Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot, 2008, 500, cinquecento, fiat, italy

First Run of Fiat 500s Sold, Production to Go Kerplow

Automotive News reports Fiat will start kicking more 500s out of its Polish plant to meet swelling demand for the nuovo cinquento. The company had planned for 120,000 cinquecenti annually, starting in 2008, but CEO Sergio Marchionne told analysts today the company's revising the number upward to 140,000. That's based on dealer orders totaling 57,000 units three weeks after its launch. Most of those are from Italy (51,000), though more than 6,000 are from France. The 500 will be sold as the next-gen Ford Ka in the UK.

10:22 AM on Thu Jul 26 2007
By Mike Spinelli
3,409 views
12 comments

Comments

JohnnyWagon at 10:37 AM on 07/26/07
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Kerplow? I thought it was FERKOW!

There is something about the 500 that makes me really want one. Too bad they aren't coming to the US.
Mike Spinelli at 10:55 AM on 07/26/07
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@JohnnyWagon: Glad you asked. FERKOW! is reserved for when things go off the rails.
PeteJayhawk at 11:20 AM on 07/26/07
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OK, here's the plan. As soon as they start selling these in South America, I'm going to go down and buy one and drive it back up here to Kansas. It's the perfect plan!
JohnnyWagon at 11:24 AM on 07/26/07
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@Mike Spinelli:

OK...I got it now. Thanks for the clarification.
no_slushbox at 11:27 AM on 07/26/07
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This may have cute retro looks, but the Smart, which we get next year, is the small car that's actually faithful to the rear engine design of the original 500 (the new 500 is front engine/front wheel drive). I may actually have to buy a Smart.
selfhatingotaku at 12:01 PM on 07/26/07
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Eh? sold as a Ford Ka in the UK? Are you sure about that cause I was expecting to be sold as a Fiat in the UK as well.
Daga at 12:16 PM on 07/26/07
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I think the platform is shared with the Ka if I recall correctly.
MR42HH at 12:19 PM on 07/26/07
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The Ka will share the same (Fiat) platform, but none of that retro styling...
nevin at 12:30 PM on 07/26/07
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I'd be really pissed off if it was the new Ka. As a 500, brilliant. As a Ka, rubbish.

I know that makes me a git, but hey what are you gonna do?
skaz at 12:37 PM on 07/26/07
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@PeteJäyhawk™: Why not just go to Mexico?

[www.ford.com.mx]
Euromobile at 03:57 PM on 07/26/07
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MR42HH is spot on: the Ka and 500 will share a platform, but will have unique styling.

For fear of saying something out of turn, the regular 500 is a bit girly, isn't it? Roll on the Abarth and Giardiniera estate...
JackIrish at 04:31 PM on 07/26/07
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Ok this might be a dumb question...but what's the big deal about the 500?

personally, it doesn't make any sparks for me...

aside from the Abarth version, which kinda gets a little heat