Talks About Cars
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Soon: Fiat 500 vs. Mini
For a while there it looked like Mini will remain unrivaled as the cutest, uber-stylish, “baby” car on the road.
But that may soon change, what with Fiat’s startling resurrection in Europe, and all the rumors now circulating that it is currently making plans to mass-market its new 500 baby car in many more versions over the next several years.
At its launch on July 4, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne even called the new little car the automotive version of the iPod.
Various European press reports are citing that according to Fiat executives, the company already has given the green light for the introduction this fall of a high-performance Abarth edition of the 500.
The 500 Abarth, to be powered by a 135-horsepower turbo 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, is expected to make its world debut in October at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, followed by a European launch in December at the Bologna show.
Fiat has also already confirmed plans to launch a 500 convertible in the summer of 2008, patterned after the old Fiat Jolly series. Apart from this, several other variants, including a three-door Giardiniera station wagon in 2009 and a four-wheel-drive crossover model that could use running gear from the Panda 4x4 are reportedly up in the works for the automaker.
Adding fire to the speculations are sketches of potential derivatives, drawn by Fiat 500 designer Roberto Giolito have been floating all over the automotive Web sites.
The three-door 500 hatchback was formally launched last week in Italy, with a choice of a 69-hp 1.2-liter or 100-hp 1.4-liter gas engine, as well as a 75-hp 1.3-liter diesel.
Fiat executives say plans now call for annual production of the car to reach 150,000 units next year, eventually rising to 200,000 a year when additional derivatives hit the market.
But that may soon change, what with Fiat’s startling resurrection in Europe, and all the rumors now circulating that it is currently making plans to mass-market its new 500 baby car in many more versions over the next several years.
At its launch on July 4, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne even called the new little car the automotive version of the iPod.
Various European press reports are citing that according to Fiat executives, the company already has given the green light for the introduction this fall of a high-performance Abarth edition of the 500.
The 500 Abarth, to be powered by a 135-horsepower turbo 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, is expected to make its world debut in October at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, followed by a European launch in December at the Bologna show.
Fiat has also already confirmed plans to launch a 500 convertible in the summer of 2008, patterned after the old Fiat Jolly series. Apart from this, several other variants, including a three-door Giardiniera station wagon in 2009 and a four-wheel-drive crossover model that could use running gear from the Panda 4x4 are reportedly up in the works for the automaker.
Adding fire to the speculations are sketches of potential derivatives, drawn by Fiat 500 designer Roberto Giolito have been floating all over the automotive Web sites.
The three-door 500 hatchback was formally launched last week in Italy, with a choice of a 69-hp 1.2-liter or 100-hp 1.4-liter gas engine, as well as a 75-hp 1.3-liter diesel.
Fiat executives say plans now call for annual production of the car to reach 150,000 units next year, eventually rising to 200,000 a year when additional derivatives hit the market.
posted by Marley Jones at 2:45 AM
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