Fiat News

While starting from a higher base of CO2 emissions, companies such as Ferrari have made the biggest improvements, according to automotive data and intelligence provider, JATO Dynamics.Ferrari leads the CO2 volume reduction race, with a 40.4g/km improvement in CO2 output so far this year. This is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe and represents a 9.5 per cent improvement. Ferrari's net reduction puts it well on its way to achieving its stated aim to reduce CO2 emissions from 400g/km per vehicle to 280-300g/km, by 2012.While Ferrari can claim the greatest CO2 volume reduction, when expressed as percentage improvement, it is Alpina that is the outright best performer, although on a small sales base.The next best in percentage improvement is Porsche with 10.6 per cent reduction. Meanwhile, 96 per cent of the top 25 brands of European new cars sold so far this year have reduced CO2 output by an average of 6.2g/km.New car sales for Smart, Fiat and MINI are already under the 130g/km CO2 average required under EU legislation by 2015. The outright biggest improvement of all mainstream marques over the past year belongs to Alfa Romeo, whose average new car CO2 output fell by 19.9g/km.The top spot is taken by Chevrolet, whose diesel Cruze model and three-cylinder, 0.8-litre, 119g/km Matiz helped its new car sales to a 15.2g/km average CO2 improvement. Second is Audi, whose 2.0-litre TDi engine helped it to an average of 163g/km. Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai and Mazda also recorded double-digit improvements. Ford was best of the biggest European volume sellers, improving average CO2 by 8g/km as its ECOnetic range.The cleanest of the range is the new 98 g/km Fiesta ECOnetic which is yet to be released here.However, Ford Australia is bringing the car out for next month's 3000km Global Green Challenge trial from Darwin to Adelaide. 

The Frankfurt Motor Show literally roared to life this morning when a classic BMW 507 roadster ran laps of a custom-built oval track inside the German carmaker's $30 million stand.

"Some of the other competitors think of me as a bit of a curiosity," she says. "At work I'm a boring accountant and it's like I have this second life." Kaylene and husband Chris of Mt Gravatt share the X1/9 and compete in sprints and hillclimbs. "I guess Im just an adrenalin junkie," says Kaylene. "Racing makes you feel very much alive. You come back into the pits with a big smile on your face. That's what it's all about." They bought the 1973 Fiat for $30,000 in 2007 to replace another Fiat race car. It's a replica of the famous Fiat rally Abarth Prototipo rally car and was built by Norm Singleton who raced it in two Targa Tasmania rallies. The original rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined Fiat only had a 56kW 1290cc single overhead cam engine and weighed slightly over a tonne. This one is powered by a two-litre Lancia Abarth DOHC engine with twin 48mm downdraft Webbers, a transmission from a 1970s Lancia Beta and it's been stripped down to weigh just 820kg. However, Chris explains that they race in the Mark II B Sports category against even lighter Westfields and kit cars. "But we give them a good run," he says. Kaylene adds: "It's very fast and you have to get to know the car as it has a habit of coming back to bite you if you get it wrong." She decided to share her husband's passion because "it was something that we could do together. He was having such a fun time I thought I would do it too. I was always a bit of a Tom boy. Dad had motorbikes and while he wouldn't let me ride them he would pillion me around on them." "I still go to work on the back of Chris's BMW (1991 R100RS)." She met Chris through her first car, a 1972 Mazda 1500 clunker with column shift which she bought for $750 in 1976. "It was always breaking down then and that's how I met Chris; he used to come and fix it," she explains. "He kept finding things wrong with it so he could keep coming back to see me." Apart from the BMW motorcycle, their only other vehicle is a 2008 Mazda BT-50 3-litre diesel ute which they use to tow the race car. Kaylene says most of the women who race are much younger than her, but despite coming into the racing game later in life, she is just as passionate. She boasts that she even raced the Noosa Hillclimb with a cracked bone in her foot. "I'm taking it very seriously," she says. Chris says Kaylene was originally hesitant about racing, but "now she really gets into it. I'm still faster, but she crashes less." Their ambition is to drive together in the Classic Adelaide or Targa Tasmanian rallies and Kaylene would like to own a Maserati Trofeo GranSport "like (supermodel) Jodie Kidd races". "Something fast, mid-engined and red."

It is doubtful Karl Abarth had ever even heard of the adage, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog", yet Mark Twain could have been summing up some of the Austrian-born designer's best work.A world-class motorbike racer in the 1930s, Abarth is revered for the outrageous transformations he has performed on some ofthe world's tiniest cars - the diminutive Fiat 500s and 600s.They are not the only models or marque to wear the famous Scorpion badge - but the tiny "Bambinos" are certainly among the most talked about and coveted."My brother is to blame," jokes John Di Rocco, bitten by the Scorpion almost 30 years ago and still under its spell. "He married into a family with Fiats ... now we all have them."Di Rocco fell in love with the baby Fiats, but it was always the out-of-reach Abarth models that fired his imagination. "We knew back then we would never be able to afford an Abarth ... and they never came to Australia anyway," he says.That passion for the unattainable never died and while he gathered a collection of 500s and became an active member of the Italian Made Social Motoring Club there remained the dream of adding the elusive Abarth to the garage. Finally, in 2004 Di Rocco could wait no longer. Still unable to find an original that met his exacting standards the Fiat aficionado decided he would make one."I started with a 600 donor car that I decided to build into a replica of an Abarth," Di Rocco says. "It was something I really wanted to do."What came out the other end was not just any restoration. Two years after starting what seemed like a Quixotic endeavour, Di Rocco was the owner of an amazingly faithful replica of an 850 TC (Turismo Competzione) Nurburgring. The Nurburgring badging was added to Abarth's TC after the little racer had nailed the first eight finishing spots at the famous track in 1963.Overall, Abarth-badged cars lay claim to 10 world records, 133 national records and 10,000 track victories as well as hundreds of successful rally campaigns. With such a proud record of performance, Di Rocco was adamant that his replica would be true to the originals.Genuine Abarth stock sourced from around the world makes up 90 per cent of the parts used to make the replica."About 50 per cent of the parts came from Italy and a large proportion of the rest came out of the United States," Di Rocco says. "The Arbaths are huge over there in classic racing. They absolutely love them."While parts were largely sourced overseas, help and advice for the project was universal. "There was local support from people who have done a similar exercise and they were very generous with advice and help," Di Rocco says. "It took a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money ... but we don't talk about that." 

Despite linking with Chrysler, the Italian company is still going after General Motors Europe.The Opel-based operation is one of the GM divisions up for sale as the American giant moves on its own re-structuring and Fiat believes it could be rolled into one giant car conglomerate.The board of Fiat has now given approval "to assess the viability of a merger of Fiat Group Automobiles (including the interest with Chrysler) and General Motors of Europe into a new company".It believes the combined company could generate annual incomes of more than $150 billion.No-one is sure how this will work, although Fiat says it will evaluate a variety of corporate structures, including one which would spin-off Fiat Group Automobiles to allow a merger with GM Europe.

The award, according to the press blurb, is intended to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundariesOddly, in this case the winner is an echo of established boundaries, a retro-active rethink of the iconic model dating back to 1957, which has been a roaring success with buyers since its revival last year.And it seems also a success with the judges, who foamed with mouthfuls of superlatives.The car “does a brilliant job of capturing the visual appeal of the original version while meeting modern design and engineering standards” … “pushes the emotional hot buttons of several generations of people who might never have driven one of the early models” … “is genuine, straightforward, without gimmicks”.And knowing that the Fiat shuns gimmickry, you’ll be delighted to hear that a special Barbie version is doing the rounds.It’s bright pink of course. And not just any bright pink, but finished in a paint that looks like nail polish.Inside, the upholstery is a matching pink, trimmed with silver Alcantara, while the floor mats have been woven with natural silk.The vanity mirror is lit up with LED bulbs and there is a stock of lip glosses in the glove compartment.But all that by itself would be a bit subdued for the plastic fashionista, so a couple of chandeliers worth of crystals have been splattered over the hubcaps, window framing and interior trim, with a few on the ounted aerial to match.The one-off Fiat 500 Barbie was designed and produced as a joint project between Fiat’s Centro Stile (style centre) and the doll’s handler, toymaker Mattel.The car is currently on tour as part of the celebrations for the 50th birthday of the doll with the impossibly-shaped body ... although there are admittedly similar-looking 50-year-old women on the Gold Coast, many of them with an even higher plastic content.Apparently the car is being driven from time to time by a live `Ken’ doll, who is chauffering a live `Barbie’ around in it.And that bit of news had us completely flummoxed, because that means it must have an engine where we imagined there would be only a smooth sweep of plastic.After all, if the little pink Fiat was a true part of Barbie’s world there’s no way it could be anatomically correct. 

Quite a long while ago I had a friend known as Spook. She drove an orange Fiat X1/9 - she drove it hard ... and well. I hate being driven, I always want to be in control and I simply love to drive, but I didn't mind being driven by Spook. One particular trip through a National Park became an opinion-forming moment for me. There should be more women in motorsport and they should be performing at the highest levels. Twenty years later .... it's still not happening. It may however be about to change with Danica Patrick.USF1, a team being formed in North Carolina with the goal of entering Formula One with American drivers have said they would be interested in providing a test spot for Danica.USF1 has some credible names behind it including F1 TV and print journalist and former Williams Team Manager, Peter Windsor. Windsor is highly connected and his involvement with an American Team with American Drivers, especially if one is female, sounds like a PR dream for Formula One and Bernie.To date there have been five female drivers in F1;Maria Teresa de Filippis – Italy – 5 races – 1 10th place – 2 retirements and 2 DNQsLella Lombardi – Italy – 12 races – finished 6th in one race 0.5 pts – 5 retirements and 4 DNQsDivina Galica – England – 3 DNQsDesiré Wilson – South Africa – 1 DNQGiovanna Amati – Italy – 3 DNQWith just Lella Lomabardi scoring half a point in the 1975 season the record is quite appalling.Danica Patrick has four years experience in Indy Car. A win in 2008 and five other places in the top six in the same year shows she is both improving and has what it takes to compete at the highest level of the sportBut the fact is that everything about F1 is hard … just ask the big car manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda. On paper a new team, especially an American one, does not bode well for success. However in an era of a Black American president – is it too big a stretch to think we may see a competitive female F1 driver?Rod Halligan

The cars – which will be built at Chrysler’s North American plants — will be developed as a result of the agreement between the two companies, under which Fiat has taken a 35 per cent stake in Chrysler. Four of the vehicles will be branded as Chryslers, while the remaining three are expected to be either sold as Fiats or Alfa Romeos. Fiat will reportedly supply platforms for four of the products, but there has been no information about design, vehicle segments or estimated launch. However industry insiders have suggested that the product plan being finalised between the two brands will see the Fiat 500 produced at Chrysler’s Toluca factory after the PT Cruiser currently built there is phased out later this year. However Chrysler’s Australian boss, Gerry Jenkins, says the local arm has as yet little detail of what is happening at head office. “All we know is that our top executives are in talks this week with Fiat executives and at this stage there is no further information,” Jenkins says. “I don’t have a whole lot of detail. We are having correspondence with head office but there is nothing concrete I can say at this stage. “But we’re all very excited. (The Fiat agreement) is a tremendous opportunity. “It’s a perfect marriage and I think the prospects are absolutely outstanding.” Fiat’s stake in Chrysler has not included any money being handed over, with the Italian badge’s involvement being repaid by more doors being opened to international markets and shared technology. Chrysler was one of the beneficiaries of the US government bail-out earlier this year, receiving US$4 billion in loans, however experts believed that the company would collapse without a strategic partnership. However a Fiat executive has warned that Italy’s automotive industry could lose 60,000 jobs – around 20 per cent of the workforce — unless the government implements a rescue package. ”If the government doesn't intervene, the risk that 60,000 workers in the automotive sector will have to stay at home is real,” Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne was quoted by Italy's Ansa news agency as saying earlier this week. "We are expecting measures for the entire automotive sector, which is currently selling 60 per cent less than last year," he said. “It's not a case of helping Fiat but of re-starting an entire production sector and the whole economy.” Fiat has slashed production recently and cut its forecasts because of the global auto slump, and announced earlier in January that it would not pay a 2008 dividend to shareholders.  

Yesterday the storm clouds lifted with the announcement that Italian carmaking giant Fiat had thrown a lifeline to the embattled Chrysler Group in the US.Both have signed a global agreement to share models, design, engineering and distribution networks.The CEO of Fiat Group, Sergio Marchionne said the partnership "is a great fit as it creates the potential for a powerful, new global competitor".Jenkins said the alliance would also give some security and vision for the future."I see pluses on both sides," he said.Under the terms, Fiat will take a 35 per cent equity stake in Chrysler, which also includes Dodge and Jeep.Fiat will also provide distribution capabilities in key growth markets, as well as substantial cost savings.The deal is a key element of Chrysler's viability plan and will provide access to Fiat's small car platforms, engines and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites.Chrysler, the third biggest carmaker in the US, has been dodging questions about a possible sale, asset sell-offs or alliances for months.The company is majority owned by private investment group Cerberus Capital Management, which has no carmaking experience.Analysts see the move as a strategic life-raft for the embattled US business.At the recent Detroit Motor Show, Chrysler vice chairman and president, Tom LaSorda, even went as far as to say that the iconic Jeep brand was not for sale.Fiat has been very successful in executing its own restructuring over the past several years.In addition, Fiat will provide management services supporting Chrysler's submission of a viability plan to the US Treasury as required.The alliance will also allow Fiat and Chrysler to take advantage of each other's networks and rationalise their respective manufacturing footprint and global supplier base.The alliance will be consistent with the terms of the US Treasury financing to Chrysler, which includes contributing to the company's restructuring effort.The deal is still subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals, including the US Treasury.Fiat does not intend making a cash investment in Chrysler or commit to funding Chrysler in the future.Over the past five years Fiat has signed several alliances and partnerships with leading carmakers and automotive suppliers.The chairman and CEO of Chrysler, Bob Nardelli said the benefits are huge."Including access to products that compliment our current portfolio; a distribution network outside North America; and cost savings in design, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and sales and marketing," he said.Chrysler has previously has held alliances with Daimler, Mitsubishi and American Motors (Renault). 

As usual it is interesting times in F1. Interesting in the way a soap opera is …. you know everything about it could be a lot better, but a lot of us still watch it anyway. 2008 was actually a good year except for the final result. No sport should ever put itself in a position where the person who wins the most comes second.  Massa won 6, Hamilton 5. Professional sport is all about winning - seconds should not be rewarded - it's a race. This year it went down to the wire but I am still skeptical about Glock’s sudden slow down. I'm with Jean Todt..... McLaren cannot be trusted. Max Mosley may feel the same.Good riddance Honda, I hope Toyota is next. The matching pair of the world’s most boring auto manufacturers.... I never got it anyway, marketing dull cars to cardigan-wearing, centre-lane hugging drivers via F1. I'd prefer Nissan and Mazda to be part of F1, at least they are building interesting sports cars.Reportedly the Honda team is up for sale for a little as 1 Euro. Lotus - please buy it - we need your creative innovation back in the sport. If not Lotus, Fiat - you buy it for either Alfa or Maserati and pay Ferrari to manage it as their B-team. If not Fiat then VW - for Audi or Bugatti. Bugatti need to be more than a one hit wonder.As we race towards The Singularity we may be entering our period of radical change, and in that vein I offer up two alternate plans for F1;Don't reduce the budget. Let the teams drop to 5 but let them have four cars. Get more money out of Bernie, the manufacturers should get the bulk - not him. Split all the money just five ways. Four Ferraris, four McLarens etc. Here in Australia we can make a better race out of it with just Commodores and Falcons.Don't reduce the budget  .... sort of. Keep the reductions for petrol engines but throw in a wild card rule. If you want to use electric motors you don't need to abide by any of the rules other than safety and size. There's a way to get our real slot cars quicker .. and sooner. Pit stops would become battery pack swaps.... and they can have as many as they need until the technology reaches the point where they don't need any. Oh ..... and get more money out of Bernie, the manufactures should get the bulk - not him.While I don't know what is going to happen, I do know a lot will change over the next five years. A Perfect Storm is forming, Max will be gone soon. Bernie can not last for ever. We are in a period of financial crisis where even Ferrari legend and Honda team leader Ross Brawn can be made redundant. We previously just had a silly season for drivers, we may be about to see a silly season for teams.So back to the question..... who will be next?Rod Halligan