Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse: First Official Images

Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse has broken loose ahead of schedule after these first images surfaced on the net and we have what appears to be the Mini Cooper S' most potent threat to date. No official details have been released but we believe a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine is hiding beneath its posterior, probably possessing in the region of 170 ponies, just above the 160hp Fiat 500 Abarth Opening Edition.


source: wcf

Spyed: Fiat 500 Abarth SS

Here are a few picturres of Fiat 500 Abarth SS spyed testing.






Source: worldcarfans

FIAT to leverage production at Zastava

Fiat is currently working on a new low-cost range of cars for developing markets. Company officials stress the new vehicle is not to be compared with the Tato Nano, which has been billed as the world’s cheapest automobile.

Sources claim the vehicle will be produced at the Zastava plant in Serbia. Lorenzo Sistino, managing director of Fiat Automobiles, would not confirm the above facts, but pointed out the newcomer could not be compared with the Tata Nano. “This will be a true family car and not to be compared with the Nano,” Sistino said.

For the time being, no decision has been made whether the new range will go on sale as a Fiat product or under a different brand.

Additionally, in 2010 the Zastava site will launch series production of a new runabout, currently called the Topolino. The car will share its platform with that of the Fiat 500 and the Panda. It will also be the first Fiat to feature the company’s new two-cylinder petrol engine, currently under development. “The engine will be able to generate over 100 PS, with CO2 emissions below 100 g/km,” Sistino said.

In late April, Fiat struck a deal with the Serbian government to buy 70 % of Zastava, planning some EUR 700m worth of investment there. Fiat urgently needs more capacity also in the light of the fact that its Tychy, Poland, plant is running flat out to supply enough units of the Fiat 500 and Panda, with the all-new Ford Ka, due to go into production in September. This will bring Tychy’s annual capacity to 500,000 units. “Therefore, we need another production site located in a low-cost country,” Sistino said.

Demand is particularly high for the 500 supermini, whose deliveries are expected to hit 190,000 this year. European-wide sales figures show that over 50 pct of the people opting for a Fiat 500 have migrated from other brands. In Germany, the figure is as high as 70 pct. Lorenzo Sistino said that over the last two years Fiat has been the fastest-growing car brand in Europe.

source: italiaspeed

New Fiat Topolino

Fiat has started testing a new mini-car to challenge the Smart ForTwo and upcoming city cars like the Volkswagen Up! and Toyota iQ. The Fiat will share a platform with the Panda and 500 but be shorter still. At 3.20 metres the new Fiat, likely to be named the Topolino, would undercut the 3.55-metres-long 500 but still offer seating for four. The Toyota and Volkswagen are expected to be 3.15 metres and 3.4 metres long respectively. The structure of the new car will be made of tubular cells, and designed to offer high levels of protection to the occupants in case of crashes.

Fiat 500 Convertible

The new version of the 500 will have a fabric top, instead of the foldable hard tops that are becoming increasingly popular. Although it was more than expected, due to the small dimensions of the car, but fabric tops are also said to have been considerably improved. If this charming future convertible manages to be as silent and well built as its hardtop version, success is sure to be in its way, whether the top is on or off.

Chinese built Fiat Multipla is Zotye JNJ7160HS

Chinese carmaker Zotye International has presented at the 10th Beijing International Auto Exhibition this week the Fiat Multipla that it has just put into production under licence from Fiat, dubbed for domestic consumption as the Zotye JNJ7160HS.
The Zotye JNJ7160HS remains almost unchanged from Fiat's own long-running Multipla version, which broke new ground when it arrived in the showrooms in 1998, boasting the ability to carry six passengers and their luggage through innovative packaging in a car that was less than 4 metres long.
On the surface Zotye have replaced just the large round Fiat badges on the radiator grille and tailgate, the Chinese firm substituting its own branding in the original recesses while the model's new designation is displayed on the tailgate along with the Zotye moniker in Chinese letters. The Zotye logo is also displayed in the centre of the Fiat-pattern wheel trims. It will be initially available with one engine 1.6 with 100HP







source: italiaspeed

Fiat to have HYBRID drive models in three years

Fiat Powertrain Technologies is currently developing new petrol and diesel electric-hybrid drive systems for small cars and commercial vehicles which could be successfully rolled out into production within three years time. The news comes from a report published in Automotive News Europe this week and the plans will embrace models such as the A-segment Panda and 500, as well as the Fiorino light van.

In seeking to add hybrid drive vehicles to its range, Fiat Group will be following in the footsteps of many of its closest rivals; hybrids have become popular options in the race to woo customers with new and environmentally conscious motoring options. The Italian firm will also be cementing its position as a European leader in the selling low-emission cars.

Hybrid cars, such as the popular-selling Toyota Prius, take advantage of varying driving scenarios to switch seamlessly to full electric power over limited distances, thus reducing overall consumption and harmful CO2 emissions. This action is most beneficial during inefficient stop-start process seen in the urban motoring cycle.

By 2012 Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne wants Fiat to have the most efficient vehicle range on sale in Europe, with the lowest CO2 emissions. This will coincide with expected new European Union legislation that year that will require cars to reach a tough new average CO2 emission per kilometre of 120 grams, a big improvement from the current average of 160 g/km. Fiat has already put much work into improving the efficiency of its small engines: its highly regarded 1.3-litre 16v Multijet turbodiesel will soon be joined by a tiny 900cc two-cylinder petrol unit. The company is also pushing forward with developing hydrogen technology and has fleets of Pandas thus equipped on the European roads.


source: italiaspeed

Massa Receives Unique Fiat 500

Felipe Massa, number two driver for the Ferrari Scuderia Formula One team, received a unique and very sporty Fiat 500 from his employer. Fiat really tries to take care of their drivers, but as always some (Felipe Massa) have it better than others (Michael Schumacher).

Felipe Massa's new Fiat 500 brings 120 bhp to the road through its fine tuned 1,4 liter engine. His autograph is embossed into the sill scuff plate and the exterior has been personalised with some unique graphic details. The unique Fiat 500 Sport is painted in Pearl White with brown Cordura interior, Skydome sunroof, 16 inch diamond alloy wheels and the customary red brake calipers.

Fiat Powertrain Racing (FPT) have worked their magic on the 1,4 liter 16V engine and raised power to 120 bhp from 100 hp, a little below the 135 hp Fiat 500 Abarth and well below the expected 160-170 hp from the Fiat 500 Abarth SS

Dutch Police Fiat 500

Dutch policemen will be driving Fiat 500

Fiat 500 by MONACO ELITE

Monaco Elite is the latest Atelier to turn its attention to the new Fiat 500, offering its own distinct interpretation to the Car of the Year award winner.

With the most prestigious automotive award under its belt and an order book that already stands at around 120,000 units since its 4th July launch, the Fiat 500 is the star car of 2007. And its cute charms, fashionablity and iconic potential haven't been lost on Europe's leading coachbuilders who have turn their attention to its tiny frame, with names such as Carrozzeria Castagna and Aznom interpreting its evocative shape.

Now stylist, Monaco Elite, has given the little car a makeover with a unique package that seeks to give their own, somewhat individual, stamp to the 500, which they have dubbed as the 500 M. Monaco Elite describes itself as a 'high fashion atelier for automobiles dedicated to the demanding and exclusive client. The concept was born in Monaco, synonymous for elegant lifestyle and motoring tradition," they add. Monaco Elite has worked its individual tastes into a range of models from automakers including Ferrari, Range Rover, Hummer, Bentley and Smart, as well as motorbikes (BMW) and scooters (Vespa).

Using their signature 'opaque' black colour, one of 12 optional colours, the Monaco Elite 500 M includes a new aluminium meshed grille in the front spoiler which is uniquely replicated above the bumper to create a traditional-type radiator grille cut from the pronounced section at the front by following the area that houses the badge and 'whiskers' which are now transposed onto the new grille. The bonnet contains two NACA ducts.

New, larger wheel arch mouldings are fitted while at the rear a similar aluminium mesh to the front end is used on the lower bumper section incorporating a new twin exhaust tailpipe layout. Rounding off the exterior changes are new 16-inch alloy wheels. The basic styling kit is 6,600 euros, with aluminium riveted mudguards being one of a number of further optional extras.

Source : italiaspeed

2009 Fiat Bravo Cross

Here is how new Fiat Bravo Cross will look like

Victorious azzuri coach Roberto Donadoni collects a 500

At the Centro Sportivo Milanello Fiat has delivered a 500 to the Italian national football coach Roberto Donadoni in celebration of the Azzurri's qualification for next summer's European Soccer Championships which came last weekend following a hard-fought win away in Scotland. Donadoni's 500 is a 100 CV 1.4 16v Sport version.

Italy's qualification for next year's European Championships came last Saturday thanks to the will and determination of a united group of football players, a real team that knew what they wanted. A team that won for the first time in Scotland, that made practically no mistakes; with the coach Donadoni making all the right substitutions at the right time; with Toni scoring the 1-0 goal after one minute and ten seconds and with Panucci scoring the 2-1 goal, scoring the goal of a lifetime.

Source: italiaspeed

Fiat 500 officialy announced as CAR OF THE YEAR 2008

The international jury presiding over the Car of the Year award, made up of 58 specialist journalists from 22 European countries, has elected the Fiat 500 Car of the Year 2008 with 385 votes, ahead of the Mazda 2 (325 votes) and the Ford Mondeo (202).
In addition to winning the Car of the Year 2008 award outright, the super-compact Fiat distinguished itself by obtaining votes from most members of the jury: 57 out of 58 included it in their short-list, and 33 made it top in their personal rankings.

Fiat Nuova Croma

The Nuova Croma makes its debut, the Station Wagon as Fiat sees it, a car full of innovation and substance, with new styling and a more rational range.

With its even more dynamic look, the Nuova Croma immediately communicates a new approach to the car. It was designed to meet the needs of European society, where there is a growing trend among ‘new families’ (young families with children) to pay more attention to substance, and to demand safety and reliability from the family car: all at an accessible price. Which is why the new model is ideal for people who need space, practicality and low running costs during the week for professional reasons, and demand a good-looking, comfortable, safe station wagon for their free time, to that they can travel with the whole family in complete peace of mind.

There is a new rear bumper, very similar to an air extractor, which gives the car a sportier look, and the same dynamism conveyed in the side view by the new light clusters, together with the wings, rear spoiler and new sideskirts. Last but not least, the model’s elegant look is underlined by the combination of polished black pillars with new chrome detailing on the window frames and rubbing strips. The interior of the car has also received a number of styling changes that underline the typically Italian refinement (new cloth or leather upholstery for the seats and an original Wenghe-effect treatment of the mouldings) as well as a new steering wheel and a richer, more elegant instrument panel.

The raised driving position and ergonomic controls make travelling in the Nuova Croma particularly enjoyable. And there are numerous exclusive accoutrements to choose from: a brand new DVD player, the Blue&Me™ system (also available in the NAV version), the ‘Interscope Sound System’ Hi-Fi and CONNECT Nav Plus. The Nuova Croma also proposes the best the market can offer in terms of automatic devices that help to reduce the fatigue of driving, for example Cruise Control, a rain sensor, parking sensor, tyre pressure sensor and Follow-me-home headlights that stay on for a few seconds. We should also mention the ‘adaptive cornering’ function of the front foglights, that are activated automatically with the dipped beams on the basis of the steering angle.

The Nuova Croma comes with two sparkling petrol engines (140 bhp 1.8 16v and 147 bhp 2.2 16v, the latter not available in Italy) and three Multijet turbodiesels (120 or 150 bhp 1.9 and 200 bhp 2.4) which reiterate Fiat Group Automobiles’ superiority in the field of diesel engines. All the engines meet EU Stage 4 emission standards, and the diesel units are fitted with particulate filters. They are offered with 5 different gearboxes that exploit the engine performance in full; all the petrol engines are combined with 5-speed transmissions, with the option of sequential automatic transmission on the 2.2 16v, and all the diesel engines have 6-speed gearboxes (the sequential automatic unit is offered as an alternative on the 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet, and as the standard unit on the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet 20v).

Fiat 500 SW

The 500-mania has come! After creating a Cabrio and a sports Abarth version, today Infomotori.co.uk wants to suggest you a new version, the Fiat 500 Giardinetta.
It was 1960 when the family version (station wagon) of Fiat 500 had its debut.

The Italian designer Dante Giacosa desgined a new version, named Giardiniera, to create a simple solution for having a good baggage: the engine was placed inside the baggage, without loosing too much room.
But in Fiat 500, the engine and the wheel rdrive are both front.

Free time
This could definately be the perfect vehicle for your Sundays, or for a quiet holiday otu of the city traffic and towards nice green fields or hills.
Infomotori.co.uk's designer drew for this Fiat 500 Giardiniera version a new rear, whichaloows a wider room for passengers and baggage, for e more practical use. Anyway Fiat 500 Giardiniera is still compact, without missing its main essence of an hatchback.

Del Piero recives Fiat 500

Alessandro Del Piero, Captain of Juventus Football Club, was recently presented with a brand new Fiat 500 by Lorenzo Sistino, General Executive Manager of Fiat Automobiles SpA. It’s appropriate that Alessandro, who plays in the number 10 jersey for Juventus, was also given the tenth Fiat 500 - a 1.4-litre petrol version in classic white - to roll off the production line in Tychy, Poland.

Spyed : Fiat 500 Abarth SS

We spotted around the legendary Nurburgring track a couple af Fiat 500 Abarth prototypes... one is the “standard” Abarth version, that should be equipped with 135hp powerstep 1.4-litre turbo engine. The other, colured in a wired dark grey / brown, seems to be an even sportier version: Fiat 500 Abarth SS, a little bomb with 150hp or more, true racing suspension settings and really aggressive bodywork.

Let’s talk about how the Fiat 500 Abarth SS looks like: as you can see in the photogallery, the aerodynaic kit makes this Fiat 500 a wild tuning model. Brand new sideskirts, redesigned wheel archs are key features of the side view. The bonnet is redesigned, with big air intakes. Front bumper features air intakes too, and brand new design. The rear side is as “bad” as the rest of the car, with double side mounted exhausts and a big spoiler. Multispoke alloy wheels are 17 or even 18 inch, for direct racing handling.

Fiat 500 by Aznom

The new Fiat 500 by Aznom features the ultimate luxury features.The Alcantara leather covers all the interior while the luxury wood gives a stylish look to the car. Aznom offers the car in three versions called: Amabile, Intrigante and Seducente. For all these versions you have to wait between 1 and 1 and a half month.

Fiat 500 Aznom is a vanguard design, precious materials and new technologies, pleasure without ostentation. This is the philosophy that guides the realization of the whole Aznom production. Aznom is born in the pulsing heart of the Italian economy, the Brianza, region of craftsmen, full of high-quality companies, world-wide well known, the better place to create and produce exclusive objects of the Aznom world, with the collaboration of selected partners.

Fiat new Uno (B-Compact)

For some time there were voices about the mysterious project “B-Compact”, abbreviation for the name of the new small Fiat that will cover the gap between Panda and Grande Punto. We propose you our hypothesis on the new Fiat Uno since it surely destined to the production, therefore skipping the voices of the return of the Topolino – name that could have cannibalized the recent Fiat 500 and it would have required too much investments.

Learns from the sisters
The new Fiat Uno inherited the inspiration from the best Fiat production from the last few years. From the Grande Punto it receives the sportive asset and the volume distribution, while the radiator grill will be an evolution of the recent Bravo. The side has an equilibrated and beautiful aspect. From the Fiat 500 will take luxurious finishing.

The mechanincs
From the mechanical point of view we are expecting modern propulsions that are performing and low consuming. The small diesel MultiJet 1.3 liters will be the admiral in Italy and on the old continent. There will be for sure the petrol versions and the recent direct-injections made by Fiat and a 1.4 T-Jet destined to the sportive version.

Polyglot
The new Uno is destined to cross the European borders, landing for example in South America: in this market it will be granted that there will be used the sophisticated Tetrafuel, recently launched in Brazil with the Fiat Siena and welcomed with great success.

The Fiat group seems to have found incentives thanks to the modern projects and innovative technical solutions without forgetting its immense heritage asset. What do you think?

Fiat 500 Castagna

One of Italy’s most famous coachbuilders has got its hands on the new 500… And it says the Fiat is so perfect, it has barely changed a thing!

Castagna is renowned for building the wild-looking Estate and four-wheel-drive Moke versions of the MINI. But it has taken a more hands-off approach with the 500, adding a special two-tone paintjob, new 17-inch alloys and an upgraded interior, comprising extra leather and chrome. There are also twin exhausts and colour-coded wheelarch spats.

Prices have yet to be announced, but Castagna is encouraging 500 owners who want the ultimate in exclusivity to contact its HQ in Milan.