Fiat 500C Reviews

US car giant Jeep and its associated brands may not be paying enough tax in Australia, a document filed in the Federal Court has intimated.The car maker has made an average after-tax profit of just $14.7 million annually in Australia over the past six years -- despite turning over a whopping $4.8 billion during that time and increasing Jeep sales seven-fold.The average annual profit figures mean Jeep and its associated brands paid an estimated $5 million a year in taxes, which equates to about $30 million on a turnover of $4.8 billion over a six-year period.The figures were listed in defence documents filed by the lawyer for Clyde Campbell, the former Jeep Australia boss who is at the centre of a $30 million scandal into the alleged misuse of corporate funds.Transfer pricing is the industry term given to describe the movement of funds within car companiesThe profit listings given in the defence document refer to "net profit after tax and transfer pricing adjustments".Transfer pricing is the industry term given to describe the movement of funds within car companies.In the past, the Australian Tax Office has investigated Toyota and other companies suspected of moving profits offshore to pay less tax locally.Documents submitted to the Federal Court in Melbourne show over the past six years the US car giant has only made an average annual profit after tax of just 1.85 per cent of its turnover in Australia, despite unprecedented sales growth and favourable exchange rates.In 2004, the Herald Sun newspaper reported the Australian Tax Office was investigating Toyota for "transfer pricing", whereby profits were allegedly shifted overseas to be taxed at a lower rate.In 2010, Toyota made a one-off payment to the Australian Tax Office of $250 million.At the time Toyota refused to say what the bill was for, only offering that the tax bill was for "prior years"."Intercompany pricing is complex and we've had discussions with the Tax Office and overseas tax authorities," a Toyota spokesman said at the time."This settlement has been reached following a thorough review with the ATO on a very complex issue," the Toyota statement said in 2010. "We believe we conduct our operations according to all relevant rules and regulations regarding financial matters."Six weeks ago, News Corp Australia reported the ATO was looking at the Jeep brand ambassador program to see if Fringe Benefits Tax should be applied to the "hundreds" of cars loaned to suppliers, celebrities and sporting stars.Contrary to perception, it is the provider of the vehicle that is subject to FBT, not the user of the vehicle. News Corp Australia had spoken to recipients of Jeep "ambassador" vehicles who had been contacted by the ATO.FCA has denied there were "hundreds" of cars, however there have been at least 45 "brand ambassadors" at various times in recent years, as well as approximately 90 cars with the Richmond football club and 30 cars with the Gold Coast Suns.Each of the cars are typically replaced at least once a year so they can be sold as "dealer demonstrators" while the distance travelled is less than 10,000km.

Global Jeep bosses approved $30 million in spending in car industry scandal, new court documents claim

Want proof the Australian new-car market is getting tough? Several models have disappeared from showrooms because they can't handle the competition.

New court documents also claim Mr Kewell and his wife Sheree Murphy were holidaying with Simone and Clyde Campbell in the Maldives as recently as April this year.Car giant Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) alleges former CEO Clyde Campbell misused more than $30 million in corporate funds on deals it claims were "uncommercial", including providing loan cars to models, sport stars and TV personalities such as Jesinta Campbell, Shane Warne and Matt Preston.According to an amended Statement of Claim filed to the Federal Court in Victoria yesterday, FCA alleges Mr Kewell made four payments ranging from $580 to $8467 — which added up to $13,975 — between July and December 2013, months after Mr Campbell stepped down from his role as CEO in April 2013.The revised statement of claim says FCA is "not aware of any business reason why Kewell would deposit funds into Campbell's personal bank account".Sources close to Mr Kewell say the costs were reimbursement expenses incurred by Simone Campbell, a property lawyer, on Mr Kewell's behalf.The Kewell contract was "irrevocably" extended from January 2016 to December 2018The amended court document also notes that "photographs and comments on Instagram and Twitter by Mrs Campbell, Kewell and others show that Mrs Campbell and Kewell attended Amilla Fushi Resort in the Maldives" in April 2015.According to the original statement of claim, Kewell's sponsorship deal with FCA also included $2000 per month towards a rental property, assistance with school fees to a maximum value of $75,000 per year, and eight return business class airfares between Australia and Europe annually.According to the statement of claim, the Kewell contract was "irrevocably" extended from January 2016 to December 2018 on a company letter signed by Mr Campbell's successor, Veronica Johns, "on or about April 2014".Mr Campbell left FCA Australia in April 2013 to become an independent distributor of FCA vehicles in New Zealand, but has since sold his share of the business.The revised court document increased the amount of money FCA "suspects" was used to buy a boat, from $412,000 to $550,000, based on invoices paid to a third-party company called Maxus, which is now run by Mark McCraith.Mr McCraith was FCA Australia's marketing director from May 2013 and May 2015 and helped oversee the "brand ambassador" program and other marketing and sponsorship deals.Mr McCraith is now chief operating officer of media agency Maxus, which lists FCA Australia as one of its clients.The revised court documents also go into more detail about how much money was paid to a dealership part owned by former Mercedes-Benz executive Ernst Lieb, who was sacked from the Germany car maker in 2011 for misusing corporate funds.Mr Lieb and Mr Campbell worked together previously at Mercedes-Benz Australia.The lawyer for Mr Campbell, Sam Bond, and a representative for Harry Kewell, have been approached for comment on the amended statement of claim.A spokesman for FCA Australia, Andrew Chesterton, declined to comment on the new claims or answer questions as to why FCA still uses the Maxus media agency at the centre of the alleged boat deal.

Owners of luxury European models and are up to four times as likely to be caught breaking the law compared to Japanese or Korean makes.Analysis of SAPOL and Transport Department figures shows Mercedes drivers are by far the worst in the state, recording 0.824 fines per vehicle in 2014/15.This compares to the least-fined of the large manufacturers, Isuzu with only 0.186 fines per car.Experts at a loss to explain the bias against luxury cars, and police have denied they give the drivers special treatment.Some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid accelerationIt is the first time the figures have become available because of a Weatherill Government reform called "open data", in which government departments are forced to release large amounts of information on their websites.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said the nature of luxury cars, rather than driver behaviour may be to blame."Modern vehicles, particularly some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid acceleration and insulate the driver to such an extent that it may mask a driver's perception of speed," he said."Irrespective of the vehicle being driven, whether it be a luxury import or a reasonably priced runabout, it is important for their safety and that of other road users that they drive to the conditions and abide by the prevailing speed limits on the roads on which they are travelling."The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offendingWhen asked a series of questions about the issue, SAPOL issued a one line response: "The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offending".While Holden drivers amassed the most fines in 2014/15 with 72,847 there are 239,804 Holdens on the road.In comparison, Mercedes drivers were hit 13,157 times for only 15,959 registered vehicles.Only two non-luxury brands were in the top ten and six in the top 20 fined-per-registered-car for 2014/15.Other than Holden, which was the eighth most fined vehicle on the road, none of the large-volume, inexpensive makes is in the top 25 of most fined vehicles.There are some exceptions however, with the low-volume Dodge and Proton makes ranking second and third, Ferrari ranking thirty fourth and Jaguar thirty eighth.One of the cheapest vehicles on the road, the Chinese Great Wall is ranked highly at sixteenth.(Make - fines per car - total fines)1 Mercedes - 0.824 - 13,157 2 Dodge - 0.377 - 3183 Proton - 0.356 - 2684 Renault - 0.350 - 11495 Saab - 0.346 - 3886 Range Rover - 0.345 - 3517 Audi - 0.326 - 20748 Holden - 0.316 - 72,8479 Mini - 0.313 - 33110 Fiat - 0.309 - 31011 Daewoo - 0.305 - 147512 Jeep - 0.313 - 227013 Lexus - 0.293 - 95114 SsangYong - 0.289 - 21415 BMW - 0.284 - 503216 Great Wall - 0.284 - 290

The biggest scandal to ever hit the Australian automotive industry is off to a stalled start.

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the new Fiat 500X in Italy.

Italian carmaker Fiat is very big in Europe but had been quiet in the Australian passenger car scene for years before re-entering our market in July 2006 with the Punto, a small-medium hatchback. However, Punto was pretty expensive and didn't sell particularly well at the time, to the extent that it was pulled from

James Stanford road tests and reviews the Fiat Freemont Crossroad with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

After a solid price cut a couple of years ago - and a corresponding surge in popularity - Fiat's modern-day 500 galloped into its "Series 3" model refresh. The new one landed with the now-customary "Has anything changed?" styling and a few tweaks, along with a decent price hike.With the styling intact and a commitment to improve the cabin, one of the smallest but coolest cars on the market may now also be able to add "really quite good" to its CV.The 500 S is the middle of the triple-pillared range of 500s sold in Australia. The steel-wheeled, 1.2-litre Pop starts at $16,000, before rising to $19,000 for the manual S and on to $22,000 for the Lounge. Dualogic semi-automatic transmissions add some $1500 to the price of Pop and S trim levels while the Lounge, appropriately, comes standard with the self-shifter.(Strictly speaking, the 595 Abarth is a separate model, but yes, is based on the 500).Your $19,000 500 S comes equipped with 15-inch alloys, a six-speaker stereo, air-conditioning, remote central locking, leather steering wheel, power mirrors, sports seats and tinted windows.No matter which way you approach, it looks terrificFrom the outside, this is a car devoid of a bad angle. No matter which way you approach, it looks terrific. Standing on a street corner recently in Rome, with scores of classic and nuova Cinquecento whizzing by, it's striking how well the new design sits beside the old.The proportions are almost identical, the bluff front end smoothed but improved by the wind tunnel, the upright cabin delivering surprising space (for front passengers) and excellent vision.These are not new observations given we're now quite used to the new 500, but worth repeating.Inside, the Polish-built Fiat hangs together well. Everything is close given how small the car is, so there will be no reaching and straining. The dash pad looks great, capped with a plastic panel made to look like metal and the central instrument pack with a full digital display is very cool.The only black marks are the unfortunate protrusion of the Blue&Me screen on top of the dashboard and the even more unfortunate positioning of the USB port. The interior seemed sturdy but there was a fair bit of grit and grime collected in hard to reach nooks and crannies, speaking both to the hard life of a press car and the difficulty for hard-working detailers to keep it clean.The general breakfast preference of fellow motoring writers appears to be toast.There isn't a lot of storage, even taking into account the car's size. That can get a bit irritating as the passenger (or passenger seat) will have to be entrusted with your valuables.The 500 carries a five star safety rating, with nine airbags (including driver's knee airbag), ABS, traction and stability control, hill holder, brake assist and brake emergency display.There's also disc brakes all round with brake force distribution.Fiat's Blue&Me is run by a screen perched on top of the dashboard. It was not an easy system to set up, with a big screen that should be friendly to use but isn't. However, once configured, it was perfectly easy to use and worked just fine. Given its size, the sat-nav is fiddly but once on your way, works just fine.The six-speaker stereo doesn't have to work very hard in the small cabin and delivers reasonable sound. Blue&Me is integrated with the big round multi-purpose dial in the dashboard.The 500S's 1.4-litre sixteen-valve four cylinder is a terrific little engine. With 74kW and 131Nm on tap, it loves to rev although it does get a bit breathless over 4000. Those revs power the front wheels via either the six speed manual we had, or an automated single-clutch gearbox.It's not hard to see why the 500 is a smash hit in its home countryFiat claims 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle which we got very close to at 6.9L/100km despite enthusiastic and repeated testing of the 10.5 second dash to 100km/h.With its willing engine, slick gearbox and excellent ride for such a stubby car, it's not hard to see why the 500 is a smash hit in its home country and a cult hit here.Despite an uninspiring 0-100km/h time, it doesn't feel that slow in the crucial sprint to 30 km/h needed to dart around Sydney's streets.Blasting around in the 500 S is an inordinate amount of funWith an eager turn-in you can pull off heroic lane change manoeuvres, its low centre of gravity keeping things from getting too roly-poly. The oddly large and very comfortable seats are as chunky as the fat steering wheel. The big seats put you up high, which is a funny feeling for such a tiddler, and their position improves legroom in the back seats. The high position of the front seats does tie in nicely with the pedal box's position relative to the wheel.Blasting around in the 500 S is an inordinate amount of fun - the gearbox is good to use, which is just as well because you will have to use it to get the best out of the 74kW. What's great about it is that it feels quicker than it is, meaning the fun is had down low without threatening life, limb or licence.The 500 S has selectable driving modes but it doesn't make a great deal of difference - the dash changes to accommodate either driving for fun or driving for economy.Puddling about is never tiring for front seat occupants as the ride and comfortable seats conspire to keep you happy. Once the speed goes over about 80 km/h, there's a bit of noise from the tyres but wind noise seems well suppressed.Just look at it. How could you not love it?