Official : Chrysler will sell 4 versions of the Fiat 500
06-29-09, 06:48 PM
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Official : Chrysler will sell 4 versions of the Fiat 500
BALOCCO, Italy -- Chrysler will build and sell four versions of the tiny Fiat 500 in North America starting in 2011: a hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback.
A fifth model -- a small, four-wheel-drive SUV -- also is possible.
They will wear the Fiat brand, and no longer-term plans exist for other Fiat-badged models here, the company said.
Roberto Giolito, designer of the 500 and head of styling for the Fiat brand, confirmed the plans here last week at the launch of the 500C convertible.
The sporty hatchback is the Abarth version of the 500 hatchback, the popular 2008 European Car of the Year that Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls "our iPod."
The 500, which debuted in Europe in 2007, is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2011, said Fiat brand CEO Lorenzo Sistino. Production in North America is expected to begin in early 2011 at a Chrysler plant either in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico.
Looks like the mini cooper will have some italian competiton in the uS
A fifth model -- a small, four-wheel-drive SUV -- also is possible.
They will wear the Fiat brand, and no longer-term plans exist for other Fiat-badged models here, the company said.
Roberto Giolito, designer of the 500 and head of styling for the Fiat brand, confirmed the plans here last week at the launch of the 500C convertible.
The sporty hatchback is the Abarth version of the 500 hatchback, the popular 2008 European Car of the Year that Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls "our iPod."
The 500, which debuted in Europe in 2007, is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2011, said Fiat brand CEO Lorenzo Sistino. Production in North America is expected to begin in early 2011 at a Chrysler plant either in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico.
Looks like the mini cooper will have some italian competiton in the uS
06-29-09, 07:09 PM
#4
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at least tey will be bringing the Abarth version as well. I want to see a mini copper battle with the abarth
Four 500s by 2011. That is the latest word out of Italy concerning the adorable Fiat 500. While the Chrysler/Fiat merger chugs along, the tiny 500 is the only model that has been officially greenlighted for American consumption under the Fiat banner. To make up for that dearth of models, Fiat will apparently offer the 500 in four different flavors when it reaches these shores: hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback. There's also an outside chance of a micro-CUV according to this Automotive News piece.
The "sporty hatchback" will be the Abarth, Europe's 2008 Car of the Year. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls it "our iPod." Wonder if it's too late for some co-branding. While it might seem that a sporty wagon and sporty drop-top would be fairly easy to slot into the mix (Abarth Giardiniera SS Corsa, FTW!), we'll have to make due with those four iterations for the time being. The 500 family should be in U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2011. The American-market cars will likely be produced at a Chrysler plant in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico, but there's no official word on U.S. pricing yet.
Four 500s by 2011. That is the latest word out of Italy concerning the adorable Fiat 500. While the Chrysler/Fiat merger chugs along, the tiny 500 is the only model that has been officially greenlighted for American consumption under the Fiat banner. To make up for that dearth of models, Fiat will apparently offer the 500 in four different flavors when it reaches these shores: hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback. There's also an outside chance of a micro-CUV according to this Automotive News piece.
The "sporty hatchback" will be the Abarth, Europe's 2008 Car of the Year. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls it "our iPod." Wonder if it's too late for some co-branding. While it might seem that a sporty wagon and sporty drop-top would be fairly easy to slot into the mix (Abarth Giardiniera SS Corsa, FTW!), we'll have to make due with those four iterations for the time being. The 500 family should be in U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2011. The American-market cars will likely be produced at a Chrysler plant in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico, but there's no official word on U.S. pricing yet.
06-29-09, 08:05 PM
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awesome
not many people buy Fiats for their reliability so i hope north american consumers get that into their heads first before purchasing
lots of interesting little euro cars coming into north america
i just spotted a new Ford Fiesta a few days ago in Portland, OR
not many people buy Fiats for their reliability so i hope north american consumers get that into their heads first before purchasing
lots of interesting little euro cars coming into north america
i just spotted a new Ford Fiesta a few days ago in Portland, OR
Last edited by UberNoob; 06-29-09 at 08:10 PM.
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06-29-09, 10:42 PM
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Anyway, ever since the 500 debuted last year, I always thought that it would do extremely well in the U.S. I love the looks. A Top Gear episode on BBC America tested the 500 tonight and they thought it was an absolutely splendid driving machine. I cant wait.
06-29-09, 10:47 PM
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I agree. I'm to young to know, but I think its been so long since Fiat was sold here, they may get away with poor quality for awhile (that is if they do not make any improvements). The general public won't have a clue until Consumer Reports and etc start doing test.
Anyway, ever since the 500 debuted last year, I always thought that it would do extremely well in the U.S. I love the looks. A Top Gear episode on BBC America tested the 500 tonight and they thought it was an absolutely splendid driving machine. I cant wait.
Anyway, ever since the 500 debuted last year, I always thought that it would do extremely well in the U.S. I love the looks. A Top Gear episode on BBC America tested the 500 tonight and they thought it was an absolutely splendid driving machine. I cant wait.
06-30-09, 12:03 AM
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06-30-09, 12:32 AM
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dont remember
it was a lime green one
5 doors version
saw it on saturday evening in pearl district in Portland
is it not out in US yet?
i would really like to try both of these cars out
looks like fun little cars
id rather get one of these than the Hyundai Accent
it was a lime green one
5 doors version
saw it on saturday evening in pearl district in Portland
is it not out in US yet?
i would really like to try both of these cars out
looks like fun little cars
id rather get one of these than the Hyundai Accent