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.

That means holding off on payments for the first three months on all Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, or Fiat vehicle. The promotion extends through the rest of May and is only valid when financed through Ally Financial or Chase Auto Finance.

Just before making that announcement, the automaker also said it would offer a military discount in conjunction with Memorial day, running until the end of the month as well. The discount takes $1,000 off an eligible vehicle, which is double the normal active personell discount.

As is  often the case with these deals, the fun cars are left out. All SRT models are excluded, as is the Fiat 500 Abarth, Dodge Journey AVP, Chrysler 200 LX, Dodge Avenger SE and (of course) the Viper.

The two latest automakers to climb into bed together are Mazda and Fiat and their love child promises to be one impressive performance machine.

Having signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding, the Japanese and Italian automakers have agreed to examine the development and manufacturing of a roadster model for the Alfa Romeo brand based on Mazda’s upcoming next-generation MX-5 Miata platform.

Distinguishing the two machines won’t just be the unique styling but, but also engines unique to each brand.

According to a joint release, production of both vehicles would occur at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant starting in 2015.

“Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time,” said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.

The partnership will also allow Mazda to take advantage of economies of scale, helping reduce its costs in building the Miata.

“This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship.” said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

With the new Miata-based roadster, Alfa Romeo will have another exciting new product to offer when it returns to the North American market.

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.

Granted, the limited-run Fiat is about as attractive as anything from the automaker can be. It features a “Bordeaux” red paint and sumptuous leather interior that people probably expect after reading the Maserati name. With 180 hp, the tiny luxury car is even more powerful than the already-peppy 500 Abarth. If you stumbled over calling a Fiat a luxury car, you’re not alone.

It isn’t one, yet it wants to be. From its special 17-inch alloy wheels to the floating brake discs hugged by Brembo callipers to the admittedly attractive aesthetics, there’s no denying that this is a sexy car (even if it does have a silly shape). Unfortunately, the fairytale ends right where the price comes in.

Brits looking to tool around in scaled-down style are going to be forking over 32,000 pounds which roughly translates to more than $50,000.

At that price you could be driving a BMW 5 Series, dignity intact and handsome leather abound without worrying about why your knees are so near the steering wheel. That’s right, the limited-production Fiat costs about as much as the upcoming Tesla Model S, a Shelby GT500, or any number of other amazing cars that slot in around the 50k price point.

Sure a car that size with 180 hp is going to seem very fast, but Fiat is going to need 499 very special little people in order to sell the cars. It’s a good thing the U.K. isn’t in the Eurozone.

GALLERY: Fiat Abarth 695 Maserati Edition

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.

The Maserati Edition Abarth model will be a 500C offered only in the Pontevecchio Bordeaux color seen above, which comes from Maserati’s catalog. It will roll on 17-inch Neptune wheels with Brembo brakes while the 1.4-liter Turbo T-Jet engine will push out 180-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. That’s 40-hp and 33 lb-ft of torque more than the standard Abarth 500C.

On the inside, the production model will be just like the one we saw at Geneva, sporting sand beige Poltrana Frau later with ’695′ stitched onto the headrests. Accents include matte-carbon on the dash and seat trim, a black leather steering wheel and a Jaeger LeCoultre-produced clock on the instrument panel.

Only 499 units of the 695 Edizione Maserati will be made available, all in Europe. Pricing has not yet been announced.

GALLERY: Abarth 695 Tributo 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. 

The latest commercial barely even mentions Fiat, the only hint of the automaker is the Fiat Palio that the couple we see is driving in. The commercial then takes a quick turn, as a discussion between the couple leads to the woman’s confession about her intention to get a boob-job.

A stereotypical male reaction follows, complete with dream sequence and gratuitous cleavage shots. Fiat is clearly trying to shed its woman friendly image by appealing to male sensibilities.

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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:

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Drinking and driving kills many people a year, and the marketers at Fiat are reaching out to people with this simple yet effective commercial. 

The spot is for the Brazilian market, and shows only a can. At first we can see a cyclist’s reflection in the can, and the caption beside reads, “now you see.” When a hand opens up the beer can, suddenly the cyclist disappears, and the caption reads, “now you don’t.”

The ad is elegant in its simplicity, and gets the message out that drinking and driving kills.

Watch the spot below, and please don’t drink and drive.

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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.

Dubbed the Chrysler House, the office will offer a workplace to 70 workers, including the CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, Sergio Marchionne. This building marks the first time that Chrysler has had an office presence in downtown Detroit, though the companies headquarters is in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The reason for the move seems to be more symbolic than practical, as Chrysler wants to make sure it is known that they are a serious competitor in the industry, especially after the government bailouts and the doubt that has surrounded the company. The Fiat takeover has also been publicly viewed with some distaste, so the company’s Detroit presence could help solidify the all-American image.

Chrysler is also helping Detroit dwellers by backing a new light-rail project with 3$ million in funding. ”We are Detroit. It’s that simple,” Sergio Marchionne said in an interview. ”Other people may have their name on the side of a building, but we live here.”

Chrysler may not have had busines centers in downtown, but the company has always maintained a production facility within city limits.

Just like Chrysler, Marchionne is hoping that Detroit can be turned around from the economic hardships it is facing.

[Source: Detroit News]

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.

Finally, hints of progress are showing as Alfa Romeo has trademarked its 4C nameplate with the U.S. Patent Office ahead of its reported return for the second half of 2013.

Alfa Romeo was officially approved on April 10th to trademark “4C” as not only a vehicle nameplate, but for licensing accessories such as apparel and toys as well.

If all goes according to schedule, the 4C is expected to debut in production form in time for the January 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and should commence production by May 2013 at the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy. Alfa Romeo projects the number of 4C produced per year to reach 2,500 units.

Following the 4C, Alfa will follow up with the Giulia in 2014.

GALLERY: Alfa Romeo 4C

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]