-Fiat will have a winner in the USA with the new 500. Its (relatively) high price will prevent it from becoming a best-seller, but it's likely to becme one of the more popular and economical "fun" cars available. Eric Reguly of England's Globe and Mail rocketed around Torino at 100 MPH in a 500 and afterward cried "Fiat has created a marvellous car, perhaps the best small car on the planet!"
hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500
hxxp://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/fiat_500_possib.php
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We almost bought one of these when we replaced our old Punto.
Sadly, the 500 isn't made for people 6 feet and over. We got the Grande Punto instead and have plenty of room.
EDIT: for clarity
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^ Il Grande Punto è una macchina superiore!
Here is a comparison of the old 500 with the new. (During a trip to Italy, my sister once remarked that she intended to bring one of the old 500's home in her suitcase!)
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I hate FIAT cars…
![😕](https://community.gaytorrent.ru/assets/plugins/nodebb-plugin-emoji/emoji/apple/1f615.png?v=hvqg2qn0nb4 ":-\")
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I hate FIAT cars…
I like them a lot, especially the Fiat 126 models.
I don't think you can compare the "old" and the "new" Fiat 500. The new one is a lot bigger then the original 500 and the 126, so I don't see it as a 'small car'.
And yes: because the price is much higher as a (for exemple) Fiat Panda I doubt it will be a big hit in the end. -
i wudn't say NO to one
i luv em :cheesy2:but until me lil mini goes wheels up
i'll hold fire on the 500 ::) -
I hate FIAT cars…
Fiat has come a long way in making decent cars.
The current Grande Punto came about because of a joint venture between GM and Fiat. Fiat gave GM it's small diesel engines and GM gave Fiat it's unibody platform for the new Vauxhall Corsa. They both use the same suppliers to make the Grande Punto and Corsa. With the exception of the larger hip line on the Corsa, I can take off both bumper covers and debadge my Grande Punto and make look exactly like the Corsa.
So if you trust GM, Vauxhall and Opel, then you shouldn't have a problem with Fiat.
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Originally, Fiats were to be sold by Fiat dealerships in the US when they made their comeback into the US market. However, due to the current economic climate, Fiat decided to use a dealership system that was already in place to keep costs down. Then they were to be sold under GM's dealerships. Now it looks like they will be sold under Chrysler's dealerships.
Part of the problem that lead to the break up of the GM/Fiat joint venture {design and sales} was that GM wanted to rebrand some of the Fiat cars as Chevys when they went on sale in the US. Fiat only wanted to have their cars badged as Fiat, not rebranded as Chevy as well.
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Originally, Fiats were to be sold by Fiat dealerships in the US when they made their comeback into the US market. However, due to the current economic climate, Fiat decided to use a dealership system that was already in place to keep costs down. Then they were to be sold under GM's dealerships. Now it looks like they will be sold under Chrysler's dealerships.
Part of the problem that lead to the break up of the GM/Fiat joint venture {design and sales} was that GM wanted to rebrand some of the Fiat cars as Chevys when they went on sale in the US. Fiat only wanted to have their cars badged as Fiat, not rebranded as Chevy as well.
Ironically, now that Fiat owns a big chunk of Chrysler, many Fiats will be sold under the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brand names. The "500" will probably be sold as a Fiat or simply offered as the "500" (without a company name) by Chrysler dealers. But the Punto will be rebranded as a Dodge or Chrysler. The 4-wheel drive Panda SUV will be sold as a Jeep. And the Grande Punto will probably be sold as a Chrysler.
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I wonder why Fiat balked at having it's cars rebranded by GM under the then joint venture, but have no problems with it now.
