Chrysler just announced a new promotion that spans its list of sub brands, except for SRT, to delay payments on the purchase of any new vehicle for 90 days.
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When it goes on sale, the Fiat Abarth 695 Maserati Edition won’t be available in the U.S. and that’s a good thing because dealers would have to tack “unsellable” onto its laughably long name.
Back at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Abarth unveiled its 695 Tributo Maserati, a custom Fiat 500C inspired by fellow Italian automaker, Maserati. The special edition model will now make it to production as the 695 Edizione Maserati.
Google Street View cars roam the world, snapping photos freely to give its users an accurate depiction of the location they’re looking for. As a result, sometimes you may be smiling on candid camera unknowingly when Google passes by.
Fiat on the under hand, wanted to smile knowingly to the cameras when the Google Street View car was snapping photos outside of Volkswagen’s Södertälje Swedish headquarters. The Italian automaker paid close attention to when Google’s Street View cars were driving around the German automaker’s headquarers in Sweden and decided to park its 500 model at the front door for the Google Street View photo.
The more interesting question is how Fiat knew when to plant its 500 model outside the headquarters’ front door for the photo and how long it’ll be staying up on Google’s Street View website. Of course the Italian automaker has no comment on how it happened, but we’re sure they’re having a bit of a smile over it.
Car advertising is always aimed at a key demographic, and the newest spot from Fiat Argentina reinforces its slew of commercials aimed directly at men.
Catrinel Menghia, the lingerie model who starred in the Fiat brand’s sexy Super Bowl ad is back in several new spots for the Italian automaker.
Helping promote the new Fiat 500 Abarth performance model, the ad was a clear indication of a change in gears from the automaker, after dropping its female US brand boss and its female-targeted J-Lo ads for some sex appeal directed right at a male audience.
Are they as good as the original? Are you going to watch them anyway no matter what we say? Of course you are. So stop reading and start watching below:
Drinking and driving kills many people a year, and the marketers at Fiat are reaching out to people with this simple yet effective commercial.
Detroit is the place to be in America if you are in the auto business, and Chrysler is marking its presence in the city by taking up an office in downtown Detroit.
During the offseason, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) announced its new B-Spec class to give automakers and racers a relatively affordable platform to go racing. The season has finally kicked off with Carbotech’s Fiat 500 claiming the first victory.
The ‘showroom stock’ racing series includes race cars like the Honda Fit and Mazda 2, while Ford represents for the domestics with its Fiesta. From Europe are the MINI and Fiat contenders with the Italian automaker holding off the contenders in its inaugural race.
While it’s definitely noteworthy that Fiat claimed the first win in a new racing series, the more important question to ask is when was the last time Fiat won a race in America?
Driving the number-00 Fiat USA/SRT/Carbotech 500 was Jonathan Start who swept the doubleheader of two 30 minute races separated by a brief 10 minute break. Craig Capaldi in the number-86 Ford Fiesta lead for the opening seven laps, before Shaun Bailey overtook with the number-0 Road & Track Mazda2.
Capaldi then led three laps in the middle stage of the race before Start took the lead in the Fiat 500, holding on to a 2.171 second win. His pass for the lead also net him the Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award.
“Race one was exactly what B-Spec should be,” Start said. “Close, tight, and very similar cars. I had the race of my life in the fun category. We were able to flip and flop, and we raced each other clean. This is what World Challenge is.”
In the second race, Start took the green flag from start to finish with a 1.392 second victory to sweep the doubleheader.
Fiat currently is ahead in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 19 points and it will be interesting to see if the 500 remains a contender through the rest of the season in the highly competitive B-Spec class.
Relaunching the Alfa Romeo brand in North America has been a priority for Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne since he assumed the chief executive position for Fiat and Chrysler three years ago.
Through years of setbacks, Marchionne admitted that transitioning Alfa Romeo’s return into the United States would be among his most difficult tasks.
Production for major automakers numbers in the millions every year, but that doesn’t mean it’s insignificant for Maserati to increase production to 50,000 units by 2015.
Last year the company only managed to sell 6,159 cars, which was actually an 8.5 percent increase. No doubt the ambitious marketing strategies and business savvy Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne brings to the company has something to do with the rapid growth.
In order to meet the high ambitions, the brand says it will introduce three new models in distinct market segments. Managing that massive production jump will take significant resources, some of which will come from Fiat’s recently-acquired Turin production plant, where Maserati vehicles will also be assembled.
If it meets the goal, it will represent an increase of almost 812% over 2011, something the company might struggle to meet. It failed to meet growth goals in the past which were significantly smaller, but maybe new models and Marchionne’s leadership will be the magic beanstalk Maserati needs to climb.
[Source: Detroit News]
It appears that is Fiat will continue to expand its American 500 offerings based on documents filed with NHTSA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Positioned between the standard Fiat 500 and the more powerful Abarth model, the 500T Sport should feature a less powerful version of the turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder currently found in the Abarth 500.
The Abarth model pumps out 160-hp and the standard Fiat 500 with the 1.4-liter has 100-hp, so the 500T Sport should come in at around 130-140 hp. The 500 Abarth in Europe makes 133 hp in its regular trim, so that could be the 500T powerplant American will see.
The document also showed that an Abarth convertible model is on its way to the U.S. as a 2013 model, but that isn’t a huge surprise considering it already exists in other markets. We expect it to be identical to the Abarth coupe but with a power-sliding cloth roof similar to what is found on the 500c seen above.
[Source: Car & Driver]
Fiat’s return to America has been met with limited success. Sales of the 500 mini car failed to even come close to expectations, selling just a third of expected volume or around 20,000 units last year.
In Canada, however, with the higher costs of vehicles (and gas), not to mention a more European mindset towards acceptance of smaller cars, the small 500 has done surprisingly well. In 2011 Fiat managed to move over 5,000 units. While a fourth of the US total, it’s an impressive number for a population that’s one-tenth the size.
As a result, Fiat is looking to make a bigger push into Canada in the near future. While the recently-revealed 500L is expected to be offered in both the US and Canada, the Great White North will see two additional models: the Panda MPV, as well as the Punto. Enthusiasts who are now being introduced to the Fiat 500 Abarth, are sure to appreciate the Abarth Punto which is powered by a 165 hp turbocharged 1.4-liter engine and comes outfitted with the usual long list of Abarth performance goodies from brakes, to wheels and tires, to suspension components. In it’s highest trim, the 178 hp Esseesse version is sure to make for a compelling rival against the rumors Ford Fiesta ST.
[Source: TTAC]
Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne was featured yesterday on CBS’ 60 Minutes discussing his life as the head of both Fiat, Chrysler and how he brought the American brand back to health from the brink of collapse.
In the interview, Marchionne addresses the state Chrysler was in when he came on board to resurrect the company, saying employees were afraid and that the hierarchical corporate structure in place was crippling to operation.
The 13-minute clip also looks at the upcoming Dodge Dart, which first debuted in January at the Detroit Auto Show. We also get a peek into Marchionne’s life in Italy, where he isn’ allowed to go anywhere without being in a bullet-proof car with police escorts.
Watch the video below, it’s well worth the time.
Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will be the focus of attention on tonight’s 60 Minutes on CBS that airs at 7:00pm EDT. Reporter Steve Kroft will focus on Chrysler’s miraculous turnaround under the careful guidance of Marchionne.
Both Chrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Fiat headquarters in Turin, Italy will be featured on the television show special, alongside the Chrysler Belvedere, Illinois plant where the new Dodge Dart will be built.
The show will focus on how Marchionne helped transform the failing Chrysler brand into a formidable automaker in the market. Last year, Chrysler earned $183-million, its first profit since 2005.
It’s amazing the turnaround Marchionne has orchestrated since he took over in 2009, stating in the interview that “there wasn’t a CEO in the world from the auto side that would have touched this with a 10-foot pole,” when talking about the state of Chrysler as it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
[Source: USA Today]
Funny little Italian cars are finally coming into vogue, or so it seems after Fiat reported its best month of U.S. sales to date in February.
“I’m holding my breath, but to beat February would be a big, big win for us,” Fiat brand head Timothy Kuniskis told the Detroit Free Press.
With 3,227 units sold last month, it seems the company is on an upward trend. Still, it’s not terribly surprising because sub-compacts and compacts are out-pacing every other market segment for growth. Thanks in no small part to rising gas prices, the two sections are attracting new buyers to trade in larger vehicles in anticipation of fuel climbing beyond $4 per gallon in the near future.
While it’s undeniable that economic factors are playing a big part in boosting Fiat and other small car manufacturers, the company’s marketing strategy also deserves recognition.
Edgy ads like the Fist 500 Abarth Superbowl commerical and those that followed it are helping to bring the otherwise obscure name in front of consumers.
That obscurity is the direct result of Fiat’s 28-year hiatus from the American market. When the brand relaunched last March it had little marketing support and could have been written off as an unfortunate experiment by Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Nevertheless, it seems like the company might have actually times its release wisely, leaving it in a position to sell sub-compact cars with Italian styling cues in a market where most of the competition sells sans-pizzazz.
Managing to replicate its February sales would be a big victory for the company, which is seeing growing interest in the hot-rod Abarth thanks to the aforementioned commercial and others like the recently-aired “House Arrest” spot featuring notorious badboy Charlie Sheen and a slew of sexy women.
Thankfully, it won’t take long to see how the company fares, at least in the short term. If current market trends are any indication of consumer preference there may be more Fiats in sight than you otherwise might have expected.
GALLERY: Fiat 500 Abarth
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
It might not make sense to trade your gas guzzler in for a more fuel-efficient car, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping people.
Sub-compact and compact car sales are spiking this year, according to J.D. Power and Associates. It seems that both segments are growing, but the smaller sibling is winning out among American consumers, probably because of rising fuel prices.
The average gallon of gas across the U.S. sells for $3.80 today and is expected to climb in the coming months, as is common in during the warmer seasons. That seems to be driving consumer preferences toward cars like the Scion iQ, Chevrolet Sonic and Fiat 500 which might have seemed unthinkable a couple of years ago.
In fact, both segments are outpacing growth in the rest of the industry, which saw an 11.5 percent sales gain over last year. Sub-compact deliveries grew by 37.7 percent, while compacts enjoyed a 13.3 percent increase.
What’s more, 23.6 percent of sub-compact owners traded in their fuel efficient car or crossover for another sub-compact. More models are also being traded in for smaller cars at dealerships this year compared to last.
So it seems that the small cars some people looked at with disdain a few years ago are actually gaining popularity. Maybe Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne will be able to announce good news for his brand’s U.S. sales for a change.
[Source: J. D. Power and Associates]
Earlier this month, Italian exotic automaker Ferrari debuted its new F12 Berlinetta at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was responsible for the unveiling of the F12 Berlinetta, and now he is once again denying reports of a Ferrari IPO.
Despite addressing these rumors last month about Ferrari going public, new ones surfaced when Italian business tabloid MF said a number of investment banks visited Fiat‘s office to propose a listing last week. Nonetheless, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has reassured the public that Ferrari is indeed not going public anytime soon; though Sergio Marchionne, Fiat CEO, has left open the possibility of an eventual listing.
By going public, Ferrari has the potential to raise funds for its parent company, Fiat, by leveraging the popularity of its luxury moniker.
GALLERY: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
The Fiat 500 Abarth Venom is the culmination of American and Italian minds working together. Mopar partnered up with Italian parts manufacturer Magneti Marelli to create the Venom variant of the Fiat 500 Abarth model.
The demo vehicle was debuted out in Las Vegas and even had a surprise visit by supermodel Catrinel Menghia that has made her claim to fame in the popular Abarth ads. Between Mopar and Magneti Marelli, the Fiat 500 Abarth Venom features carbon fiber goods for the body – including hood and side mirror housings – that in total drop 200 lbs from the vehicle’s weight. The roof also gets a large scorpion graphic.
Horsepower from the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine gets bumped up by as much as 40-hp (from the stock 160-hp) thanks to a retuned ECU and exhaust system.
Other options include Magneti Marelli 17-inch wheels in black, seats, and upgraded interior trim.
While the Fiat 500 Abarth Venom won’t make its way to America as a complete vehicle, Fiat tuning shops in America are already finding a way to import the parts so that you can build your own. Expect to pay a premium though, Magneti Marelli goods are expensive.
Watch the video – featuring the beautiful Catrinel Menghia – after the break.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
The Fiat brand has had a bumpy start in the U.S. market, but the Italian automaker hopes to change things around now that its dealer network has finally expanded.
Last year, Fiat 500 sales only hit 19,769 cars, way below its target goal of 50,000. But now with the Abarth 500 on the horizon, the recently revealed 500L wagon coming next spring, and the Fiat 500 EV coming next year, the Italian brand looks poised to become a formidable player in the compact car market.
Fiat U.S. brand chief, Tim Kuniskis, recently revealed that the American lineup may increase to three models. While Kuniskis wouldn’t detail what the third model is, he did say that styling will always be their emphasis and that “any car we sell has got to be different.”
So what could it be? Our guess is that Fiat will bring a crossover to America. It’s only a fitting addition to their existing subcompact coupe/convertible and incoming four-door wagon.
Fiat now has 142 dealers and hopes to reach 200 by the end of next year.
GALLERY: Fiat 500L
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Cocaine, beautiful women and tiger blood — these things can compel a man to insane acts, not the least of which is driving a Fiat 500 at speed through a house.
That’s one image Italian automaker, Fiat, is hoping to portray (fun and youth not drugs and depravity), but the Charlie Sheen “House Arrest” commercial is one of two ads that will air for the first time tonight. The second, called “Baby” is a little more subtle in its appeal.
The spot features two men driving to a show with, as you may guess, a baby in the back of the car. The two men are discussing the seats, you see the driver working the manual transmission and then they find themselves stuck behind an old man in a generic Italian mafia car driving very slowly.
The Fiat pulls out to pass while the old man shoots a dirty look their way, inadvertently catching the baby’s gaze. In that moment, the child utters the same Italian phrase we heard supermodel Catrinel Menghia repeat during the Abarth superbowl ad, which means “what are you looking at?”
The old man looks shocked as the two men and baby pull away. We can’t say when the ad will air, just that it’s set for both local broadcast and network TV. That said, the ads probably won’t air during an episode of Grey’s Anatomy given their male-oriented nature.
Watch both the new “Baby” ad and “House Arrest” below.
A few years ago, Italian auto giant Fiat was very close to partnering up with General Motors. However, that deal went sour at the last minute and a few years after that, Fiat bought a big chunk of Chrysler in its quest to have a large slice of the American market.
More recently, the company was in the news announcing that Fiat is looking to partner up with Mazda or Suzuki, which would not only help expand Fiat’s reach into the Asian market, but also co-develop future small car platforms and technologies together.
Not content with sitting idling by, waiting for deals to happen, Fiat/Chrysler are constantly seeking alliances to further its growth.
The latest round of news from the 2012 Geneva Auto Show is that Fiat is “open to Volvo talks.” Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne expressed that he is “interested in talking to everyone that wants to talk with me.”
Volvo, which is now owned by the Chinese auto firm Geely, wants to expand itself in the small car segment in developing markets which makes Fiat an good fit because it already has plenty of small cars in its line-up. This tie-up could prove very beneficial for Volvo, to offer a new small car, without going through the expense of designing and engineering a complete new vehicle itself.
Fiat will benefit by finding a route into the Chinese market, which is currently the fastest growing economy in the world.
As for future drive-train technologies, Marchionne says; “There’s still lots of unexplored technology with combustion. Future drive-trains need to be cheaper and more cost effective.”
While Fiat is to introduce its first electric car later this year, the 500e (shown above), it only did so because it pooled technology from a host of companies already in the electric car field and thus saved cost of developing a complete new system themselves.
When asked if Fiat was in talks with PSA Peugeot Citroen, Marchionne denied the claim saying, “I would not like to be GM. The integration for the cost does not go far enough and would not have met our requirements.”
Fiat was at one point in talks with GM to take over Opel-Vauxhall and Saab, and Marchionne confidently said he could have “found a solution for the brands.”
Will Fiat and Volvo become partners or will they form an alliance with Mazda or Suzuki? Only time will tell.
[Source: Autocar]
Earlier, we reported that Ford CEO Alan Mulally had been awarded $58.3 Million worth of company stock for meeting company performance targets. Fiat/Chrysler‘s Sergio Marchionne, on the other hand, has declined a salary and bonus for the work he’s done for Chrysler Group in 2011.
Although Marchionne is compensated for his work at Fiat S.p.A, this is the second straight year that he declined salary from Chrysler, only accepting reimbursements for cleaning, utilities, security expenses, as well as insurance and association fees at his condominium near the Chrysler headquarters in Detroit. According to filings with the US. Securities and Exchange Commission, costs were on par with or less than the charges had Marchionne stayed in hotels.
Performance figures have shown that Chrysler has outperformed the U.S. auto market for 2011, an increase of 24.3 percent compared to the 10.3 percent industry average. What’s more, Chrysler refinanced the $7.6 billion in loans from the United States and Canadian governments.
[Source: Autonews]