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The itty-bitty 2012 Fiat 500 is proof yet again that size doesn't matter (Hey, that must be what it tells J-Lo!), as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2012 500 its "Top Safety Pick" award. The little Italian showed "good performance in front, side, rollover, and rear impact evaluations, and for having electronic stability control as standard equipment." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5850879&view=rss&microfeed=true The spicy Abarth version of the Fiat 500 promised for U.S. shores early won't be the one on sale in Europe now, but a "next generation." Also, it's got a hard date. 2012. Express your wishes below. More »
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Spies caught a Fiat 500 looking particularly lofty, hearkening a possible allroad version by 2013. Connecting dots, Steyr-Puch's surprisingly capable 4x4 setup from Fiat's Panda Cross could be on tap for potential Northern, sideways adventures. Abarth, please. More »
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The Chrysler Group has just officially announced the Fiat 500 Sport will be coming to America, but what does this European-imported MINI-fighter include? Sportier styling, new wheels, and a speedometer measuring in "miles per hour" for starters. More »
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No, seriously, this is a Fiat Abarth Trofeo racing on two wheels. Did you catch that? We can't really be any clearer. Steely-eyed Cinquecento stuff, this. The best part? He saves it! More »
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There's a lot you can do with a Fiat 500. You can make it into an awesome beach car or roll it. If you're Studiotorino in Italy, you can use one as an homage to Italian comic hero Diabolik. In order to capture the essence of Diabolik, who is basically an Italian Omar, they've fixed it up in matte black paint, BORRANI spoked rims and a few other touches. On the inside are leather sport seats with images from the comic painted onto the material. Nothing strange about that. The photos they sent along, on the other hand, are really strange, in a weird, quasi-sexual way. More »
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Fiat 500s sell for around $16,000 to $22,000 USD. A little high, perhaps, but not unreasonable. Fiat 500s with some artist's scribbles all over the place apparently sell for around £200,000 (or about $390,540 USD with today's kick ass exchange rate). That's practically brain numbing. Yep, some English artist named Tracey Emin decorated a 500 with... something, titled it "Dark Dark Dark," and convinced some British wierdo to fork over a huge pile of cash (albeit to charity). It's more than likely a write-off for some hedge fund manager, but we sure wouldn't want our money in the hands of that guy. Wonder if Pammy has given him a call yet? More »
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Topless Fiat fans rejoice, a Cinquecento drop top is on the way. No word on when exactly we (or Europe, rather) will get it, but expect to be able to enjoy the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and the mocking stares of homophobic passersby combined with retro Italian styling by next summer. The 500 god-we're-hoping-they-don't-call-it-Spyder will wear a cloth top, chosen to keep both price and center of gravity low, which is good news for Jerry Seinfeld's East Hampton neighbors.[via JustAuto] More »
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Apparently, the babes pumping pedals craze never gets old. But where we previously brought you video of a young woman shifting in a dinky Citroen hatchback, we've been hipped to a site run by, who else, the Italians. This time it's scantily clad girls in Bimmers, Porsches, Ferraris and even a Seven. All that being said, the video of "Bonnie" in a short dress shifting gears in a Fiat 500D "driving, accelerating, shifting, pedal pumping" all of a sudden moves us out of neutral. This is completely safe-for-work, though people might think you're strange. (h/t Al Navarro) [Fast Driving Girls] More »
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Our impromptu review of the 2007 Fiat 500 revealed few weaknesses in the little car but chief among them was the less than satisfying engine performance. Well, now Abarth has announced production for an up-powered version of the reborn Cinquecento. The 1.4-liter gas engine gets a turbo to bump the power from 100 bhp to 135 bhp at 5500 rpm. That 35% increase in power pushes the 0-to-62 mph time down to 8.2 seconds. Along with the power boost, the new Abarth 500 gets a revised nose and snazzy paint jobs as well as bigger wheels and tires. We're waiting for Abarth to send us one just like we asked for last December. High res version of the above press shot available here. More »
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A tour of Germany wouldn't be complete without test-driving some of Europe's forbidden fruits, now would it? In our case we just couldn't pass on the opportunity to sample Fiat's new retro mobile, the reborn Cinquecento. The Bamberg Fiat dealer was more than willing to let us grab the keys for a trip around the block given that we'd provide a little free publicity. So if you're ever in Germany and hankering for a Fiat, maybe think of Matthias Steinfurth at AutoHaus Wittig GmbH & Co. Let it never be said that we don't whore ourselves out to get behind a fancy steering wheel — we're just not cheap. More »
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Europe has selected its COTY and it's Fiat's itty-bitty 500/Cinquecento, a car that's impossible not to like. As you'll remember, last year's winner was the edgy and muscular Ford S-Max. In order to win the honors, the micocar had to best the second place Mazda 2 and third place Ford Mondeo. The award will be officially announced Monday, but we're just happy to have an excuse to run these pics again.[Reuters] More »
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In a fiery display of the globe warming, Mount Etna blew its freaking top again yesterday. Residents of Catania were largely unaffected, and continued to motor about in ash covered Fiat Cinquecentos. The Pope slept through the entire event. [Sicily's Mount Etna Erupts] More »
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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. More »
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The Abarth-tuned Fiat 500 could redefine the hot mini in Europe, just as the Suzuki Swift GTI did in the US about two decades ago. Of course the Abarth 500 is tuned in the present tense and the Swift is just a page from Road and Track that's long been Velcro'd to our cerebral cortex. Murmurings say the Abarth 500 could one day come to the US, perhaps on the back of Alfa Romeo, next decade. Whatever happens doesn't mitigate America's need for a halo economy car. Maybe Honda will stick that RDX turbo motor in a Fit. More »
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We've seen this movie before. Car company revives storied marque, moves a chinchillion units then works up a more spacious variant. But Mini's conservative approach to its brand in the US (it took two years to crank out a convertible and six years to get the Clubman within a hair's breadth of production) may not be Fiat's style. According to Automotive News, the house that Topolino built already has three 500 models in the pipeline — hardtop, convertible and Abarth-tuned runner — and a three-door station wagon and a four-wheel-drive SUV based on the wagon could already be queuing up. Neither wagon nor four-by has been approved, says AN's source (though porting over the Fiat Panda Cross's 4x4 clockworks is a likely option). The currency exchange rate makes a US version of the 500 a likely nonstarter, but if all this 500 stuff blows big in Europe, we could be looking at an energized Fiat with the cojones to revisit the Americas next decade. More »
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If you thought Mini buyers had a lot of accessories to pore through, better sharpen your number-two pencil. The Fiat 500's order sheet is like sweating out the SATs, without the raging hangover. Need a refill for the "Summer citrus fruit+Essence of the night+Breath of freedom" diffuser? Better check it off. Frau leather upholstery? Check. Ivory jacket-hanger for front head-restraint? Check. No, a black one. Check. "Italian flag" badge for wing? Check. Barcode racing stripe? What the hell. Click through for more customization trinketry. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Fiat Auto, Microsoft and components developer Magneti Marelli whipped up the "Blue & Me" system gracing the Fiat 500's furnishings (along with those of other Fiat models). The tech platform uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system to manage a network that integrates voice activation, steering wheel control buttons and the dashboard display and any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The setup is similar to Ford's Sync system; It reads incoming SMS messages aloud to the driver and incorporates music stored on a mobile phone, smart phone, MP3 player or USB memory into the audio system via console-mounted USB port. For a few extra webdollarz, Blue&Me Nav adds navigation and telematics services like emergency management, service info and as-yet indeterminate insurance services. A next evolution, Fiat says, will include interactive navigation and information services like addresses, weather and traffic forecasts, satellite localization in case of theft. The whole dealy underscores the company's tech-urban positioning of the 500, which will likely squeeze higher profit margins out of the Euroeconobox. Click through for corporate-release details. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Fourth of July was the official launch date — 50 years after the original "Nuova 500" debuted. And a press conference this morning confirmed and elucidated what had been known for nearly a year. Fiat's new, new 500 is here. That is, in Europe; Fiat CEO Sergio Macchione dashed all hopes of a US-bound 500 in a statement earlier today. Nonetheless, as expected the price will be between €10,500 and €14,500 — a sweet spot for minicars — and will come with a catalog of accessories that makes Mini's choices seem downright Victorian. Stay tuned... More 500 to come. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Sergio Marchionne is undoubtedly stocking up on black turtlenecks as we write this. The revived Cinquecento, according to the Fiat boss, is the cornerstone of his attempt to turn the company into "the Apple of cars, and the Cinquecento will be our iPod." The diminutive hatchback has already seen orders in excess of half of the fifty thousand units of goodwill the automaker plans to crank out this year, and they're considering raising full-model-year targets from 120,000 cars to 140,000, at a base price of ten thousand euros. Meanwhile, does anyone know where we can get Abarth tape stripes for a 30 gig iPod? Thanks. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=275039&view=rss&microfeed=true Judging from the satisfying exhaust burble that surfaces near the end of this clip, the return of the Abarth Cinquecento will be a watershed moment for the modern Fiat brand. It could even elevate the 500's revival to the pinnacle among retro plays, a trend that appeared to be fading out with each passing Mini Cooper. Rumors place the Abarth-tuned 500 on American shores by decade's end. Would that it were true. – Mike Spinelli More »
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That sound you just heard was our heart doing a triple gainer off our sternocleidomastoid muscle. Apparently, Automotive News Europe reports Fiat is considering the sale of an Abarth-tuned Fiat 500 in the US. Such rumors have been ripping through the car-o-sphere since word first came down about the revived cinquecento. But now, it's Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's loose lips doing the gossiping. Marcionne says he's like to sell an Abarth 500 in the US as competition with BMW's Mini Cooper and Volvo's C30. But it's unclear whether such a car would get a Fiat badge, considering the company's more intent on keeping Alfa Romeo's US return on track. That means we could see Alfas by 2009, and perhaps an Abarth 500-based Alfa Junior? The mind reels. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Glory, glory be. Well, glory to those in the places that Fiats are sold, at least. While the new Fiat 500 (and its platform-mate) the Ford Ka may not make it to these shores, nothing can prevent our lust from afar. Of course, the hot Abarth version of the nuevo Cinquecento is the one to get, and as such, the mad hatters of Torino have been making last-minute evaluations of the hot micro-hatch in none other than the Green Hell. The blokes at Car have the spy shots. We have the hots. – Davey G. Johnson More »
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Fiat is still pulling out every gimmick from its tome of promotional trickery to hype its revived 500 subcompact. Gimmick #17: the limited edition. Exactly five hundred models will go on reserve at the International Milan Furniture Fair this week (April 18-23) as an Opening Edition model. The numbered series comes with a choice of styling: A Cappellini edition that includes sky blue molding, and one in pearl white that comes with an engraved badge. The rest of the cars will go on sale July 4, exactly 50 years after the original Cinquecento hit the market in 1957. No pics yet, but watch this space. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Fiat's resurrection of the Cinquecento is nearly complete. The company's already sent out shots of the Nuova 500 to the auto press, given it its own minisite (curse the faux-reggae sound bed!), and targeted it for hipster-dork uptake. The last stage is to show the damn thing. And according to a set of images on Autoblog.it, that's happening on July 4th, in time for the 50th anniversary of its ancestors birth. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Dr. Emilio Lizardo was a fictional Italian physicist who broke only halfway into the eighth dimension and was somehow taken over by the evil Red Lectroid Lord John Whorfin. Rallying the other Red Lectroids to keep working towards their return to Planet 10 from their top sekrit Yoyodyne building in New Jersey, Lord John Whorfin asked the gathered Red Lectroids the simple questions. More »
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Fiat launched its new 500 officially today, indicating neither a rear-mounted engine nor wicker seats were in the offing (not that anyone was expecting either of those). With the Nuova 500 in the can, Fiat's not the first European automaker to trade on past romances. The New Beetle beat it by several years, though the 500 still made it to market before the Nouveau Citr en 2CV (not that we're holding our breath). Nonetheless, the new bearer of the Cinquecento torch will get a range of three tiny engines, including a 69 hp 1.2-liter, a 100 hp 1.4-liter 16v burner and a 75 hp version of Fiat's 1.3-liter Multijet turbodiesel. But despite their size, they still make the 500's original, 13-hp 479 cc look like something from Mssrs. Briggs and Stratton. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=245828&view=rss&microfeed=true Before the geysers of Diet Coke, the freshmaker was forced to rely upon commercials to advertise itself to the sugar-obsessed public. The worst best of those went something like this: More »
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If you find yourself in Japan, bored with the look of your Nissan Micra, just call Duesen Bayern. Don't worry, it's a local call. The Japanese company builds replicas of European iron from other hardware. Such is the company's the Ritz model, for example, for which the company refits a Micra with sheetmetal add-ons to bring out its inner Fiat 500. Sure the dimensions aren't perfect, but they'd still be a hit at the Venetian in Las Vegas. – Mike Spinelli More »
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With just months until Fiat's revived Cinquecento (sorry, 500) subcompact appears in the sheetmetal, a leaked presentation highlights the company's plan to accessorize the urban hipster transport to within an inch of its life. The scoop comes via French site Le Forum Fran ais des Scoops, which makes no mention of the documents' source, accuracy or context. Still, it's apparent the company is lodging an assault on the Mini's quirky retro theme and youth-lifestyle appeal, based on what seem to be a range of toys, from snowboard holders to iPod docks and a multitude of wheel styles — all the way to a prospective anime roof panel. Hold for the commerical featuring free-running in Paris and club kids in a K-hole. [Thanks to Teo for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219659&view=rss&microfeed=true A few generations ago on Top Gear — sometime in the mid-1990s — Jeremy Clarkson paired up what would be among the last of the old-style Mini Coopers against a contemporary Fiat 1.3 Cinquecento. It's a fine segment, but we'd have given a gland or two to see, perhaps, a Mk I Mini Cooper S in Group 2 rally trim square off against a Abarth-tuned Fiat 500 of 1963 vintage. In fact, we may have to take such matters into our own, geeky hands. Anyone possessing one or the other of those vehicles, and willing to allow us a few mild hoonage-hours, please contact us immediately at tips@jalopnik.com. That is all. [Thanks to James for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »
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The UK's AutoExpress offers its take on what the Fiat 500 revival subcompact will look like in cabrio form. Fiat's reportedly working with Ford Europe on the new version of the iconic cinquecento, which insiders say will share innards with the next-generation Ford Ka. Whether or not Fiat's planning an Abarth performance version is a matter of debate. And AE reports Fiat hasn't confirmed a cabrio edition is on its way, but the mag's sources say it'll sport a cloth top not a folding hardtop like the slightly larger Opel Astra TwinTop, and launch with really small engines in the range of 1.1-liters. Still, that's more than twice the displacement of the original's 500cc engine, which makes the new model a relative monster. We'll see the finished product sometime in 2008. [Thanks to Dave for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »
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Last night, while enjoying the marvelous food coupled with terrible service French restaurants are known for, Spinelli exclaimed, "Look! There's that Fiat concept!" We grabbed our camera and sprinted down the street chasing the Oltre Fiat, which debuted at the Bologna Auto Show last December. Fortunately for the not-exactly-Carl-Lewis-esque us, the big lug was being held up by a group of guys in white hoodies attempting to hustle an out-of-commission Fiat 500 down the narrow Paris street. Lo and behold, we'd yet again stumbled across the "500 Wants You" crew, a group of boys and girls travelling around Paris drumming up hype for the new Cinquecento, which debuts precisely a year from today. More »
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Walking back from whatever the French is for bodega for a pack of Gitanes we ran across a mini parade of Cinquecentos. And really kids, what could be six-button cuter than that? Nothing, motherfuckers. That's what. More »
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Think you can turn Giorgio Armani's head with your doodlings? Then Fiat 500 wants you. No, really, the company's "Fiat 500 Wants You" competition is rounding up contributors of "ideas and designs for the new car and everything that surrounds its launch, sale and customer interaction." The categories are accessories — personalization features for the new 500 subcompact (think: wheels, spoilers, tailfins, cumberbund, technicolor wig, etc); lifestyle — designs that translate the FIAT 500's style into everyday life, such furniture, gadgets, clothing, paperweights, corporate inspirational posters, bookmarks, hand puppets and Hummel figurines; and "everywhere" — designs for places, streets, parking areas, shops, pubs and public spaces, etc. etc. There's a 5000-Euro prize in each category, and Fiat will pay 3000 Euros for a design that makes it into production. Think Idol, only without the public humiliation factor, and the singing. More »
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It promises to be eerier than Ezaine Helgado as Sofia Loren. The ragazzi at Eurocar Blog point us toward shots of the upcoming Fiat 500 — a neue-retro take on the lovable Fiat Cinquecento of old. The project is an outgrowth of the Trepiuno concept, unveiled at the 2005 Geneva show to shrieks of delight by Zegna-clad journos (only in Italy), Swiss traditionalsists and Albanian gelato vendors alike. Word is the new 500 will share parentage with Ford, in a joint project that will also bear the next-generation Ka. More »
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Fans of race-bred Fiats of old will be pleased to see the Abarth badge associated with the Fiat Trepiuno concept, which is said to be a harbinger of a new, retro-styled Fiat 500 on the way. Eurocar Blog located some sketches that depict the Trepiuno in the red-and-white livery of legendary motorsports tweaker, Abarth, along with renderings of what could be the new 500's interior. Word is the new model will show up in mid-2007, possibly developed in partnership with Ford. More »
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Two Italian men have arrived in China, after a three-month trek in a Fiat the size of an Anoplophora glabripennis. The average Asian Longhorned beetle, however, would have had far fewer miles on it than the 1973 Fiat 500 R did before the two began their trip from Turin, Italy to Bejing. Along the way, the two were nearly done in by unrest in Kyrgyzstan, the harsh plains of Siberia and submarine-grade close-quarters insanity. But holy hell, they made it. More »
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Fiat may build a new city car styled after the iconic cinquecento (that's "500" to you, Johnny) of the 1960s and 1970s, according to news reports. Likely based on Fiat's Trepi no concept, shown at this year's Geneva auto show, the production model probably won't share the same 500cc motor with the original, but will have the same quirky style that's making it a new theme of restaurants, sweatshirts and Hoobastank ballads (ok, not the last one). Fiat has yet to confirm or deny its plans to re-release the 500, though some say it's the linchpin of a comeback strategy for Italy's largest automaker. More »
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