I’m sure Fiat will have the Geneva show abuzz with its showcase of speedy cheerful small cars bearing the Abarth badge as the company showcases the 500C Abarth and the Punto Evo Abarth.

The 500C Abarth (pictured) now gets 138 bhp and 152 lb-ft of torque from its 1.4L engine. The engine is mated to a 6-speed flappy paddle gearbox. The drivetrain allows the car to zip from 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds and all the way to 127 mph. And get this – an Esseesse version of the 500C is also in the works.

The Punto Abarth is a bit more powerful and zippier getting 161 bhp from the 1.4L multiair engine. That power figure allows the car to pip the 500C, with a 0-62 time of 7.5 seconds. The Punto will also edge the 500C with a top speed of 133 mph. A 178 bhp Esseesse version will be readily available.

Looks like no one will be able to beat Fiat with their slew of pocket-sized speedsters. Personally, I’d take a Fiat over all the other sport minis out there.

So that’s probably one of the impacts of the whole economic crash of the past years. More and more big companies are out to streamline their brands. And with car marquees being traded to and fro, those who did most of the getting probably ended up with more badges than they can handle.

Such is the case with Fiat who has taken over Chrysler after the Detroit company’s collapse last year. The company ended up with the whole Chrysler range on top of all the other Italian brands that they already own. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has hinted time and again of possible mergers of brands.

Fiat’s latest corporate move is to appoint Harald Wester, who already runs Abarth and Maserati, to head Alfar Romeo. Reports claim that his primary task is to identify “synergies” between the three groups. A merger is likely because of this move.

Marchionne previously said that Alfa can share its platforms with Chrysler and another is to just freeze new developments. Alfa has been known to Fiat’s underperforming brand for a long time.

The thing with electric cars is that they’re hugely impractical if you’re always on the go. Charge times are crazy and it’s always a compromise between speed and effective range.

Fiat, however, claims that the electric version of the Fiat 500 can go 150 miles in between charges, leaving you to destinations within 75 miles to leave enough juice for the travel home.

The car packs 5,000 battery cells which are charged via the plug. A regenerative braking system helps to charge it while on the go.

With all that added weight, however, the electric 500 won’t be as agile and zippy as the gas-powered one. It can still manage 0-60 mph in around 10 seconds though.

There’s no doubt that the Fiat takeover of Chrysler can be credited to the push made by Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne and it looks like he’s been enjoying all this restructuring that’s been going on. He’s currently serving as the boss of both companies.

Marchionne announced that this will not be the case by the end of two years. He’ll be picking between the top post of Fiat and Chrysler but is definite to leave one post behind.

He has yet to decide between the two.

It’s pretty natural for Marchionne to consider heading just one company particularly due to the breadth of reponsibilities of running two major car brands, both with their own sub-divisions.

Just last month, Marchionne unveiled some of his plans to streamline Chrysler’s brands and how to market some of Fiat’s divisions like Alfar Romeo outside Europe.

If you think the market’s already saturated with MPVs, well Fiat thinks that they can squeeze in yet another one – the Fiat Doblo.

The Doblo is an all-new seven-seater MPV which gets a range of engines that include a 94 bhp gasoline and three Multijet diesels that dish out 89 bhp, 104 bhp, and 133 bhp. These power figures doubled with the low-emissions and start-stop tech make the Doblo an MPV for the city.

It’s also reported that Chrysler will be using the Doblo as basis for a Dodge Ram version which will be slotted in to compete with the Ford Transit Van.

Fiat does know what it’s doing with the practical side of MPVs. Remember the Multipla? That’s one practical MPV. Only if didn’t look mangeled and deformed.

Source: Autocar

Better watch out. This wee chunk of madness might be the next touring car sensation.

Abarth just unveiled a racing Fiat 500 Abarth which will be used in actual races next year. Dubbed the Abarth 500 R3T, the car is powered by a wee 1.4L Garret GT engine but is turbocharged to produce 178 bhp.

Completing the powertrain lineup is a twin-plate clutch six-speed sequential gearbox with a self-locking diff. It also features adjustable suspensions, 17-inch OZ alloys, Brembo discs, a six-point harness and a roll cage to protect the driver.

R3T touring rules require engines smaller than 1.6L. The rules also require cars to have a minimum weight of 2,380 lbs which the 500 R3T meets with no problems.

Source: Autocar

We agree with Top Gear that the Fiat 500 Abarth is probably the best small car in the market. The Esseesse definitely gave the small car even more punch and pizazz. Tuning firm Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge, however, wasn’t too content with the SS and decided to cram more stuff into the small Fiat.

The tuning package offers two upgrade kits to boost the power. The phase one kit offers 28 bhp to add to the 500 Abarth’s standard 157 bhp and ups the torque by 33 lb-ft. The phase two kit includes a new turbocharger and a sport exhaust system that ups the power to 197 bhp.

You can just imagine what that can give a car the size and weight of the 500 Abarth. To help keep the car planted and the tuner used a special coilover kit that lowers the ride height by a few millimetres.

For added visual appeal, the 500 Abarth got some really nice red racing stripes and for some added bling, they also slapped on 17-inch OZ wheels made of aluminum.

Source: Lethistorylive

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne has quite a lot in store for the Chrysler group. For starters, he wants to cut out weaker models as part of the effort to bring back the ailing US automaker back on its feet. By the looks of it, Marchionne wants to bet on the strongest products first.

I do like this decision. With everyone else trying to diversify their product lines, I think that many automakers are just exposing themselves to either product cannibalism or limited opportunities from oversaturated markets.

Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler opened up the possibility of both technology and dealership sharing. Fiat aims to widen its stake in the US market while Fiat can also use its Europe dealerships to sell American cars.

One thing that I might not be comfortable with is the re-badging of certain models. Fiat’s Alfa Romeos bear a certain pedigree that might get tarnished once Chrysler models are sold under the name. They’ve already hinted on the possibility of an Alfa Romeo Challenger. How about a Dodge 500 Abarth? Doesn’t really work in book.

Models to be dropped include the Chrysler Sebring, the PT Cruiser, the Jeep Compass, and the Jeep Patriot.

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat S.p.A., said that the company won’t dwell on losing Opel if their bid for the GM-owned manufacturer doesn’t push through.

“If the Opel transaction is not available to Fiat, life will move on. We’ll just be focusing on what we have,” said Marchonne just shortly after reports were made that Magna had the inside track on the Opel sale and Fiat skipped talks in Germany citing “extravagant risks” involved in the deal.

Marchionne remarked that Fiat is still interested in the Latin American operations of GM, but that the company might not pursue Saab at all if the Opel deal fails since those two brands share a lot of parts. Instead, Marchionne confirmed that the company will set its sights on purchasing a stake in Chrysler LLC as June opens.

You know what they say: When one door closes, a window opens, like with the Chrysler deal. That window could also be in the form of a Fiat merger with PSA Peugeot Citroen, which could potentially result in Europe’s biggest car manufacturer. Marchonne declined comment on this issue, though.

Chrysler finally gets a break as they finally forge a deal transferring 35% of Chrysler to Fiat. Fiat SpA of Italy and Chrysler LLC owned by Cerberus Capital Management LP announced a global alliance that sets Fiat to eventually take control over the US automaker.

However, in an interesting arrangement, Fiat expressed interest in management control (as for now) but instead, they want to have access to Chrysler’s tech bins, designs, and platforms. Quite intriguing that. How about a next-generation Fiat 500 built on a Viper platform. Pretty nice.

I think this is a great deal. Aside from the breather that Chrysler gets from this deal, they could definitely use a European touch to their cars. There are a lot of good things to come up with such partnerships. Not that I’d compare this deal with Renault and Nissan, but I guess this could be Chrysler’s breath of life.

Source: Detroit News

The revolutionary eco:Drive system, first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, has helped reduce CO2 emissions across the board. Fiat said that the system allowed motorists who have the system save 163kg of CO2 since October 2008.

The system is simple and easy to use. Drivers simply plug in the USB-based eco:Drive and the system can then record vital information related to driving performance and methods. This information, after being relayed to a computer, is then analysed to provide the driver with suggestions on how to improve driving methods and overall driving efficiency.

Fiat Group UK’s managing director Andrew Humberstone said that the system “offers real benefits, helping drivers to improve their driving efficiency, saving fuel and reducing their impact on the environment.” He added that “that’s going to be well worth considering as we move into a new year.”

With eco:Drive being available on more models in the coming year—the Fiat Bravo and Qubo will also feature the system, on top of the current Fiat 500 and Grande Punto—people will be able to enjoy the benefits of better fuel efficiency and less CO2 emissions.

Source: Motor Torque

Fiat is targeting the budget new car segment with its plan to make a new lineup of low-cost cars for 2010, possibly under a new brand. This line is aimed towards consumers who will most likely have super-tight budgets because of the expected continuation of the global recession.

The new lineup will also be able to accommodate new pollution laws in the UK that will restrict certain cars from entering city centers. There are allegedly three new models in the line, with at least two being developed by Fiat and the company’s subsidiary in Brazil.

The three models are slated to be ultra light and cheap, and will reportedly be powered by a new two-cylinder engine. The new cars were meant to replace the aging Palio line and the Uno supermini. Modified versions of the latter are still being produced in Brazil.

Compact and cheap city cars are the way to go, thanks to the current economic crisis and the UK’s new pollution legislation. While it remains to be seen exactly what these new Fiat models will be like, there are also rumors that these will be under a revived Topolino name.

Source: Autocar

A special Diesel edition of the popular Fiat 500 will be sold exclusively on the internet. Only 10,000 units of this limited-edition vehicle will be available on http://www.fiat.co.uk/500bydiesel and it is on a strict first come, first serve basis.

Built on a Fiat 500 Sport base, the 500byDIESEL has extensive styling modifications on top of the standard Fiat 500 specs, components, and multimedia furnishings. First is the burnished-metal finish on the side rubbing strips and the front and rear bumper inserts. The 16” alloy wheels and the rear molding has the DIESEL logo on them. There are also special door handles and door mirrors. The Fiat 500byDIESEL is available in three colors: Green Diesel, Brown Diesel, and Black.

For the interior, the DIESEL edition features special denim upholstery, a yellow-stitched leather steering wheel, and a burnished-metal dashboard that complements the finish of the exterior components. The front seats have a pouch much like the fifth pocket of DIESEL jeans.

The good thing about the online deal is that those who order can fully customize the car, dubbed the “500byDIESEL”, and then track the entire process of its creation.

Source: Fiat UK

There’s a new low-emission incarnation of the Fiat Bravo family car introduced, and it features a new MultiJet engine with DPF, or diesel particulate filter, this time around. It is designed for optimum performance while greatly increasing the mileage and environment-friendliness of the vehicle.

The new MultiJet engine is a 2.0-liter capable of 165 brake horsepower, and 266 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,750 rpm, considerable improvements from the 2007 model’s 1.9-liter MultiJet capable of around 120bhp. Meanwhile, DPF is a filter tasked to strip exhaust gas of harmful particulates, which includes aerosols and soot. This helps in considerably lowering emission levels and increase fuel efficiency.

The new Bravo is pegged to have emissions of 139g/km, while mileage is at 53mpg. It takes 8.2 seconds to go from 0 to 62 mph, and it can reach a higher top speed of 134mph, compared to the 2007 model’s 130mph.

There will be Sport and Dynamic configurations available once again for the new Bravo. The Sport variant will naturally fetch more, because of added features like 17” or 18” alloy rims and sports custom interiors. The standard Blue&Me Bluetooth suite should still be standard in these new models.

Source: Motor Torque

Among the showstoppers at the 25th Sao Paolo Auto Show, the Fiat FCC II Concept was perhaps the meanest and greenest, combining design and features that are focused on nature.

The second incarnation of the French automaker’s FCC (Fiat Concept Coupe), designed by Fiat Style Latin America, features green body panels that are made from Amazon palm fibers. Nanotechnology makes possible the use of renewable materials, such as nanoclay and recycled soy oil, for the car’s body. The vehicle also features an electric engine and a Lithium-Ion battery.

The open, buggy-ish styling shows why the project was first dubbed “the Bugster”, which is a portmanteau of the words ‘buggy’ and ‘roadster’. The FCC II also has minimal windshields, which is in line with the ‘getting-back-to-nature’ theme by making the riders feel the wind on their faces.

While the environment-friendly components and outer styling really is one with nature, Fiat had stated that the design was geared to look futuristic. We would have to agree on that one, with the sleek curves of the bodywork and the minimalistic approach to the overall design.

Source: Inside Line

Fiat’s just too happy that their resurrected performance brand is gaining quite the rep that they hoped for. The Abarth Punto and 500 variants have made quite the impression to many people that Fiat is now considering to make the Abarth Coupe.

Abarth, founded by Carlo Abarth, made tuning and other performance parts for many automakers including Porsches and Ferraris back in the day. Fiat created their new Abarth HQ in Turin – the same city where Carlo Abarth housed the company.

Fiat execs are now exploring three different business models for Abarth. First is for them to create performance variants of Fiat’s mainstream models. Second, is to produce a special-bodied coupe (the Abarth Coupe. Third is to simply create performance parts.

This is quite an interesting turn for Abarth. Now why just can’t they do all three. I’m sure Fiat could use a tuning house to provide them with beefed-up versions of their cars, and people would be interested in driving an exclusive Abarth rather than re-badged Fiats, and everyone else would love to get hold of performance parts.

Source and Image Credit: Autocar

Seems like Fiat can’t get enough of its amazing small car – the Fiat 500 especially the Abarth variant. Now they’ve decided to give the 500 Abarth just more class by giving it the “esseesse” kit. What the heck is the “esseesse” kit? It’s an elegant wooden crate that contains some real goodies for your car.

The converted car comes with a full body kit that includes a new front fascia, lower side skirts, a spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper complete with a diffuser. The kit also comes with a pair of chrome exhaust tips and a set of new wheels (and tires with pressure sensors) to add some shiny new metal on the car.

The engine tuning kit gives the 1.4L 16-valve engine to generate as much as 197 horses with a maximum torque of 167 lb-ft. All that power and pull takes the esseesse from 0 to 62 mph in just 7.4 seconds. That seems to be so much for a little car like the Abarth but the MINI John Cooper Works is still a bit faster at 6.5 seconds.

To help the Abarth stop, the car is equipped with ventilated front brake discs, perforated rear brake discs, high-performance brake pads. The car also rides lower thanks to lowering springs.

The kit is sold and installed by the official network of Abarth converters.

Source: Fiat

It’s amazing how the British Motor Show just became a green festival with a lot EVs and gas-sippers debuting. Now Fiat never really developed a Fiat 500 EV but thanks to the NICE Car Company, we now get an electric version of the car. Dubbed as the Micro Vette Fiat e500, an electric version of this ever-popular small car.

NICE didn’t touch the structure of the car aside from slapping on an electric powertrain. The car is powered by lithium-ion polymer batteries that can go up to 70 miles in between charges and can cruise at 60 mph.

With those kinds of numbers, it’s probably similar to driving a pumped up golf cart or something. But is somehow ideal for in-city driving given the size of the Fiat 500. Don’t even think of taking this way out into the countryside though.

It even comes with a full Fiat warranty and is available with the Fiat options. However, the car will only be made to order and for a limited time only.

The closest we got to the Fiat 500 Abarth details was this vague sketch that was made available in the Geneva Motor Show last February. While speculations had it that it will be a mean little machine, it’s only now that we get to check out some of the official numbers and figures.

The car will pack a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine that will pump 135 horses. That slapped on to a mini-hatch is enough to shame a mass-market sedan. The car is fitted with a Torque Transfer Control system which will help counteract torque steer – which is most likely to happen in a small car with a lot of power.

And there’s more. Fiat is also creating a limited edition dubbed as the “Opening Edition.” The car will boast a whopping 160 bhp and 179 lb-ft of torque. The car would go 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds. It’s also equipped with drilled discs, stiffened springs and 17-inch alloy rims. Too bad it will only be available in Italy.

The Fiat 500 Abarth might just continue to redefine small cars and hot hatches. The Fiat 500 has successfully made its mark last year and this souped up version offers a bit more. As far as goes, it will definitely give rivals a run for their money.

With all the small and zippy cars out there, two might stand out as the zipper ones – the Fiat 500 and the BMW Mini One (AKA Mini Cooper). Thanks to Fifth Gear, they’ve put these two wee cars in a head-to-head shootout. And guess which car zips ahead first.

Get a cute car, soup it up by putting in a lot of power, and you have a wee mean machine. That’s the novelty of the MINI Cooper S. And probably a lot of other cute hatches out there. Well, that’s what Fiat did with the 500 with the Abarth SS edition and it proved to be quite a hit when launched in the last Geneva auto show.

Now reports has it that Fiat is considering more things for the hot hatch and that includes launching a convertible version of the 500. Okay, a wee hot hatch with the top chopped off. Let me visualize… With the risk of showcasing a shoe, I wonder what the appeal of a little convertible have in the market. Novelty? It’d be a cute car though. With people who love plush dolls and other stuff as potential market.

Why don’t they just stick to producing the SS version that they’ve showcased in Geneva. A lot of people would have a kick driving a hatch being pulled by 155 horses. Heck, I know a lot of old school tuners swapping bigger turbo-charged Toyota engines to their Daihatsu Miras.

The Fiat 500 proved to be a real hit in the compact car market segment even garnering “Car of the Year” awards from several bodies in 2007. It would be successes like those that could inspire car makers to push the car even further. Such is the case with the Fiat 500 with a more powerful version in the Fiat Abarth. Abarth is the name of Fiat’s tuning division which just might make a comeback with this one.

Fiat created a buzz when they sent out e-mail to registered fans about this Abarth site which contains nothing much save for a chalk sketch and a countdown to February 18/19 depending on your timezone.

Not much information can be gotten from the website though the rumor mill has it that this compact might pack as much as 150hp. Now given the 500’s compact frame, light body and 150 horses under the bonnet, it’s bound to be a really zippy car.

Source: Abarth