Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Primo Roadster

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat is planning to debut a conceptual roadster version and a sported-up production variant of its newly revealed Uno city car at next week's 2010 São Paulo Auto Show in Brazil, which will be open to the public from 27 October 7 November.

Although designed as a pure concept study, the two-seater Uno Roadster shows the potential for a limited series production model in the near future. The car is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 152-horsepower and features a stiffened chassis, 17-inch alloy wheels and an aggressive bodykit.

The Roadster will be joined by the new Uno Sporting trim level which keeps the standard model's 1.4-liter 85HP engine but adds a sport suspension lowered by 20mm, 15-inch alloy wheels shod in 185/60 tires, an exclusive orange shade complemented by special decals, and front and rear spoilers. It also gets some sportier touches inside such as the new trim on the dashboard panel and seats.

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat Uno Sporting Wallpaper

Fiat is planning to debut a conceptual roadster version and a sported-up production variant of its newly revealed Uno city car at next week's 2010 São Paulo Auto Show in Brazil, which will be open to the public from 27 October 7 November.

Although designed as a pure concept study, the two-seater Uno Roadster shows the potential for a limited series production model in the near future. The car is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 152-horsepower and features a stiffened chassis, 17-inch alloy wheels and an aggressive bodykit.

The Roadster will be joined by the new Uno Sporting trim level which keeps the standard model's 1.4-liter 85HP engine but adds a sport suspension lowered by 20mm, 15-inch alloy wheels shod in 185/60 tires, an exclusive orange shade complemented by special decals, and front and rear spoilers. It also gets some sportier touches inside such as the new trim on the dashboard panel and seats.

Fiat 500 Prima Edizione Special Sells Out in the States

As expected, it didn't take long for Fiat fans to buy out the first batch of 500 city cars that will come to the States in the form a limited edition model called the "500 Prima Edizione". Today, Chrysler announced that all 500 examples of the special edition, which was offered in three colors - Bianco (White), Rosso (Red), and Grigio (Gray)- and only with a manual gearbox, have been spoken for.

"It's important that the Fiat enthusiasts and fans are among the first to receive their very own Fiat 500 Prima Edizione special edition vehicles, as they share the same excitement about the brand's presence in North America," said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat brand North America.

"As we begin to introduce Fiat to North America, our goal is to develop a solid relationship with our customers so they are made to feel as part of the brand. Over 1,000 people are on the waitlist for the Prima Edizione, a clear indication of the buzz that the Fiat 500 is generating among our fans", Soave added.

Those that didn't receive the special invitation from Chrysler or didn't manage to reserve the 'Prima Edizione", need not worry as Fiat will soon begin accepting U.S. orders for the regular version of the 500. At first, the 500 will be available in Sport, Pop and Lounge trims, followed by a faux-convertible variant called the 500C in spring of 2011.

Fiat 500s from U.S. Dealer Presentation, Plus 500 Sport (red)

Here's the US Version of the Fiat 500, Available for Order Soon

Today, the Chrysler Group lifted the wraps off the North American version of the retrotastic Fiat 500, which will be available for order in the States later this year in Sport, Pop and Lounge trims, followed by a targa-top convertible model (500C) in spring of 2011.

The North American market Fiat 500 will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico. All variants of Italy's answer to the MINI are powered by Fiat's 1.4-liter four-cylinder MultiAir engine that will be manufactured in the USA. Output and fuel economy figures will be released closer to the launch date.

The red-colored 500 Sport version featured in the photo gallery below matches a sportier-tuned suspension with a new bodykit that includes unique front and rear bumpers with additional air-vents, side skirts and a roof spoiler. The car's more athletic appearance is rounded off by special 16-inch alloy wheels with Mineral Gray painted pockets, a chromed exhaust tip and gloss black shadow-line window trim.

Chrysler said the Fiat 500 Sport also features an available SkyDome power sun roof.

The Detroit automaker has said it plans to open Fiat dealerships in around 165 locations across the United States with the biggest small-car registrations, including include Chicago, Manhattan, Los Angeles and Boston.

Chrysler to Show Dealers New Models, Discuss Future at Florida Meeting on Tuesday

Chrysler dealers will meet in Orlando, Florida tomorrow to discuss the Pentastar's future and their role in it. Some 1,735 (out of 2,314) dealers will be getting up close and personal with new models, as well as getting sneak peeks (call us!) at some of the upcoming model facelifts and updates including the refreshed Dodge Challenger and minivans, and the new Fiat 500.

Other than seeing the new products, they will have a variety of questions answered by Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat North America CEOs.

David Kelleher, a dealer from Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania and member of the Chrysler Dealer Council, told Wall Street Journal that "dealers will experience a very transparent show. They are going to go home with more information they have now. They will know about the future of the company."

Sergio Marchionne will finally address dealers personally, as well; since he and Fiat took over in summer 2009, the only real communication between him and dealers has been discussing future product with the media last winter. Other than that, he says he simply wasn't ready to speak with anyone until the proper plans for his super-company were ready.

While in Orlando, many dealers will also be asked to stay open on Saturdays in order to help both with sales and Mopar Express Lanes (for quick repairs / tune-ups / oil changes). The goal is to have 80% of dealers staying open on weekends by the end of next year (versus 68% now).

For comparison, 95% of Toyota dealers are open on Saturdays (including 100% of Lexus dealers), over 90% of GM dealers stay open, and 85% of Ford lots are there for you.

Mopar CEO Pietro Gorlier says, "We have to respond to customers and customers shop or get their oil changed on Saturdays. Those that stay open on Saturdays have had tremendous success and their oil change business has increased by 20%."

By Phil Alex

Source: WSJ (sub. req)

Ferrari F1 Drivers Alonso and Massa get their own Abarth 695 Tributo

One of the perks of being an F1 driver for an automaker is that you get a lot of free stuff, including cars - not because white collar execs love you, but because they want to milk every single ounce of fame out of you. In the case of human billboards Ferrari team drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, aside from those lovely gas station employee-like hats and polos, they also get their pick of cars from the Fiat Group.

This time, Alonso and Massa were handed over the keys of two Fiat 500-based Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari special edition models finished in Scuderia red with Racing grey details.

The limited special series Abarth model is powered a 1.4-liter force-fed four-cylinder engine tuned to develop 180HP, and comes with a bevy of goodies including carbon fibre parts, body hugging bucket seats from Sabelt, four-pot Brembo discs and unique 17-inch Corsa Grey alloy wheels.

On sale in Europe since July, Abarth has already notched up more than 600 orders, more than half of which are for export to countries like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and that despite its inexcusably high price (£29,600 / US$45,500 in the UK, €46,339 / US$59,000 in Spain).