Fiat is confirming that the U.S. will be getting four versions of the Fiat 500 by 2011. The tiny 500 is the only Fiat model that has been officially greenlighted for American consumption under the Fiat banner. Other models will likely show up as Chryslers or Alfa Romeos. The 500 will make up for that by coming in four different flavors when it reaches these shores: hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback. There's also an outside chance that a micro-CUV, Outback-like version of the wagon will be coming along as well, according to an Automotive News piece.

While the news makes no mention of the new Fiat 500 hybrid that debuted last year in Goodwood, it's possible that this version could be part of the offerings, too. What we do know is that the "sporty hatchback" mentioned will be the Abarth, Europe's 2008 Car of the Year. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls it "our iPod." Wonder if it's too late for some co-branding. The 500 family should be in U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2011. The American-market cars will likely be produced at a Chrysler plant in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico. No official word on pricing yet. We can hardly wait.




[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd.]

We've some pretty cool advertising in our time, but the new European marketing campaign from Fiat is surely one of the more memorable efforts from an automaker in recent years. In an effort to underscore the safety of its diminutive 500, both to its occupants and the animals we share our planet with, the Italian automaker has unleashed a new series of images depicting the little hatchback in various crash test scenarios.

The interesting part comes from the car's occupants, which includes a panda bear, a walrus (goo goo g'joob) and a couple of penguins. Equally as clever is the tagline, "Engineered for a lower impact on the environment," after which the ad reminds the viewer that Fiat – with an average of just 133.7 grams per kilometer – is the brand with the lowest carbon emissions in all of Europe.


[Source: Fubiz.net via Jalopnik]

Bosch has long been a major supplier of many different automotive components to Fiat, and the company is hoping to leverage that association with the new Chrysler. Bosch provides a higher proportion of the parts and systems that go into the Italian cars than they ever have had at Chrysler. However, as new upcoming Chrysler vehicles move to Fiat-based platforms (and, presumably, powertrains), Bosch parts may further infiltrate Auburn Hills.

Bosch also hopes some of its newer endeavors help it to capture more market share for technologies to improve fuel efficiency. Bosch is now building motors for hybrid and electric drive vehicles and recently announced a joint venture for lithium ion batteries. The massive German supplier will also start to build turbochargers in 2011 as more automakers move to downsized and boosted engines to reduce fuel consumption.

With car sales unlikely to return to their previous peaks in the foreseeable future, the only way for Bosch to grow its business is to get into areas it has not previously been involved in. The company is also trying to drive down costs by standardizing more components and reducing the number of proprietary designs it produces for different automakers.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

Joining the chorus of supporters applauding the Obama Administration's new CAFE standards is bankrupt automaker Chrysler. After 'thanking the administration for their leadership' and for creating a single nationwide standard, Chrysler points out that it's alliance with Italian automaker Fiat will allow the company to offer a range of affordable and fuel efficient small cars in America "that will help support its revitalization and benefit American consumers."

Central to Chrysler's plans for a fuel-sipping future are access to Fiat's line of small-displacement engines, which will be coupled with the automaker's own next-gen V6 engines that are expected to deliver up to an 8 percent increase in fuel economy over the engines they are replacing. Chrysler also says it will have "several production electric vehicles by 2013" under its ENVI organization. See the full press release after the break.


[Source: Chrysler]

Will compressed natural gas soon be a widely used automotive fuel in the U.S.? Probably not, but it could become more common if Fiat's European moves are any indication. CNG is a popular alternative in some parts of Europe and several automakers, including Fiat, offer factory-equipped cars that run on methane. Fiat already offers CNG versions of the Grande Punto, Panda, Punto, as well as the Multipla and Doblò. The Punto and Panda are both expected to form the basis of new small cars for Chrysler in the coming years, assuming all goes according to plan in bankruptcy court.

Compressed natural gas offers several advantages over gasoline and diesel, including lower CO₂ emissions and virtually no particulates. Currently, only Honda offers a factory CNG vehicle in the U.S. with the Civic GX; numerous companies offer after-market conversions mainly for commercial vehicles. Perhaps a Fiat-controlled Chrysler will offer commercial CNG versions of the mini-vans.


[Source: Auto Channel]

Italian magazine Quattroroute is reporting that Fiat is hard at work on a new hybrid system for smaller cars and it is prepared to share the system with Chrysler. The system could appear in the tiny 500 and the upcoming Topolino paired up with Fiat's new 900cc two cylinder turbocharged engine. The hybrid transmission integrates the electric motor/generator and the system uses lithium ion batteries. Fiat is apparently also designing the system with the intent of adding plug-in capability.

While Fiat is by no means the first automaker to bring forth what appears to be a full hybrid system, they could be the first to add one to a car as small as the 500. So far, most automakers are sticking to just automatic start/stop systems on these little cars. If a Chrysler/Fiat deal does get consummated, Chrysler would also likely get this system in its Fiat-derived small and compact cars. Thanks to Cristian for the tip!

[Source: Quattroroute]

Fiat has earned some recognition for its new eco:Drive system that debuted last fall at the Paris Motor Show. During the recent MediaGuardian Innovation Awards in London, eco:Drive won the top prize for digital technology. The eco:Drive system allows the driver to plug a USB flash drive into the car so that driving data can be automatically downloaded. The driver can then plug in the flash drive to a computer where software can analyze the data and make suggestions about adjusting driving style to improve efficiency. eco:Drive is included free of charge on most new Fiats.


[Source: TheAutoChannel]

We've been hearing rumblings that BMW and Fiat were working together on the development of new small vehicle platforms for a while now. With the German automaker working on an Isetta revival and the Italian firm moving forward with a new Topolino, it makes sense that the two companies would join forces on a single platform for the two small retromobiles.

According to Auto Express in the UK, work is far enough along that we could see both new city cars by 2011. If current rumors are true, the cars will feature a rear-mounted engine and four seats, putting the machines on par with the new Toyota iQ and upcoming Up! from Volkswagen. Light weight would be ensured through the use of aluminum and carbon fiber for the chassis and, possibly, plastic bodywork.

An electric drivetrain featuring one motor for each of the four wheels and a thin battery pack sandwiched under the passenger compartment is also likely. If there's any truth to these rumors, we could see a concept vehicle on the new platform wearing a MINI badge at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year.

[Source: Auto Express]

She's tall, a supermodel, and apparently now likes small, fuel-efficient cars. Jodie Kidd, previously known for her participation with the Maserati racing team and being caught in a cocaine sting, was the first person in the UK to try out Fiat's eco:Drive in a new Fiat 500. The eco:Drive system uses a USB stick that records information on how you're driving. When this information is later fed into a computer, Fiat's software tells you how well you drove and where you could have done better. Ten London-area Fiat dealerships are now offering customers tests of the eco:Drive system and, if they're a success, then the test program will rollout nationwide. While real-world driver feedback is a good idea, not all Fiat drivers are having an easy time using eco:Drive. In the UK, eco:Drive is available on the Bravo, the Grande Punto and the 500. Starting later this year, any Fiat with the Blue&Me entertainment system will also be eco:Drive compatible.


[Source: Fiat]

Fiat's not planning to give up its title as the lowest CO₂-producing line in Europe any time soon. While diesel engines remain the best choice when carbon emissions are the main concern, the Italian automaker has invested plenty of research and development into its Multiair technology for gasoline powerplants. The latest engines using this tech were unveiled earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show, as expected.

Nearly all automakers have some form of variable valve technology. Fiat's system is unique in that it uses an electro-hydraulic system to actuate the valves as opposed to the more common electro-mechanical setup. This relatively simple system can alter the timing of the valve's opening and closing in relation to how much power or efficiency is required at any specific moment.

Fiat claims its Multiair technology allows for a 10 percent improvement in horsepower, a 15 percent improvement in low-rpm torque and a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and carbon emissions. Since the powerplant can be made smaller for a given power requirement, further gains are possible over a conventional engine. For a more detailed explanation of how all of this works, click past the break. Thanks for the tip, Jules!

[Source: Fiat]