According to a tweet from Ward’s Auto, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionee has confirmed the existence of two new models in the pipeline, the Dodge Charger Super Bee and a Gucci-branded edition of the Fiat 500.

The last generation Super Bee was mechanically identical to the Charger SRT-8, although it came in unique pastel colors and was outfitted with spoilers and other extra bodywork, in a supposed nod to the Super Bee special editions of the 1970s.

Meanwhile, Italian fashion house Gucci will be lending its name to the ultra-chic Fiat 500, with Gucci motifs featured inside and out. Europe has already received their own Gucci edition, which features the brand’s signature red and green stripes, while the interior is appointed with the interlocking letter G synonymous with the brand’s clothing and handbags.

Lamborghini head Stephan Winkelmann said that China will overtake the United States as its largest market in the very near future. Winklemann said that the exact sales numbers would depend largely on the new Aventador, and how many units it could deliver to China.

Q1 2011 sales outstripped those of 2010, even though Lamborghini was only selling the Gallardo, while it sold the Murcielago alongside it in 2010. Lamborghini plans on expanding its sales network from 14 dealerships to 20 by year’s end. China’s Lamborghini customer tends to be younger and female, two demographics which tend to display greater brand loyalty, qualities that Winkelmann obviously wants in a customer.

Rolls-Royce announced earlier in the month that it expects China to become the third largest market for its cars, while Ferrari is also anticipating the country to become an extremely important market in the near future.

[Source: Reuters]

Ferrari is aiming for global sales of 8,000 units within 8 years, unprecedented volumes for a sports car maker that has traditionally prided itself on exclusivity and the individual nature of their products.

Sales of 6,800 to 7,000 Ferrari cars are expected this year, with the Japanese market being the deciding factor. Ferrari sells about 400 cars per year in the country. According to Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo, the jump to 8,000 units will have to come from emerging markets. ”A lot depends on India, Latin America and China. There is growth potential there,” he told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

China, which will sell 500 cars this year (up from 300) is expected to be the 3rd biggest market for Ferrari, behind the United States and Germany.

[Source: Automotive News]

The Chevrolet Volt won the World Green Car of the Year award at the 2011 New York Auto Show, beating out the Nissan Leaf and BMW 320d for the title.

The World Car of the Year award is made up of 66 jurors from 25 countries, who are responsible for selecting the vehicles. This year, the Nissan Leaf ended up taking the honors for World Car of the Year, despite losing the “Green Car” title to the Chevrolet Volt. Other winners included the Ferrari 458 Italia for Performance Car and the Aston Martin Rapide took home top honors for Design. Check out AutoGuide‘s coverage of the New York Auto Show for more.

Ferrari‘s next flagship supercar, the successor to the 2003 Enzo, will be influenced by the Bugatti Veyron, although Ferrari declined to specify what parts of the vehicle were inspired by the world’s most powerful car.

A Ferrari source reportedly told Autocar “The world is a very different place to how it was when the Enzo was launched. It has moved on completely. And we are Ferrari – we do not take part to make up the numbers.” Compared to the opulent Veyron, the Enzo was more of a spartan, single-minded vehicle focused solely on performance, and this could perhaps signal the biggest departure from not only the Enzo, but the F50 and F40 supercars which preceded it, and were known for their raw, uncompromising nature.

The next flagship F-car is confirmed to have an active aerodynamics system, which is featured on the Veyron, but an move towards luxury, as well as the active aero, wouldn’t square with Ferrari’s previous desire to shed weight from the Enzo, as seen by their Millechilli design study, which envisioned a flagship supercar weighing a mere 2200lbs. We’ll have to wait until 2013 to find out for sure, as that marks the 10th anniversary of the Enzo’s debut, and in keeping with Ferrari tradition, the correct timeframe to debut a new supercar.

[Source: Autocar]

Fiat has just released photos of their 500 Cabrio, the open-top version of their much-lauded 500 hatchback, a week ahead of its official debut at the New York Auto Show.

Rather than a traditional convertible body style like the MINI Cooper, the 500 uses a retractable canvas roof panel that still retains the overall shape of the 500, similar to the original Fiat 500′s own soft-top variant. While Fiat hasn’t given an explanation for the mechanical benefits of such a design, it’s not hard to believe that this setup has structural benefits that can only come from leaving the roof rails and side pillars intact. The design of the top also allows it to be lowered at speeds of up to 60 mph, while traditional convertibles often require much lower speeds.

The 500 Cabrio will be available in Pop, Sport and Lounge trim levels with  cruise control, power windows and locks and air conditioning standard across the range. Sport models come with more aggressive front and rear bumpers and a recalibrated suspension. Lounge models get chrome accents, leather seats, 15-inch wheels and a new 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode.

Stay tuned to AutoGuide’s live coverage of the 2011 New York Auto Show for more coverage.

GALLERY: Fiat 500 Cabrio

Get more Fiat 500 news and info at Fiat500Owners.com and read AutoGuide’s 2012 Fiat 500 Review here

Fiat is set to increase ownership in Chrysler, from 25 to 30 percent, within the next few weeks, assuming regulatory bodies are satisfied with Fiat’s ability to meet specific demands for Chrysler.

Fiat has already been able to generate $1.5 billion in revenue for Chrysler outside of North America, but still needs to build a Fiat-based car in North America capable of getting 40 mpg. Fiat is aiming to own a 51 percent stake in Chrysler by the end of 2011.

CEO Sergio Marchionne is hoping that Chrysler will increase global sales by 32 percent and post a net profit for the first time this year. Fiat will also begin exporting Chrysler vehicles to Brazil and sell them as Fiats, where the brand is the current market leader. Among the products that will be offered are the Dodge Journey crossover, sold as the Fiat Freemont.

[Source: Automotive News]

Gas prices are getting higher and Chrysler would like to sell you its Fiat 500 EV that uses no gas for $10,000 below cost.

What’s the catch? No catch, except its cost could be three times higher than a $15,995 gasoline-powered version.

Citing the high price of developing an all-electric city car, Chrysler Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly said the company will roll out a limited number of Fiat 500 EVs and will take the loss in order to get them out there.

Even at around $45,000, the car will already be a good $12,000 or more than a Nissan LEAF – another purported loss leader – so this is the high price of trying to start an automotive revolution.

Edmunds.com said it could not get a comment from Chrysler reps, but said in order to get an electric alternative to the far more sophisticated extended-range Chevy Volt, pending Ford Focus EV, and others, Chrysler is willing to do what it takes.

Last March, the financially troubled Chrysler first committed to the Mexican-built, Italian-brand car after its 2010 fleet was ranked last in EPA fuel economy ratings among 14 major automakers. Sprinkling the mix with fuel-free units probably won’t hurt on that score either.

Thus far, the expense of bringing EVs to market has been an oft-repeated story in one form or another. The industry is being government mandated, and manufacturers and consumers are being subsidized respectively to develop and buy them. On the positive side, the proposed paradigm shift has created a frenzy of enthusiasm among companies working on much-needed solutions to dwindling oil supplies, greenhouse gases, and other ill effects, with high hopes on the horizon.

The incentive at this point is seen as necessary in today’s far more complicated economic climate to, er, jump start the new industry. No matter where the grand experiment will go, nearly every major automaker is rushing to get into the fray. It would appear the Fiat 500 EV is Chrysler’s first charitable donation to the effort.

[Source: Edmunds Blog]

As part of an effort to raise money for the Red Cross’ Japanese disaster relief fund , artists affiliated with the EMI record label are auctioning off various knick-knacks, with everything from stereo equipment to handbags to vacations up for grabs.

If you’re reading this, then you’re probably most interested in the 1987 Ferrari 412 that’s being auctioned off by EMI and French electronic music group Daft Punk. The car was used in the video for “Electroma”, and the license plate will be signed by both members of Daft Punk.

[Source: EMI]

For all the skepticism surrounding the Hyundai Equus, the Korean luxury sedan appears to be doing well, even exceeding Hyundai’s own expectations.

Hyundai’s Midwestern PR head Dean Bedore gave us some insight into the success of the Equus, noting that it currently has a 5 percent market share of the luxury car segment, while Hyundai itself has the same overall market share. Bedore noted that the only thing stopping Hyundai from selling more of them was a lack of supply.

Equus sales are currently outpacing brands like Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley, along with sports cars like the BMW Z4, Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R. We are well aware of the apples vs. oranges nature of these kinds of comparisons, but we still found it neat that a $58,000 Hyundai is succeeding when even 5 years ago, such a notion would have been unthinkable.

Hit the jump to see the full list

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Fiat may currently own a 25-percent stake in Chrysler, but that’s not enough for them: by the end of the year, says Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, the Italians will increase their stake to over 51% and own more than half of Chrysler.

While not an outright merger (because Chrysler is probably pretty wary of those right now), Marchionne aims to increase their stake incrementally, by 35% at the end of the fourth quarter. And such a merger hasn’t been ruled out yet. Like a jilted bride (or the recently passed Ms. Taylor), Chrysler just seems to can’t resist shacking up with swarthy Europeans.

[Source: Reuters Italia]

James Glickenhaus took his custom made P4/5 Competizione to the Nurburgring ahead of its first race there at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.

Driver Mika Salo was able to get ample seat time in the hand-built racer, but co-driver Luca Cappellari was limited to a single lap after a red flag came out for unidentified reasons.

Fortunately, there was plenty of video shot during the session, and no less than 4 clips have surfaced online, and we have them all after the jump.

[Source: P4/5 Competizione]

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Jeep is launching an ambitious campaign in Europe to boost sales eight-fold by 2014, with a new premium small SUV helping to lead the way.

The next generation Jeep Compass is expected to debut around 2014, and will be based on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and the Compass will also share DNA with a new Alfa Romeo crossover. The Jeep will be able to move upmarket, and position itself against compact SUVs from premium European brands. A diesel engine will also be offered, and is considered an essential part of the Jeep sales plan.

Currently, Jeep sells about 15,000 vehicles in Europe, making their target highly ambitious. Even Land Rover only manages to move about 75,000 trucks a year in the region. Jeep hopes to clear this hurdle by bringing out an all-new product lineup, including a revised, diesel powered Liberty (sold as the Cherokee), a Grand Wagoneer based on the current Grand Cherokee, and an updated Wrangler. Lancia stores will also become partnered with Jeep, giving the brand some 800 outlets to sell their wares.

[Source: Autocar]

Fiat’s 900cc TwinAir 2-cylinder turbocharged engine, currently available in the European market Fiat 500, has won critical acclaim for its performance and use of advanced technology, and the motor will soon be available in both the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Fiat Punto.

The TwinAir will superceed the current base engines in both cars, rated at 77 and 64 horsepower respectively, as it produces 85 horsepower. The TwinAir will also likely be more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and carbon emissions, with estimates ranging between a 10 and 15 percent gain in both categories. A start-stop system will also be employed.

The base engines will still remain available, but the TwinAir is expected to be a popular option, as it will allow buyers to dodge European C02 emissions taxes.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Maserati‘s new GranTurismo MC Stradale might be using a nifty new single-clutch automated manual gearbox in its home market of Europe, but North America will get a ZF-built 8-speed automatic.

The ZF unit is a precursor to Maserati’s further use of the gearbox, and frankly, North American consumers of the brand will likely not notice the difference. The transmission will also be utilized across a new range of products which will include an SUV and a sedan to slot below the Quattroporte. Reports state that the cars will likely share parts with Chrysler vehicles, a common practice amongst premium brands owned by a conglomerate, but one that may not sit well with Maserati’s rarefied clientele. The next Maseratis will also follow the trend of turbocharging, which was a staple of the brand in earlier decades, and possibly a diesel engine for their Jeep Grand Cherokee-based SUV.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Dr. Dre’s long awaited new album Detox has had more false starts than the Toyota FT-86, but the legendary hip-hop producer has finally released a single, titled I Need A Doctor. If you like hip-hop music, you’ve doubtlessly heard the song by now, but you might not have seen the video, which involves a horrific crash involving a Ferrari 360 Modena.

The intro to the video has Dre driving the 360 along some twisty mountain roads while reflecting on his earlier rap career, followed by the Doc losing control of the car and crashing violently. While the crash scene is pivotal to the entire video, we were a little surprised that the crash was real, and not done via CGI or any other method. Then again, with video budgets reaching higher and higher, a used 360 is probably a fraction of what it costs to put together the actual video.

[Source: Carscoop]

Behind the scenes video after the jump

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The lucky folks at Inside Line got to spend the day with the all new Lamborghini Aventador supercar, as it shot an on location commercial in California.

We won’t spoil all the juicy details for you, but you’re going to want to hit the jump and watch the video.  Aside from the wonderful soundtrack, it’s the best video we’ve seen of the Aventador, and the wonderful orange hue is just right for the flashiest of supercars.

Video after the jump

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Famed auction house Bonhams will offer up a Ferrari driven by Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, but the car for sale isn’t one of the contemporary mega-buck supercars, but a more archaic model that has never attracted much fanfare from the Ferraristi.

Button’s ride, a 1978 Ferrari 512BB, is a model known mostly to enthusiasts, and pre-dates the iconic Testarossa and was never sold officially in North America. While Button purchased the car with 49,100 miles on the clock, he only drove the car a further 155 miles, lending credence to his claim that “my F1 commitments will not enable me to enjoy the car to its fullest.”

Bonhams claims that the car has had $154,000 worth of mechanical work throughout its lifetime – pretty big numbers for a car that’s only expected to sell for $179,000.

[Source: New York Times]

A disgruntled Lamborghini owner in China hired a crew to mercilessly disfigure his black Lamborghini Gallardo after the owner felt he received unsatisfactory treatment from Lamborghini China.

The owner organized the stunt to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Apparently, the Gallardo was plagued with mechanical issues even after it was serviced by an authorized Chinese outlet. Running or not, the owner could have just as easily donated the car to AutoGuide and we would have been very happy people indeed.

[Source: Photoblog]

For all the hype surrounding the Fiat 500, Ford‘s CEO, Alan Mulally, has become one of its most prominent detractors, condemning the car to failure before it’s even launched.

Speaking to the Italian language magazine Panorama, Mulally remarked “I do not see large market in the U.S.A. for a smaller car than the Fiesta. Those that tried failed.”

While Mulally declined to comment further, it’s not unreasonable to expect such comments coming from the head of a rival firm. Not to mention, the Smart ForTwo has enjoyed dismal success in America, with sales dropping to a fifth of their highest levels in 2008.

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Fiat 500 Review Here

Stolen cars tend to be more mundane vehicles which can easily be exported to another country or chopped up for parts. Or both. But celebrity chef Guy Fieri, host of shows like “Minute To Win It” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” had something a little more exotic stolen from him, and the heist’s execution wasn’t exactly normal either.

According to reports, the thief rappelled down the roof of the building, busted the lock on the San Francisco dealership’s garage door and made off with Fieri’s yellow Lamborghini Gallardo. Police are dumbfounded as to what someone would want with such a high profile car, but our guess is that it’s no longer in the United States.

[Source: Sfgate.com]

Maserati is reporting a sales increase of 20 percent in 2010 and selling 2,000 cars. Not bad for a car company that only a decade ago was a boutique maker of finnicky but beautiful Italian exotics.

In a press conference at the Geneva Auto Show, CEO Harald Wester remarked that 2011 should be a banner year for the brand, with expansion into Russia and Japan, as well as a revised GranSport cabriolet. Wester also dropped brief hints about their upcoming SUV, a product necessary for serious competition in markets like China and Russia.

[Source: Autoweek]

If you were one of the legions who lusted after an Alfa Romeo 8C but couldn’t afford the six-figure price tag – or get a spot on the waiting list – will have another shot at Milanese glory as Alfa debuted their 4C GTA concept.

Rather than a big Maserati V8, the 4C is powered by a turbochaged 4-cylinder engine displacing 1750cc, a legendary number in Alfa Romeo lore (all great Alfas of the 1960s were powered by an engine of identical displacement). Rather than the idiosyncratic dash-mounted manual shifter, power is transmitted via a dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels via a mid-engine configuration.

Alfa says they are considering production for the vehicle, but how could they not, in light of it being the perfect halo car for a return to North America?

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 4C GTA

Although Chrysler initially planned for an ambitious 165 dealer roll-out for their Fiat brand, so far only 12 dealers nationwide are operational, 8 more expected by the end of the week.

Fiat said in September, 2010 that it wanted to see their dealerships open by the end of February, but only 30 to 40 franchises will have their facilities open by mid-March. At this rate, 130 of the dealerships should be running by September, 2011. With that said, dealers are only expected to get their inventory sometime towards the end of March. Fiat USA head Laura Soave stated that Fiat was “…a tiny bit behind schedule”, and we applaud her diplomatic way of framing the issue.

[Source: Automotive News]

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Fiat 500 Review Here