Fiat 600 Reviews

The major brands are keen for a good start to 2015 and that means a lot of sharp deals for the first two months of the year.Low profile brand Citroen currently has a hot deal on its Berlingo compact hauler, offering the 66kW diesel manual long body version for $25,990 drive away. It has also thrown in an extended warranty, covering it for five years/200,000km.Volkswagen has two limited edition vans available now, with special drive-away pricing.They are called Runner models and are effectively entry-level models.The Caddy Runner is based on the TSI 160 petrol version of Volkswagen’s small van. It is not loaded with gear, but does have airconditioning as well as stability control, and costs $23,990 drive away.The Transporter Runner, based on the TDI 250 diesel, is not completely void of features either and has just picked up Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control in addition to AC and stability control.Volkswagen is currently offering it for $32,990 drive away.Renault is receiving initial stock of the new Master large van, but there are a fair few of the old one left and that means bargains are to be had.The company hasn’t locked in incentives with the dealers, instead asking them to check in when someone is interested, so it might well be worth asking.The company does have an extended warranty offer in place at the moment to help its Kangoo compact van, which covers it for five years or 200,000km.Ford is offering two special deals with price cuts and extended warranty deals for its front-drive Transit Custom vans.The first is a short wheelbase model at $38,990 drive away and the second is the long wheelbase version for $40,990 drive away.These are keen prices, especially as Ford has now introduced an extended warranty that lasts for five years/200,000km.Both models are standard, but the Transit is very well specified and each van has a five-star crash safety rating, stability control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a bulkhead and even heated seats.There is only one transmission, a six-speed manual, as an automatic is still being developed, and only one engine, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel.Fiat is not doing any special deals on its just-introduced Doblo and Ducato vans, maintaining the strong pricing structure from the launch, including the well specified Doblo compact van from $22,000 for the petrol 1.4 and the larger Ducato with a 3.0-litre diesel from $38,000, but neither price includes drive-away costs.

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

Are you tired of getting stuck behind an SUV? If you can’t see through them, you may want to join them.Australia is going to be crawling with a new type of SUV from next year: city-sized soft-roaders. Or as we like to call them, faux-wheel drives.They have the same tall driving position as a full-size SUV (to better navigate the traffic rather than the great outdoors) and yet have the economy of a small car because often they don’t even have all-wheel drive. Handily, they also fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.The Suzuki SX4 (now known as the S-Cross) in many ways pioneered this segment; Holden and Nissan followed with pocket-sized high-riding hatchbacks with unusual designs.But Mazda’s CX-3 is the first one that appears to look just right. Due in March, it will soon be joined by the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and the reborn Suzuki Vitara (a sign of the times, now with car-like underpinnings rather than a 4WD chassis).Most of these vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, the heart of the new-car market — and put SUVs in the driveways of those who want one but, until now, couldn’t afford it.If you thought it was already difficult to choose a new car in the world’s most competitive market, it’s about to get even tougher.

When people ask me what I think of my wife Julie's Fiat 500 by Gucci I always give the same answer, "Love the car, hate the gearbox". That's in reference to the automated manual five-speed unit that Fiat calls a Dualogic. So when I was invited to road test a Fiat 500 S - with a 'proper' six-speed manual gearbox for a

Fiat Professional Doblo van arrives in Australia for the first time, starting from $22,000.Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) has added the Fiat Professional Doblo to the brand's Australian lineup, to sit beneath the existing Ducato and Scudo commercial vans.The Doblo will compete with the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroen Berlingo and Renault Kangoo small vans, targeting trade buyers after a compact workhorse.DIMENSIONSAustralian Doblos are available in a choice of two wheelbases; with the standard-length measuring 4390mm, and the range-topping Maxi stretches the wheelbase by 350mm to 4740mm.Cargo width is 1714mm wide (1230mm between the wheelarches) and 1305mm high for both bodies, while the 1820mm cargo length of the standard model expands to 2170mm for the Doblo Maxi.These dimensions combine to give the short-wheelbase model 3.4 cubic metres of PVC-floored cargo volume, and the Maxi 4.2 cubic metres.Maximum payloads are 750kg for the short-wheelbase model and an even tonne for the longer Maxi.The short-wheelbase Doblo boasts greater cargo space in all dimensions than the equivalent Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo and Volkswagen Caddy models. However, the long-wheelbase Doblo Maxi is matched by the Caddy Maxi for cargo volume and is 80mm shorter in cargo length.All Doblos have sliding rear doors on both sides, and both side-hinged barn doors and top-hinged tailgates are available.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSThe front-wheel drive Doblo also comes with a choice of one petrol and three turbodiesel drivetrains.Short-wheelbase Doblos are available with a 70kW/127Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 5-speed manual transmission, or a 77kW/290Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel paired with a six-speed manual. A 5-speed robotised automatic transmission is also available with a 66kW/200Nm version of the turbodiesel.The long-wheelbase Maxi is limited to a 99kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, with a six-speed manual transmission.FEATURESThe Doblo comes standard with electronic stability control with hill-start assist, ABS, electronic brake distribution, Bluetooth connectivity, and climate control. Fiat also boasts the lockable glovebox is large enough to store a laptop computer.Doblo variants with turbodiesel engines will also benefit from cruise control and parking sensors.Satnav can be added as an option across the range.

Pat Dougherty to head Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Australia.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced Pat Dougherty will become the group's next Australian CEO and President, taking over the role from Veronica Johns who announced her departure on Tuesday.Dougherty has been with the North American arm of FCA for over 30 years, and moves into the role on December 1, from his current position of Vice President of Mopar, the parts and service division of FCA.Prior to this, he was the Head of Fleet Sales, Network and Operations and Head of Fleet Sales in North America.Veronica Johns tendered her resignation from FCA in August of this year citing personal reasons, but her departure was only made public earlier this week.Ms Johns’ two-year tenure at the top of FCA Australia saw not only record sales, but also a dramatic shift in the treatment of women within the company’s Australian arm.John Kett, Corporate Vice President of FCA and General Manager, APAC Operations said the company will look to continue down the path Ms Johns crafted."We need to continue our focus on sustainable growth across all of our brands and imperative to this will be the further development of our after-sales business to ensure that FCA is one of the most customer-focussed automotive companies in the market," he said.

Veronica Johns oversaw record sales at the Fiat Chrysler Group, and took a unique approach to breaking down the gender barriers.The first Australian woman to head a car company, Veronica Johns -- who earned notoriety for tearing down workshop posters of naked women, as well as record sales -- has announced her resignation as the boss of the Fiat Chrysler Group after almost two years in the role and 16 years with the corporation. Her departure at the end of the year means there will no longer be a woman as the boss of any car brand in Australia. Ms Johns earned the credibility of her industry colleagues after overseeing record sales growth, but she also quickly attracted attention from car dealers after she tore down posters of naked women in workshops during showroom visits. “It does take a certain personality type to cope with men in the car industry,” said Ms Johns. “Thankfully we’ve eradicated any gender issues in our company.” The transition didn’t come easily for some people. “When I started you could still walk into workshops with posters of naked women on the walls. “I ripped them off and threw them in the bin. The (workers) didn’t say much, and I’m sure they probably got them out of the bin after I left. “Women have to work in this environment and that’s what they’ve got to look at. Some people in the industry are blind to it. It’s just accepted as the norm and it shouldn’t be.” Ms Johns, 43, said she’d taken down posters of naked women “about four times” over the past three years, but hasn’t had to do so lately. “We’ve eradicated the gender issues from our business, but it’s still in other parts of the car industry,” said Ms Johns. The Melbourne-based executive says women are in more prominent positions in the car industry globally, but Australia is still catching up. In January 2014, Mary Barra became the first woman to become the global boss of a major car company, as the CEO of General Motors based in Detroit. Only handful of foreign women have run car companies in Australia over the past 15 years. American Judith Wheeler was the first, she ran Chrysler-Jeep in Australia from 2000 to 2003. Germans Jutta Dierks and Anke Koeckler successively ran Volkswagen’s Australian operations from 2007 to 2013. But Ms Johns is understood to be the first Australian woman to have run a large car company in Australia. At the time of her appointment in May 2013, she edged out male rivals from North America who were keen to take up the prime posting. Ms Johns said the car industry -- and car buyers -- would benefit from gender equality. “With modern technology so many cars have so many similar features these days, the biggest difference is how you treat people,” said Ms Johns. “Women are very competitive, and some can be brutal, but I believe we are still more inclined to treat people with kindness and respect. I think that, and the ability to relate to people, comes more easily to women than to men.” Car industry consultant Tony Devers, the former boss of Honda and Suzuki motor vehicles in Australia -- who accurately predicted in 2010, three years before any announcements, that the local car manufacturing industry would close by the end of the decade -- says there should be more women in the car industry. “There’s no excuse, women clearly have the skills and the drive and the passion for the business, but they typically tend to come into the car industry in marketing or human resources roles,” said Mr Devers. “The executives who rise to the top in the car industry have earned their stripes in sales, finance and strategic planning,” he said. Ms Johns will work with the her successor -- due to be announced in the coming days, and likely to come from Detroit -- until the end of the year, when she is expected to announce a new role the automotive industry. Under Ms John’s leadership, the monthly sales of Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles increased by 53 per cent as the rest of the industry grew by about 2 per cent. So far this year, sales across all four brands are up 39 per cent in a market that is down 2 per cent compared with the same period last year. When Ms Johns accepted the role to run Fiat Chrysler Group Australia in 2013, she said: “I don’t think it makes a difference if you’re male or female in this business anymore. Good people rise to the top. The car industry is not a man’s world anymore.”

The 500X maintains the proportions and cute packaging of the smaller sibling.The big brother of the cute little Fiat 500 is being readied for modern families in Australia in the second half of next year.Unveiled at the Paris motor show, the 500X is a genuine five-seater that maintains the proportions and cute packaging of the rounded revival of Fiat's highest favourite, called the Cinquecento in Italy.There are two models of the X-car, a high-rider for weekend escapes and a lower-set version for city work, with a choice of engines and drive. It is still only 4.25 metres long but stands 1.6 metres high. Safety equipment includes reversing camera, lane departure warning and emergency brake assist. Boot capacity is 350L.For Australia, the most likely addition to the 500 family is the metropolitan model with petrol engines. Firm pricing is well in the future but prices potentially will start below $30,000."It's not confirmed yet for Australia""It's not confirmed yet for Australia. It would be available in the second half of next year if we get it," says Fiat spokeswoman Karla Leach."Fiat needs a proper five-seater car. You can upsize or downsize into a 500X, which makes it a good size for Australia and gives us a range of opportunities with buyers. It would work for people moving up out of their first car, or older couples looking to downsize without losing some style and enjoyment." Chief designer Roberto Giolito says the car is intended to maintain the proportions of the 500 and also keep the "face". He hints that there will an Abarth version of the X-fighter."The 500X is a good body for Abarth. The driving seat is perfectly (in place) to control the car, so Abarth would be perfect" he says.Fiat Chrysler Automotive says a decision for Australia will be made before the end of the year. The company is studying how the 500X will fit in a line-up that includes Jeep and the coming Renegade. The arrival of the Renegade militates against importing the all-wheel drive 500X, as the two would compete and cannibalise sales."There are a number of engine options for the 500X ... reviewing what's available, we would steer towards the petrol engines. There are four choices, from the 900cc TwinAir to the 1.4 turbo," says Leach.

Fiat announces track-bred Abarth 695 Biposto superhatch for Australia.Abarth's fastest and most extreme performance model to date is coming to Australia.First revealed at the Geneva motor show in March, the Abarth 695 Biposto is in essence the road-going equivalent of the 695 Assetto Corse racer driven at the Bathurst 12 Hour in February by CarsGuide's own Joshua Dowling and Paul Gover.With a name that literally translates to two-seater, the 695 Biposto does gain an extra pew over the Dowling/Gover machines, but shuns the regular road Abarth four-seat layout in the name of weight reduction.The Biposto's tuned 1.4-litre turbocharged engine throws out 140kW and 250Nm – up from the 118kW/230Nm of the existing 595 models. The 0-100km/h time also drops from 7.4 seconds down to a claimed 5.9. This performance boost comes with a trade-off, as fuel consumption has jumped by 1.1L/100km to 6.5 combined over manual 595 models.While the idea of the hottest Abarth ever might have you chomping at the bit, a list price of $65,000 will quickly bring you back to reality.At this price, the Biposto is nearly double the price of the $33,500 595 Turismo and the $36,500 Competizione manual hardtops. It is however in the ballpark of Abarth's previous limited edition models, the $69,990 695 Tributo Ferrari from 2012 and 2013's $60,000 695 Edizione Maserati.An investment in the 695 Biposto does get you a performance car that oozes racing pedigree.In addition to a pretty serious cabin reinforcement structure behind the seats; Brembo brakes, Poggipolini rear roll bar, 18-inch OZ wheels, Akrapovic exhaust, BMC intercooler, Sabelt four-point seatbelts and Extreme Shoks suspension bring a high-performance motorsport flavour to the street-legal production car. The Biposto even has a data logger.You do get some more expected features of a road-going car as well with the Biposto having ABS and stability control.On the outside, the 695 Biposto an aluminium bonnet, fixed door windows with polycarbonate sliding openings, and lightweight 18-inch OZ wheels.Inside, the remaining seats are now carbon fibre with matching dash inserts, and front and rear panels. Titanium is also featured in the door handles, hub caps, wheel bolts and fuel cap.The 695 Biposto is being produced in limited numbers, and is available from Abarth dealers on a per order basis.

Are you tired of being stuck behind an SUV? If can’t beat em, join em. Paris motor show previews the next big thing on four wheels: pint-sized SUVs for the city.The world’s car makers are rushing to release high-riding hatchbacks that have the commanding view of a family-sized SUV -- but fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.SUVs are second only to small cars when it comes to new vehicle sales, and the big brands are finding new ways to fill every possible niche.That means we can expect to see a bunch of tiny-tot SUVs designed for the city, even though they will be dressed up with rugged, go-anywhere looks.Indeed, most city SUVs won’t even have a four-wheel-drive system because they’ll never leave the tarmac.So why are car makers so desperate to get their small SUVs into showrooms? Because buyers are happy to pay a premium for them even though they cost only a fraction more to build than a regular hatchback.Japanese car giant Toyota, the world’s biggest automotive brand, will unveil a city-centric SUV inside enemy territory at this week’s Paris motor show.Even though Toyota is one of the biggest sellers of SUVs on the planet, it has completely missed the march to city-sized softroaders, or “faux-wheel-drives”.Toyota’s swoopy looking “C-HR” concept car is a rather large clue as to what the showroom version will look like when it arrives next year, although no-one knows what ‘C-HR” stands for. “Compact High Rider” perhaps?Even the French, which once revolved against the SUV and vandalized them in the street less than a decade ago, has joined the party.Citroen is poised to unveil the oddly but honestly named “C1 Urban Ride”. It’s a version of its smallest car but with bulging bumpers and slightly taller suspension to give it a macho appearance.Maybe that’s why they’re becoming so popular: blokes need peer approval to buy small cars. Is a Bear Grylls bumper bar enough to get them over the line?Then again, Citroen also released a compact SUV called the Cactus, complete with plastic side mouldings so you don’t get door dings in the shopping centre car park.The Cactus might be made for the urban jungle but it’s not exactly the type of name that would make you want to boast about it.Australians have been at the forefront of the swing to super-small softroaders.Already on sale locally are the Suzuki S-Cross, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke, all priced between $20,000 and $30,000 (when the cars on which they are all based start at less than $20,000).Around the corner are the Honda HR-V and Fiat Panda Cross. Next month Mazda is due to unveil a SUV to slot under the top-selling CX-5.South Korean car maker Hyundai is also working on a super-small SUV, which should be in showrooms in 2016.Meanwhile, for those who think motor shows should always be about high performance exotic supercars, fear not, although the definition of supercar has changed slightly.Lamborghini is preparing to unveil its first ever hybrid sports-car, while Porsche is about to unveil its first ever plug-in hybrid SUV.Porsche’s two-tonne luxury SUV sips less fuel than a Prius -- providing it has enough charge to travel the first 50km on electric power alone before the petrol engine takes over.More affordable eye candy, however, will come in the form of the first ever motor show outing for the new Mazda MX-5 (the world’s top-selling two-seater roadster), and Jaguar XE sedan (no relation to the Ford Falcon from the 1980s of the same name).