Fiat Car Blog

A small car like the 2012 500 Abarth by Fiat which gives out 160 horsepower does not necessarily mean a cheap tag price even if you have the European equivalent of Chevrolet as its carmaker. The lowest sticker on this car shows $22,000 exclusive of charges for handling and destination.

The new 500 Abarth is about $6,500 more expensive than the 101 hp Fiat 500 but it also raises brows cause it nears the tag price of the 2012 Genesis Coupe of Hyundai which gives out 210 hp and has a tag price of only $22,250. It also can be comparable to the 305 horsepower Mustang V6 by Ford fo $22,310.

The Fiat representatives of course will say everything to pacify the negativity surrounding the tag price, and they do this by pointing to the Italian heritage of the 500 Abarth. It should be clear though that while Fiat hails from Italy like the Ferrari, they are pears and apples that you can easily distinguish.

The 500 Abarth though has enough attitude to help pump some adrenaline into your system without causing a six-figure deduction from your bank account for an Italian ride.

Fiat though maybe looking into snatching some buyers of small GTIs as the price of the Mini Cooper S that produces 181 hp is pegged at $23,800.

The most potent Abarth 500 that will roll out in the will have a 1.4L turbocharged powerplant that gives out 160 hp while revving at 5,500 rpm. Peak torque is 170 lb-ft achieved from 2,500 thru 4,000 rpm. The power of the engine is transferred to the wheels via a manual gearbox with 5 speeds equipped with TTC or Torque Transfer Control system.

The 2012 edition of the Fiat 500 passed thru several hurdles this week and wins the nod of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after besting all cars in the minicar category crash test.

The safety award goes to the Fiat 500s that rolled out of the car plants after July this year as the structure of the driver seat was modified to enhance occupant protection during rear-end and frontal collisions.

The announcement is also an added assurance to consumers who might be thinking if their money is worth it and if the car goes beyond the fuel savings it promises. The 4-cylinder, 1.4L engine of the Fiat 500 linked with its 6-speed automatic gearbox has a fuel mileage of 27 miles per gallon while cruising around the city traffic while it gets a 34 mpg if you are on the highway. The current price for unleaded gasoline is currently averaging at around $3.47 as of this week.

The IIHS has only given their thumbs up for stop afety for the Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 in the minicar category.

The new Fiat 500 will also be one among other cars which will be subjected to a crash test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA. The agency has been following a safety rating program using a 5-star system to gauge a vehicles safety.

The safety accomplishment of the Fiat 500 came with a good headliner on leading newspapers in the United States saying that J. Lo’s booty is safe with the Fiat 500 following the lines of their high profile marketing push tapping the services of singer-actress Jennifer Lopez.

An impressive marketing campaign goes hand-in-hand with the launch of a new car model. However, if we’re about the launch of a new model from a car maker that has been missing in action from the spotlight for more than one decade, everyone’s eyes is sure to be glued to the brains and efforts of the marketing team that will lead the brand’s reentry and the model’s launch.

Italian carmaker Fiat has just recently made its reentry into the United States market through the launch of two models—the 500 and 500C Convertible whose tagline reads “Simply More.” According to the press release materials, the tagline “Simply More” pertains to the school of thought that one’s self expression can make life rich and full. Moreover, it also reflects the saying that the “simple things” in one’s life can be considered treasures such that the new model, Fiat 500, has everything you need.

Fiat 500’s new tag line “Simply More” sounds, well, simple. It sure helped that someone from the marketing team explained the though behind its simplicity that added to its fine flair. Moving on, the marketing team behind the carmaker’s re-entry alongside the launch of its two new models is working vigorously to make this crucial marketing campaign come to life through above the line and below the line advertising. We are all expecting to see the tagline pop up in most social networking and digital ads and events and of course, on television as the brand recently aired its first TV commercial. Here’s a short clip of that ad:

Fiat puts the spotlight on the famous 21.7L Mefistofele at the Goodwood Speed of Festival which kicks off today. The automobile regarded as a classic and a record breaker in its prime was based on the SB4 Corso of Fiat in 1908. The Mefistofele will be displayed at the Cathedral Paddock and marks its return to Goodwood after ten years.

The Mefistofele was the product of the hard work of Sir Eldridge and his team to make a record breaking vehicle. Eldridge used parts of a bus to stretch the chassis of the SB4 Corsa that was purchased for the product.. He also made use of a modified six cylinder 21.7L engine from a Fiat A12 airplane that has four carburetors and can output 320 horsepower at around 1,800 RPM.

The Mefistofele actually got its name from the smoke and bangs that came during the testing of the vehicle. On July 12 in 1924, the Mefistofele became the fastest car in the world that time pegging its top speed at 234.980 kilometers per hour. The car was bought by Gianni Agnielli, owner of Fiat, in 1964. The car was restored thru the years and it is now in tip top shape and is part of the wonderful car collection of the car manufacturer.

Fiat will also display the Fiat 500 by Gucci which is a version with interiors and body works customized by Frida Giannini, creative director of Gucci, and the Style Center team of Fiat.

Looking good with the scorpion badges and racing stripes Italian car manufacturer Fiat is fielding the Fiat 500 Abarth as its first car to roll off the shore of the United States. The tiny car has a very popular following in Europe and Americans fond of the ride will get a chance to drive their very own Fiat.

The partnership of Chrysler with Fiat almost guarantees an influx of European car hitting the U.S. streets in the next few years. There will be sports cars from the garage of Alfa Romeo as well.

The Fiat 500 was specifically designed to provide consumers with an easy to drive, economical, fun, small car. The Abarth variant refers to the beefed up 1.4L 4-cylinder engine that can output about 135hp. The fuel mileage of the vehicle is pegged at 36.2 mpg based on European standards.

The first 500’s were produced as early as 1957. The carmaker made the original design as the inspiration for the new release giving it the retro look. Abarth is the tuning division of Fiat which takes care of enhancing the looks and performance of the cars.

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This has to be one of the most bizarre Fiat 500′s I’ve seen to date. Inspired by the popular doll, this Fiat 500 Barbie Car is extremely high-end with a matching high-end price tag of well over $125,000. Yes, you read it right, well over one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.

That’s a heap of cash for a micro car.

Fiat officially announced the sticker price of the convertible release of the Fiat 500C. The city car will be tagged starting at £11300 when it hits dealership this coming summer in the United Kingdom.

The Fiat 500 C aims to please the sector which loves value rides and appreciative of soft-top vehicles.

Fiat will also be releasing a Lounge version which has a more powerful engine. This unit will cost £14100. Aside from the bigger engine, the Lounge will also have rear parking aid sensors, fog lights, automatic climate system, and alloy rims.

The Lounge version will also make use of Fiat’s Blue&Me which is a hands free entertainment system. It will also have the eco Drive, an advanced technology that analyzes the driving style of the occupant and gives fuel efficiency tips to help decrease harmful emissions.

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Fiat and Chrysler is set to roll out seven new vehicles from their assembly line to the North American market. Four of these will be under the Chrysler range and the other three will be coming from either Fiat or the Alfa Romeo line.

The new vehicles will be assembled in the North America factories of Chrysler and they will be pushed to the public through the dealerships of Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep.

The new vehicles form part of the product sharing deal between the two car manufacturers. The Fiat platform will be used for a microcar up to a mid-sized vehicle.

The companies have not disclosed any information about the schedule or volume of production of these cars. They are set to reveal the plans by the end of April.

Fiat is taking a 35% share of stakes in Chrysler and might eventually end up getting a bigger chunk of the deal.

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While American continue to wait for the Fiat 500 to be available in the United States, Europeans will get another taste at an Abarth-tuned 500. The latest Fiat model is called the DA 0 A 100, created in celebration of Abarth founder Karl Abarth’s 100 birthday.

The new Fiat 500 DA 0 A 100 is built with a turbocharged 1.4L engine, which produces 160 horsepower (25% more compared with the regular 500 Abarth) and 170 lb-ft of torque, giving the DA 0 A 100 0-60 in 7.3 seconds. Maximum speed is raised from 127 mph to 131 mph.

Compared to the standard Fiat 500, the new DA 0 A 100 boasts of remarkable improvements in its overall performance. It is equipped with high performance front brake pads, perforated disc brakes, unique low springs, BMC special air filters, and 17” alloy wheels with Pirelli Pzero Nero 205/40 R16 ZR 17 tires. Some features of the DA 0 A 100 model is a representation of Karl Abarth’s passion for motorcycle racing.

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