Fiat News

Fiat is no stranger to special editions. First, there was the “So Pink” version of the 500, which titillated Mary Kay representatives around the globe. It was followed by the “Pink Ribbon” edition, which promoted breast cancer awareness. And then we saw the “500 by Gucci” model -- a model that proved so popular, the company recently brought it back from the fashion grave.Now, we have the Fiat 500c GQ edition, which is, according to a press release, “designed for the athletic yet style-conscious lifestyle of the modern man”. On the “athletic” side, the GQ edition comes with the same 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged engine found in the 500 Turbo. Mated to a five-speed manual transmission, that engine churns out 120 kilowatts and up to 230 Newton Metres of torque.Most of the other features on this special-edition fall into the “style-conscious” category. The 500c GQ features snazzy new 16-inch aluminium wheels finished in Hyper Nero (i.e. black), with a Rosso (red) accent in the middle.Subtle sills along the side boost the city car's sporty appearance without looking gimmicky. The headlamps, tail lamps, and parking lamps are finished in a Glossy version of Nero, and at the bottom of the B-pillar, you'll find a “GQ 500” badge.The interior echoes the exterior's understated, manly vibe. There's a three-spoke steering wheel trimmed in black leather -- leather that continues along the top of the dashboard, hopscotching onto the shift knob, and landing comfortably on the car's sport seats.Those seats are accented with inserts of Alcantara (a featured fabric on Lincoln's new “Black Label” models), with spiffy leather rings in Steam (aka white) and “GQ” logos on the back. To give the whole look a bit of polish, the interior is dotted with accents of satin chrome.The Fiat 500c GQ edition will come with four exterior paint options: Nero, Bianco (white), Argento (silver), and Granito Lucente (granite crystal). However, the fabric roof appears to come in one colour only: Nero. Pricing isn't available just yet, but the Fiat 500c GQ is expected to appear early next year as a 2014 model-year vehicle.www.thecarconnection.com 

Just 499 examples of the Fiat 500 based Edizione Maserati are being produced for global markets, with Fiat Australia securing just 40 units for local customers. The Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati features exclusive style details and special technical features developed especially for the Abarth/Maserati collaboration, based on a host of shared values, including attention to detail, elegance and a passion for performance and sport. It follows the hugely successful Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari collaboration project of four years ago and confirms the authoritative presence of Abarth in the luxury sports segment, this time flanked by a brand with a long history of sporting achievements and great road cars. Heading the list of customised specifications for the Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati is the uprated 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, which produces 132kW of power and 250Nm peak torque. It is teamed with an electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift controls, which enhances the performance of the engine via quicker gearshifts, while ensuring an experience of superior comfort at the wheel. A variable back-pressure 'dual mode' exhaust also improves engine performance, delivering an inspiring exhaust note above 3000 revs and featuring tailpipes modified to assume the hexagonal shape that is a hallmark of Maserati models. Other mechanical highlights include 17-inch Maserati-inspired Neptune alloy wheels with performance 205/40 R17 tyres, Brembo disc brakes front and rear, and special Koni shock absorbers. The Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati is priced from $60,000.  

Fiat-Chrysler opens with a 500 for around $16,000 next month before opening more boxes with other 500 derivatives and then, in December, the four-door Panda and then the Punto. Panda, a stable-mate Fiat city car in Europe, makes its first appearance in Australia despite being available in selected markets - including the UK - for about 30 years. Now in its third generation, the Panda will compete with similar baby SUVs - including Ford's Fiesta-based EcoSport reviewed last week - and is expected to sell for less than $20,000. Fiat Alfa Romeo spokesperson Karla Leach won't confirm pricing but says ‘it will be competitive’. There's also no confirmation on engine choices though Ms Leach says “there will be a wide range” of powerplants and five-speed manual and the automatic Dualogic robotised transmission. It will arrive as a front-wheel drive though an all-wheel drive version is being considered for launch later. Available powerplants are the 63kW/145Nm 0.9-litre two-cylinder TwinAir engine borrowed from the 500, the 51kW/102Nm 1.2-litre petrol four and a diesel, likely the small 55kW/190Nm 1.3-litre unit. The Panda is 3650mm long and sits on a 2300mm wheelbase, smaller than the EcoSport's 3999mm length and 2521mm wheelbase. But cabin room seats five at a pinch and cargo space is a relatively generous 260-litres to 870-litres with seats that fold flat to take objects up to 2m long. Ms Leach also confirmed the Punto will be added to the Australian inventory. The Punto four-door hatchback goes up against Japanese favourites the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris and would cost about $18,000. Fiat has previously said that the 132kW/272Nm hot Punto, the three-door Abarth Punto Evo Supersport, may be considered as a halo model. Meanwhile the 500's entry level model, the Pop, gets here early next month with a price that competes with the Volkswagen Up ($14,990) and 20 other equally as voracious light-car manufacturers. The Pop will undercut the price of the existing Fiat 500 TwinAir Plus that sells for $18,800.  

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has knocked a star off an imported seven-seater.

Fiat has pulled out all the stops to be part of a new music video for a track that has already become known as ‘the Fiat song’ from previous ads.All the Sexy People, sung by Arianna with help from Pitbull, looks set to be another Fiat video hit with appearances from Charlie Sheen – his second stint for the brand – a beach full of dancers and a couple of mermaids who lose their tops.The song itself has a retro flavour, and has previously been used for Fiat’s ‘Immigrant’ ad, which saw the little 500 model emerging from the ocean onto US beaches – a stunt reprised in All the Sexy People with a Fiat 500 jetski.A video takes us behind the scenes for the shoot on a Miami beach in Florida, with the expected crowd scenes of women dancing around in bikinis – and Charlie Sheen playing Charlie Sheen (or his former character from Two and a Half Men).Arianna drives a Fiat underwater,  a pod of Fiats skim the waves, Sheen circles two mermaids on his own private island and makes off with their tops, then turns up in a cryovac bed with a pair of lingerie models.Following on from the steamy ads featuring supermodel Catrinel Menghia, this is becoming signature marketing for the Italian car brand.

-- Melbourne-born Veronica Johns appointed president and CEO of Fiat-Chrysler Australia-- Move follows only a handful of foreign female car bosses from the US and Germany-- Johns says car industry 'isn’t a man’s world anymore'But rather than be responsible for just one brand she will in fact be in charge of five. Melbourne-born Veronica Johns, 42, will take up the role of president and CEO in charge of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Australia (the North American and Italian firms joined forces in 2009).Johns will start in the new position next week after 14 years with the company, having worked for four CEOs. In the past three years as sales director she oversaw dramatic growth, from 8000 deliveries in 2010 to more than 24,000 across the Fiat-Chrysler Group last year -- and grew the dealer network from 42 outlets to 96.“I’m not a ‘corporate ladder’ person, but I’m excited to earn this position,” Johns 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. And, I believe, Chrysler has been at the forefront of that movement.”Only a handful of foreign women have run car companies in Australia over the past 10 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 over the past six years.But Johns is understood to be the first Australian woman to run a large car company in Australia. She edged out male rivals from North America who were keen to take up the prime posting. In handing over the reins, the outgoing CEO Clyde Campbell, who is leaving to become the Fiat-Chrysler importer in New Zealand, said: “When they did the assessment, Veronica was by far the best candidate.”Johns says it will be difficult to maintain the company’s rapid rise in sales over the past three years but expects steady growth with the arrival of key new Alfa Romeo and Fiat models, and better supply of the in-demand Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. “We’re selling everything we can get at the moment,” she said.“In fact last month we ran out of Grand Cherokees. We hope to get better supply of that model, but Alfa Romeo and Fiat have the biggest opportunity for growth.” 

Look familiar? It should, because the Fiat Freemont crossover is a rebadged version of the Dodge Journey, albeit with some changes.The five-seat version is walking out the door right now from just $27,000 drive-away - although the seven-seat version will cost $1500 extra.Fiat’s Freemont is available in three specification levels: Base, Urban and Lounge. It's powered by either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or an economical 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel.Both engines drive the front wheels via either a six-speed automatic transmission (petrol engine) or a six-speed manual (diesel engine). The diesel, by the way is priced from $32,600 (plus on-roads).The 2.4-litre petrol engine produces 125kW/220Nm while the diesel is good for 125kW/350Nm, the latter from a low 1750 revs.Standard equipment levels are impressive across the range and include Uconnect phone with Bluetooth audio streaming, keyless entry and start, child-booster seats, rear-parking sensors, USB & AUX inputs, automatic headlights, auto-tint rearview mirror, active front headrests, alarm with anti-intrusion system and tyre pressure monitoring system. Triple-zone climate control is also packaged with the seven-seat option.Freemont kicks off a new-model offensive for Fiat. The stylish Panda and Punto models will follow later in the year, following an expansion of the 500 range in June.