Anyone who races a Honda Civic, Volkswagen GTI or other high performance front drive car is familiar with lifting the inside wheel when cornering hard. But these Fiat 500 racers take front-wheel drive handling dynamics to a new level. The video in question, taken at the Oulton Park circuit, shows how dangerous oversteer can be....
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Fiat is taking dead aim at the MINI brand and is set to introduce two new versions, a three-door estate (a long wheelbase 500 modeled after the Clubman) and a proper five-door hatchback with more interior room. Not surprisingly, these versions will be offered in North America, where the increased space and practicality should broaden the...
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The elk test is one of the most infamous procedures used to evaluate new cars. A double lane change at 50 mph, the elk test was designed to help Scandinavian auto journalists evaluate the highway speed stability of a car, when the threat of a large animal in the road is a very real safety...
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Are Viper loyalists perhaps mourning the death of the venomous snake too soon? Maybe, as Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has announced that as a part of Fiat’s 5-year plan he intends to position Dodge internationally as an “American performance brand,” anchored by the Charger, Challenger, and Viper. Marchionne mentioned that the Charger and Challenger’s platforms...
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. The Dodge Nitro is already sold in Europe, but parent company Fiat appears to be looking for a piece of the action. Industry journal Automotive News reports that the Jeep Liberty-based SUV could be badged as a Fiat product by the end of this year. The export model would presumably be manufactured in Chrysler’s...
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As a part of a larger press conference held today Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne outlined the product plans for each of the Italian automakers brands – including Ferrari. In an unprecedented move, Marchionne laid bare his plans, likely in an attempt to shore up support for a company that continues to lose money and which...
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Fiat chairman Luca di Montezemolo will step down from his primary position at the Italian automaker today ahead of a company restructuring that will begin tomorrow. He will, however, retain a position on Fiat’s board of governors and will remain the Chairman of Ferrari. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has announced he will draw out the...
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Fiat will bring to market a 4-door version of its cute 500 mini car next year and reports indicate it will be sold in North America. Word of a 4-door 500 model makes perfect sense for the North American market – especially as it will no doubt be a stretched wheelbase model with added room...
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With the Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) set to go into production at the end of this year, Chrysler is already working to drum-up interest in the car and the demographic they’re targeting isn’t surprising – it’s women. But not just any women, but well-off women interested in the finer things in life – like the sort...
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Fiat will bring a fully-electric version of the 500 to market, with production starting in 2012. The result of the Fiat/Chrysler alliance, the Fiat 500 EV will use a high-tech lithium-ion battery pack. It will also be developed and engineered by Chrysler at the company’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. No information regarding power, acceleration,...
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Fiat has announced an agreement with Russian automaker Sollers to bring its newly-acquired Jeep brand to Russia. Two automakers have formed a partnership that will see Sollers produce Jeep models in Russia, where there is significant demand for small SUVs. Two models said to be part of future production plans include the Compass an Patriot,...
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Fiat has made the decision to use an entirely new platform for its tiny 500 model when it debuts in the U.S later this year. The new mini car A platform, which is also scheduled to be used for the upcoming 2011 Fiat Panda and Lancia Ypsilon, is an improvement over the current European offering....
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The folks at AllPar seem to have gotten hold of a list of production dates for all Chrysler products this year, including everything from a revised Chrysler 300 to the Fiat 500. The AllPar team is also claiming to have some pretty big news on future Chrysler engines, including the elimination of the HEMI 6.1-liter...
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Hanging out near Ferrari and Maserati we found Fiat’s performance brand – Abarth. With several standard Fiat models set to arrive in North America in the next few months, we can only hope they will be followed shortly thereafter by their modified Abarth cousins. Up first is the Abarth tuned version of the Fiat 500C...
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Fiat’s performance-minded Abarth brand will unveil two new models, based off of Fiat products that were introduced last year. Up first is the Abarth 500C, an upgraded version of the Fiat 500C (the C, standing for convertible). The car isn’t technically a convertible, but rather features a retractable cloth top and retains the roof rails....
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During a speech to the Chicago Economic Club during the Chicago Auto Show earlier this week, Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles confirmed that the Fiat 500 will be on sale in the U.S. before the end of the year. While Fiat is planning to sell many of its models rebadged as Chrysler and Dodge products, the...
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With the Chicago Auto Show just the day before, there’s not a lot of point in covering the Toronto Auto Show, except for the fact that it often allows a much closer look at new and upcoming models. Chicago is already low-key but the media day at the Canadian International Auto Show is sparsely attended...
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Standing out in stark contrast to all the Japanese cars, and even the other European models at the Tokyo Auto Salon, were two little toys from Fiat tuner/sub-brand Abarth, a 500 and Grande Punto. The hard-core Abarth 500 is a hoped-up version of the Fiat 500 and this particular Abarth is even more extreme thanks...
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Starkly contrasted with the rest of the Chrysler corporate display at the Detroit Auto Show are the booths of Ferrari, Maserati and Fiat. The small Fiat dislay showcased two models set to arrive in North American in the near future: the much talked about Fiat 500 and the relatively unknown Abarth 500. The Abarth model...
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Chrysler has just unveiled its strategy that will see a more than 25 percent improvement in fuel economy by 2014. The five-year plan will see significant use of Fiat technology and engines, with smaller engines, six-speed dual clutch transmissions, as well as the use of turbocharging and direct injection technology. Chrysler will also continue to...
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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** Chrysler might not be holding a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks time but the automaker is planning to draw crowds at its booth by showing off a long list of Italian machinery, including several Fiat products that are expected...
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Fiat’s plan to gobble up all of Chrysler has taken its first step forward since the Italian automaker rescued the struggling America manufacturer from bankruptcy liquidation. Currently Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler and has the ability to take a 35 percent share of the company if it meets three specific criteria: building a fuel-efficient...
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Last week Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne set out a long-winded plan for the future of the American automaker and how its future will be closely tied to its new Italian parent company. There was a lot to digest at the seven hour press conference and so we thought a model by model breakdown would be...
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During Chrysler’s seven hour press conference explaining the direction of the company over the next few years, it became increasingly clear that the new Fiat ownership is planning to build up the Chrysler group of brands using Fiat products. Much of the news isn’t entirely new, but it has now been confirmed and the extent...
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