#2012Fiat500

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the 2012 Fiat 500 a Top Safety Pick, joining eight Chrysler Group models that are Top Safety Picks by the IIHS for 2011.

This is the first year the Southern California-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is handing out its Motor Press Guild Vehicle of the Year (VOTY) Award, and the list of finalists has just been released.

Absent from the American market since 1982, Fiat is now back in big way. Chrysler announced today a list of 130 dealerships across the country that have received letters of intent for a Fiat franchise.

Once these dealers fulfill the requirements of the letter and can provide the facilities and requirements submitted in their proposals made to Auburn Hills; they can begin selling Fiat vehicles, beginning with the pint sized 500. The car, which as been on sale in Europe for a few years, is being officially introduced to the North American market this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

And although a few 500s will be arriving in dealerships next month, none will be officially sold until January 2011, and even then they’ll only be  trickling out in small numbers. A volume launch of the North American 500, which will be built in Mexico and classed as a 2012 model year vehicle, according to Chrysler spokesman Ralph Kisiel; isn’t planned until a couple of months later in March.

Chrysler says it ultimately plans to have 165 dealers in the Fiat retail network and is already talking to those beyond the initial 130; some of which are currently not Chrysler franchises. It is also tentatively looking at dealer proposals for Alfa Romeo franchises, when that brand is set to return to these shores, sometime in 2012.

Click here for complete details on the new 2012 Fiat 500.

Get more Fiat 500 news and info at Fiat500Owners.com

Hit the jump for the complete list of dealers and to find out the nearest one to you. Plus, we’ve included a short video of the all-new Fiat 500 from the car’s LA Auto Show debut: