Fiat

Fiat Confirms 500e Is Coming To The U.S. Debuts Trio Of One-Off Models

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When we last saw the Fiat 500e, it was way before Stellantis as we knew it existed with then FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne giving approval for it to be a pure compliance offerings with the brash CEO admitting that the company was losing money on each one it built. The 500e was also limited to the California market though some slipped through the cracks and ended up in other parts of the U.S. (usually through mass auto auctions). But times have changed and while Fiat is only selling the 500X CUV these days (it shipped the 500 hatchback back to …

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1955 ABARTH 207A Boano Speedster – Gooding Amelia 2019 Favorites

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Part of Carlo Abarth’s first-ever sports racer series of ten cars — and this is chassis 001.  Aka, the first one! Abarth made a great name for himself by making custom racecars from Fiat bits.  Fiat 500s were in amble supply at the time so Abarth was free to experiment with many layouts, including this mid-front-engine design.  The paltry 66-horsepower available meant that lightness, corner speed and aero were everything. This 207/A has alloy bodywork to make the most of the power available, and its design was very smart for 1955. Some of the coolest elements of the racer’s design …

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2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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As we write this, it’s the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Perfect time to review a roadster, then. And on such a noteworthy day, the 124 Spider Abarth seems like the ideal car for celebrating. Brio! Translated from Italian, it means vigor, vivacity. And the Fiat serves this up, with a fun to drive personality, stunning looks, and intangibles that just feel so European…which is pretty interesting when you consider, the 124 is mostly Japanese. Underneath the swanky Italian bodywork is a Miata. But before we delve under the body, let’s linger on the handsome suit draping …

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2017 Fiat 500C 1.4L Auto – Road Test Review

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Is “hilarious” a helpful car description?  What about uproarious laughter at redline on the video review? Not really.  You migtht think the guy is laughing at the the car when he is actually laughing along with it. Either way, a serious case of the giggles comes standard on the Fiat 500C. The $17k 500 Cabrio is actually the cheapest way into a softtop in the USA for 2017 and 2018.  But with hard metal roof pillars, some might say this isn’t an all-the-way cabriolet. It might not be a full ragtop but it is delightfully sunny in the little Fiat …

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Autocross Class of 2017! Which Pocket Rocket Is Quickest?

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Imagine the best kart track ever – inside the amazing Road America racetrack itself.  Then swap the karts for real cars.  And race them against the stopwatch in rapid-fire rotations of drivers! It was an squeely good time with the class of 2017’s new and special pocket rockets.   A big variety in power, drivetrain layout and body style: everything from the Abarth 500C to MX-5 RF and 370Z Heritage Edition.  Hyundai’s new Elantra Sport joined the fun, as did a ragtop Miata, 124 Abarth, Toyota 86 and VW Golf R.     They were all a laugh riot around …

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2017 FIAT 124 Spider – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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  No spoiler alert needed: The Fiat 124 Spider is built on the all-new Miata. But don’t dismiss it as a Japanese sports car – and an excellent one at that – trying to pull a fast one by donning an Armani suit. It’s surprisingly different from Mazda. Let’s start with style, ok? Per favore! When the new Miata debuted, it was a surprise, the previous generations felt like organic developments of the same design, with a lot of thanks owed to the original Lotus Elan, if you ask us. But when the new model saw daylight, it was noticeably …

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Top 11 Hot Hatchbacks in the USA for 2017

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This spring has been a renaissance for hot hatch testing here at Car-Revs-Daily.  We’ve had the great pleasure of flogging the two reigning champs: the Focus RS and Golf R — and realized these pocket rockets are a speedfreak’s dream come true.  So tight and nimble.  So ferocious on throttle.  And so affordable versus a big V8 in Camaro  or Mustang!  Affordable to buy and also to insure and own. They make spouses less furious  than an impractical two-seat coupe.  And they are actually useful at transporting big things via their fold-down back seats. The market for hot hatchbacks has …

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2017 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring Marketplace Comparison – By Carl Malek

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With the first flowers of spring now out in abundance, it also means that many summer cars are slowly emerging from their winter long hibernation deep in the confines of the garage. But what if your a first time buyer that’s looking for a fun car that can also deliver a good value? In this installment of Marketplace Comparisons, we aimed to answer that question, and reunited with the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring roadster to see how it measures up against two of its budget enthusiast rivals. We also threw the recently launched Mazda MX-5 RF into the fray, …

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1957 Fiat-Stanguellini 1200 SPIDER AMERICA [24 Photos]

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  I promise you have never tripped over something so lovely.  This TINY Fiat Stanguellini is even tinier than a doorstop.  Its ultra rounded nosecone/intake is a joyous production version of the rocket/jetage themes in high auto design of the era.  1957 but conceived in the hearts and minds of the world’s car-designers together about 1953.  Tailfins, streamlined aero and UFO-like body shaping. Without advanced CAD-CAM there was no way to know what truly worked in wind tunnels.  So if it looked right, it would fly right was the old adage. This 1200 Spider America flies right.  A bite-sized dream. Is …

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2016 Fiat 500L Trekking – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Are you taking things too seriously? Been following politics? Fighting holiday crowds? Dreading a New Year’s resolution? We have a cure for you. The Fiat 500L. While it is a real SUV, capable of meeting your daily needs, there’s just enough slightly wacky, off-the-beaten-path, Euro-quirkiness to help take you out of the doldrums and put a smile on your face. It started out with the cute as a bug’s ear 500. Enthusiasts rejoiced when the brand added the Mighty Mouse 500 Abarth. And we have many frugal friends enjoying the super-green 500e electric vehicle (especially at the $99/month lease!). For those …

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2017 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring – Marketplace Comparison – By Carl Malek

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When we last met the Mazda CX-3, we praised its ability to bring Mazda style fun and flair to a segment that is steadily getting more and more crowded with entries from various automakers. With the segment also booming in sales and overall demand, choosing the right CUV for your driveway can be the most important decision many growing families face. With that said, does the Mazda CX-3 still have what it takes to win a spot in your driveway? To find out we went behind the wheel of a second CX-3, and crunched the numbers to see how it …

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2017 Fiat 124 SPIDER – Road Test Review + HD Drive Video

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It is 124 Spider week here on CRD! Carl Malek got the joy of hooning the Abarth 124 around Monticello, New York while we were flinging the 124 Lusso around Charleston, SC. Both cars are absolute heroes.  Is any 124 Spider one of those rare cars that you’d love to drive 1000 miles at the drop of a hat? Yes, yes it is. His Abarth slid in with pricing in the mid-30s, while our midspec model with automatic transmission kissed 32k out the door with a few options. For these prices, there is nothing else on the road that will bring …

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2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider – Road Test Review – By Carl Malek

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Its no secret that we are big fans of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider and its compelling blend of retro Italian charm and its Mazda based underpinnings. Fiat has big ambitions for this model, and hopes that it can help reverse its fortunes here in the U.S. However we never had the chance to sample its spicier sibling, the 2017 Fiat Abarth 124 Spider which supposedly brings more performance and aggression to the 124’s elegant lines. But has Abarth’s interpretation of performance created a potent roadster offering that adds depth to the 124 lineup? To find out we spent sometime with …

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2017 FIAT 124 Spider – Road Test Review – By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

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From 1966 through 1978 the Fiat 124 Spider roamed the streets of America, and Europe, and became an icon of a classic, affordable, Pininfarina designed Italian two-seat roadster.  Light and agile, with decent performance, the car appealed to iconoclastic drivers who wanted something different than the heavy muscle cars of the era, and when most Japanese cars looked like the boxes that their parts came in. On the downside, they were much like their British counterparts of the time, like MG’s and Triumphs, in that they weren’t very reliable.  In those days, it was joked that Fiat stood for “Fix …

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Mountain Drive! 2017 FIAT 124 Spider – By Anthony Fongaro

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Colorado is an amazing place to drive! While visiting this great state, I was lucky enough to attend RMDE, or the Rocky Mountain Driving Event. This event had different vehicles from various manufacturers. Part of this event included driving 90 minutes, or 3,000 feet up a mountain. If you couldn’t guess, the car that I drove was a little black Fiat convertible. The car in question was a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso. Before the drive, I put down the manual convertible top and let the beautiful scenery of Colorado surround me. Then I put the car into gear. And …

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring (6MT) – Review By Carl Malek + Fiat 124 Visual Comparo!

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    When Mazda first unveiled the current generation MX-5 Miata back in 2014, it signaled a radical shift in focus, with Mazda designers breathing newfound life into a car that some thought had lost its way since it was first introduced in 1989. With bolder exterior styling, and a renewed emphasis on weight shedding, the newly rejuvenated MX-5 promises to blaze its own chapter in the sports car ranks. Our last sampling of the MX-5 was out on the track, but can it succeed out in the real world? The exterior styling of the MX-5 embraces newfound levels of …

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Which Car Wins? 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth vs. 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Rally – By Ben Lewis

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    One thing we hear all the time is, “What can I get that’s fun, affordable and most especially, I won’t see coming the other way all day long.” That’s not an easy task – there’s always a lot that’s new and exciting prowling the concrete jungle. But fear not, we have a couple really interesting choices for you. Welcome to the Compact Car Wild Kingdom. Let’s start with the Mad Mouse. Well, we think it sort of looks like a mouse, with its round shape, big eyes, and front grill that sort of looks like a moustache, The …

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1970 Fiat 850 Spiaggetta by Michelotti – RM Monaco 2016 Preview

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  Want to ensure exclusivity for your new harborside Fiat?  Build only eighty in total, and sell them to counts and royals up and down the Riviera! The goal of the 850 Spiaggetta was the update the classic Fiat Jolly ethos with modern aesthetics and performance.  The tail of this wicker-cabined cruiser is perhaps its most avante-garde and influential part. Check out the pinched inner tail and circular lamps!  These would directly inspire the Ferrari Mondial, among others.   1970 Fiat 850 Spiaggetta by Michelotti Without Reserve Chassis no. 100GB 1290331

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2017 Abarth 124 Spider – Boosted Turbo, Shouty Exhaust and Butch Body Mods

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Stunning new Fiat from Abarth at Geneva this year — proving the in-house tuner is still a big asset in the brand’s expansion worldwide.  The Mirafiori speed demons have wasted no time upgrading the design, performance and panache of the adorable baby Fiat: the new 124 Spider. From its cute looks emerges yet another harsh, focused look at what Abarth does best.  The scorpion logo makes sense the first time you fire up one of their specials: pops and brummy exhaust and engine notes that recall Maserati much more than Mazda. Then you turn to see… and are shocked that …

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Best of Geneva – 2016 Abarth 124 Rally Prototype – 300HP Kicks Off 2017 Abarth Racing Revival

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  In case the hot new Abarth Fiat 124 Spider were not enough to get your heart revving, Abarth Racing has brought along an even hotter version! A rear-drive rally racecar that started life as a ragtop!?  Sounds like a winner to us.  And it definitely looks like a winner too. A slightly raised ride height, boosted engine putting down 300Hp, plus a locking rear differential promise exciting, tail-out action to rally fans next year. Custom fender extensions, sill extensions and brake air vents behind the back axle speak to this car’s gravel-slinging dreams.  As does its gigantic, fire-spitting single …

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2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept Throws Down Gauntlet – Now or Never, Laggards

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Well, this is it!  Nearly 24 hours after the leaks began, and a full 12 since the press conference in Vegas last night, the Faraday Future concept car for CES is now in clear focus. Before you get too excited about a full reveal — with the normal specs, pricing and a production roadmap —it is best to temper expectations. This fantasy concept from Faraday Future is not headed for the road. Nor is it really headed for any race series. But racetracks? That is another story.  The quad-motor, AWD EV promises 1000+ horsepower and a 200-mph-plus top speed.  The electric motors are …

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Is Hollywood Co-Promotion Worse Than Brand Integration? Star Wars and FCA to Find Out

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Product placement in movies has evolved radically since Bumblebee Camaro raced back into our hearts — and many driveways — following the 2007 Transformers remake. In the last 20 years, paid PP was all about screen time and brand impact.  The challenges were to say the name of the product on film and have it be a hero type of character.  Without appearing saccharine.  (Bad examples include Acura and Sony in every Hollywood media program they have ever done.) For ‘good’ results, it was about showcasing the car organically throughout the film, with real-life displays of prop replicas generally involved …

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2015 Fiat Ducato 4×4 Expedition Concept Teases New ProMaster Drivetrain Option

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The new RAM ProMaster vans in the US are winning some very devoted fans with their ultra-low floors and nimbleness even in the tightest American cities. All this and more is owed to its sibling, the Fiat Ducato, across the pond. This lavish concept van was a double threat for its reveal in Dusseldorf in August:  showcasing some awesome glamping upgrades inside and out. Yet also revealing a promising new 4×4 powertrain choice.  While this particular vehicle is a passenger model fairly unlike the US panel-van ProMasters that take most of the sales, the two trucks are nearly identical under …

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Concept Flashback – 2005 Fiat OLTRE

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It is somewhat azmusing that the 2005 Oltre-Fiat concept truck’s name means “over” in a direct Italian to English translation. Of course, Oltre also means ‘above and beyond’ and ‘over’ and ‘onward.’  Many adventurous descriptions for a seven-ton monster of a military truck. “Over” of course now also applies to the Oltre-Fiat’s extremely gaudy, Hummer-esque lines.  An obvious attempt at glamorizing the blocky IVECO running gear down below, the entire upper bodywork is bright white. Yes, it is an eyesore and hideous by 2015 standards. But in 2005 at the Bologna auto show, the Oltre-Fiat proved that high-fashion military vehicles …

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2017 FIAT 124 Spider – Gorgeous Miata Makeover Is Biggest LA Debut Yet

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    More to follow.  Wanted this gorgeous new FIAT online ASAP!   2017 FIAT 124 Spider ALL-NEW 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER REVIVES LEGENDARY NAMEPLATE WITH ICONIC ITALIAN STYLING AND DYNAMIC DRIVING EXPERIENCE 18/11/15 2017 Fiat 124 Spider returns nearly 50 years after original introduction Revival of roadster continues expansion of FIAT brand in North America Delivers iconic Italian style with modern adaptation of original Spider legend Powered by turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter engine for 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, available with manual or automatic transmission Available with an array of safety and security features, plus technologies for added …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 FIAT 500X Trekking is Bei Bei-Cute but Drives Euro-Sharp

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INTRO Really wanted to incorporate Best of Awards  into the headline for this new Fiat 500X — but just ran out of space. What a stellar machine! With a drive experience recalling BMW’s and Audi’s, plus a cabin with fantastic Euro feel, the 2016 500X is an absolute gem from its $20k base price. Over a week of flogging the 500X Trekking in full sport mode glory, we fell hard for the 500X’s charms. To the point that even the design of the nose started to feel familiar and cute! As cute as Bei Bei the Panda cub at the …

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2017 Fiat 500 and 500C Facelift – 120 New Pics Show Sleeker Nose with Wraith-Style LEDS?!

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The refreshed Fiat 500 just went on sale in Europe featuring fresh style, updated engines and new cabin touchscreens. While a very light facelift overall, the results outhit their weight via an all-new nose and fresh LED lighting front and back. A more premium lower grille wears metallic mesh innards for the 2017 model-year, with a slight chrome garnish off each bumper edge. A cleaner middle grille element and much tighter headlights complete the makeover up front. The ‘after’ pictures are very, very impressive. From the current 500 looking slightly gob-eyed when viewed straight on, the new 500 has a …

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1971 ABARTH Scorpione Prototipo is Rear-Engine Rallycar for RM London 2015

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    Abarth built a series of fascinating race concepts between the 1950s and the mid 1970s, usually somehow based on a Fiat 500 but often completely redesigned. This Scorpione Prototipo was a very contemporary take on a quasi-factory rally car. The glasshouse and overall proportions of the vehicle are far more advanced than any Cinquecento, with a complete repackaging into a two-seat GT car with its engine in the trunk. Theoretical competition in racing would come from cars like the Alpine A110 or the Lancia Fulvia. The Abarth 1300 badge in back next to the circular punch-drilled ventwork is …

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2015 ZAGATO Mostro Is Custom Carbon Supercar Aimed at GT3 Drivers

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  A very exciting reveal this weekend in Lake Cuomo! Zagato has graced the Villa d’Este COncours with their latest creation: the Mostro powered by Maserati. Honoring ten decades of Maserati Zagato specials and the 1957 ‘Monster’ in particular, this exotic supercar design is being produced and sold to five pre-selected customers. The car is built on a carbon tub with a front-mounted Maserati V8 engine, believed to be the 4.7-liter, dry-sumped screamer from the GranTurismo lineup. Power is sent to the back wheels via a rear-mounted six-speed transaxle. Double wishbones and 19-inch wheels round out the simplistic and race-car-like …

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2016 Fiat 500X Pricing, Colors and Real-Life Photos!

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Can you imagine a more perfect follow-up to the Fiat 500 in the brand’s return to the US? A compact four-door crossover that is sporty, chic, right-sized and right-priced. The 500X is so good, it is likely to be the best-seller of the Fiat range almost overnight. Along with the jumbo 500L MPV, the 500X is the best news for Fiat shoppers since the brand’s return itself. Why all this steep praise? The 2016 500X just feels like a huge hit. Standard with an automatic nine-speed and turbo-charged four-cylinder, the 500X’s main powertrain option is AWD for a kinda-steep $1,900 …

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2016 Fiat 500X Lounge Is Right-Sized City Softroader with 4 Doors!

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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2016 Fiat 500X Cross AWD Trim Looking Svelt and Handsome in 75 New Photos

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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2015 Fiat 500 Ribelle and Fiat 500L Urbana Trekking Revealed at Miami Auto Show

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Cool style upgrades joining the Fiat 500 and 500L range! FIAT BRAND TO INTRODUCE TWO SPECIAL EDITION VEHICLES AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW 07/11/14 Two new special editions expand the appeal of the Fiat 500 and the Fiat 500L with unique exterior and interior features  Fiat 500 Ribelle highlights the rebellious side of the Fiat 500, with Rosso (red) and Nero Puro (Gloss Black) exterior accents  Fiat 500L Urbana Trekking features unique Matte Nero (black) accents and six exterior paint colors November 7, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The FIAT brand continues to showcase the multiple personalities of the FIAT …

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Ferrari IPO! Fiat Chrysler to Float 10% Stake on Global Market

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BBC and FT.com are reporting today that Ferrari will be spun off from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles into a seperate unit. The vast majority of existing Ferrari equity will go to FCA shareholders and current backers, but a 10-percent portion of the firm is heading for an IPO. No word on the timing or location of this first-ever public sale offer from Ferrari, but New York is the most logical venue for a mega-debut of the firm in the stock market. The Ferrari spin-off is said to be part of an overall capital investment plan by FCA, which is heavily leveraged …

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2014 Fiat FCC4 Concept For Sao Paolo Is Samba Rambo SUV Pickup!

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Lambo Rambo… in Portuguese… is Samba Rambo? This amazing concept from Fiat is called the FCC4 and looks to be about the size of the Jeep Cherokee, but wearing giant rock-crawling rubber and a bad-ass pickup-truck bodystyle. Fresh ideas and designs abound, including the floating C-pillar and wrap-around brightwork of the glasshouse. Inside the roof and bed structure, we see some of the organic bracing seen from Bertone lately — all good stuff. Looks fantastic, and opens new doors to what the Fiat brand can be in the large Brazilian market. Fiat FCC4 Concept    

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RM Hershey Highlights – 1905 FIAT 60HP Five-Passenger Tourer by Quinby & Co.

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A top earner at the Hershey, Pennsylvania event from RM Auctions earlier this month? This 1905 Fiat Tourer with a whopping 60-horsepower. 60HP is double what anything else offered in 1905 — with huge power like this making it the Rolls-Royce and Bentley of its era. The Fiat packs triple the 20-hp that the Ford Model T’s “L-head” four-cylinder delivered from from 1910 to 1930. A wheel and triple-pedal setup on the floor also predates nearly any other car with this now-standard control layout. This very car was originally owned by August Anheuser Busch Senior — to give a sense …

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2016 Fiat 500X Makes Paris Debut With Optional AWD and 9-Speed Automatic

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Fiat has big plans for the 500X, a four-door off-roader sharing a name and styling themes with the popular 500 line of mini cars. This machine is a logical next move for Fiat as the 500 enters its third year on the US market. Under the skin, the 500X shares major platform and chassis pieces with the upcoming Jeep Renegade mini SUV, and benefits from the Jeep’s AWD and automatic transmission requirements. Both features are relatively critical to the 500X achieving sales volume in the US market when it arrives in Spring 2015 as a 2016 model. Perhaps even more …

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Ferrari 575 and 599 SuperAmerica Preview F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos

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Right before Luca Di Montezemolo was canned at Ferrari last week, he let it slip that an exclusive new model would be coming to the LA auto show in November. That car is widely believed to be some sort of droptop F12 — very likely a Targa or rotating glass SuperAmerica variant. A full cabrio version with a hardtop is seen as unnecessary with the full convertible California model in the range. We have seen this innovative idea before on a few concepts before 559 models were made for sale in 2005 and 2006 near the end of the 550/575 …

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1910 Fiat S10 Racing Is Highlight In World of Steam Cars and Slow-Coaches

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It is hard to believe that Fiat was racing cars like this when the rest of the world was debating which horse to pull a carriage. In fact, that is far from true. Only the richest of the rich were even considering a car purchase during this time period. So for Fiat to be heavily involved and winning races — is a true testament to the marque’s history and heritage. 1910 Fiat S10 Racing  

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Junkyard Jems – The Europeans – Lancia Zagato, Saab, Opel GT, Triumph, Mercedes, Fiat, Alfa, MG, BMW… and Lada?

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PART TWO: The Europeans And now…. for something completely different! You may not know this about your humble scribe — but when not writing about brand-new cars all day long, he is often found roaming around auto junkyards. Junkyards are so alluring and entertaining for a real car nut; they have a pull of the exotic, the mysterious, and the unknown at almost every visit. Sure, most of the cars will be old Dodge Neons and unloved Isuzu Rodeos — but there is that rare chance of finding a diamond in the rough. Here are some favorite European cars I …

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2014 Fiat Abarth 500C Wins Hottest Exhaust Note on Autocross Track

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 Listen to this gurgling little slugger! The 500C Abarth was perhaps the closest kindred spirit to the Fiesta ST we crowned as Most Fun around the Road America Go-Kart Autocross track. And while the Fiesta ST’s induction path in the front of the car definitely sounds good, it really cannot compete with the amazing aurals out back from the Fiat. The Abarth 500C’s drop-top is a welcome piece of kit for the fun little machine – operating smoothly and in a power-operated fashion that makes losing the whole roof panel as easy as opening a normal car’s moonroof. Where the …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale

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This Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale looks good enough to eat! Adorable lines shown here, in a style that is a dead ringer for the Ferrari road cars of this year as well. Monterey 15 – 16 August 2014 1953 Fiat-Siata 1500 Coupe Speciale Chassis no. MI 0139154 MI Engine no. SL0215   Entrant at the 1954 and 1955 Mille Miglias; One-off, custom-built Italian competition coupe; Extensive restoration by the current owner; Shown at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance  

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Scoots Around Go-Kart Autocross at Road America

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Alternative headlines? “GSR Aims at Autocross Target, Misses.” “Beetle GSR Drives Like It Has Gorilla On Roof.” The Beetle GSR is supposedly tailor-made for racing and timed laps – it even includes a chronometer stopwatch right in the central dashboard and racing stripes outside. Unfortunately, all who drove it at Road America last week came away with various harsh critiques. Brakes were spongy and non-existent, the tires washed out all sense of grip, it felt pokey, and most damning of all: it handled extremely poorly. My critique that it felt like a gorilla was on the roof was echoed by …

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New 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in Real Life + 2015 4×4 Model Details

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The Big Van wars are going nuclear this year! While the segment has languished in obscurity for at least the last thirty years, the Econoline and Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana have quietly hoovered up nearly 100,000 sales each to some of the nation’s hardest-working owners. Yes, pickups like the F-150 might be a more popular lifestyle choice, but nothing truly gets more work done – and more people hauled – than the largest of vans. The segment is slowly reinventing itself with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter starting the modernization wave nearly a decade ago under the Freightliner and Ram brands. Another all-new …

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2015 Chrysler 200 Aims For the Middle, But Design and Cabin Undeniably Much-Improved

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By Special Contributor Anthony Alaniz   There is little doubt that the forthcoming 2015 Chrysler 200 is important. The mid-sized car segment has been virtually void of any credible Chrysler product for some time—lest we forget about Eminem and that commercial. As maligned the Chrysler 200 is, it is hard to forget the 200 first appeared on showroom floors just a few years ago as a 2010 model, replacing the worst-car-on-the-market Sebring sedan. See a pattern here? For 2015, Chrysler has finally found the fire necessary to produce something competitive, or at least inoffensive and of a quality high enough …

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Op_Ed: Ferrari Formula One 2014 Whine-a-Thon — Actually Just Poor Engineering? But Surplus of Arrogance, Entitlement and Cronyism

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INTRO: No kid says, “I want to be one of the angry and out-of-touch old men in charge, long after my prime and causing damage to my sport, or my team.” They say, “I want to be a racecar driver.” Formula One is bringing a bit more drama to all the backstage maneuvers this year — which is at least half the fun of the sport lately. Bogged down by a tome of a rulebook, Bernie Ecclestone’s forced hiatus from running every lockstep in the sport brings with it significant pitfalls for the most legendary team on the grid: Scuderia …

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2015 Renegade is Laughable, Euro-Trash Caricature of a “JEEP” — Arriving From Italy in Feb 2015 from About $16,500

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The one thing thing American buyers have liked least about the Fiat 500? Its size. Buyers also dislike its performance and pricing that easily crests $22,000 — yet lacks comfort, economy, tech and usability features that are standard equipment on the $12,000 Nissan Versa Note SR. But surely — it will be far more competent than the 1998 Dodge-Neon-based Compass and Patriot? No? Larger? No. Cooler? Please? That is a biggg negatory, ghostrider. With products like this, one wonders the prescription glasses spec of the man in charge. Who would approve these monstrosities? So how to make the 500X into …

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Angelo Grenato - Delta Concept 12

Future Design Talent Showcase: Angelo Granata and His Lancia Delta Integrale Concept

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It will take some stunning design ideas to shock Lancia back to fighting form of the 037 and Delta HF days. So here they are. And from an Italian local, no less! Sometimes passion for a brand gets so brittle that designers have no option but to try and DIY it. Angelo Granata‘s Delta Integrale is very promising, because it appears to crack a design riddle that still flummoxes Fiat and Alfa-Romeo. What is the Fiat design issue? Execution. They need Angelo Granata‘s help. Beautiful concepts, hideous production cars. Chopped front overhangs grow and grow like Pinocchio’s nose during crash …

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Hero Racecars – 1967-1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

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Okay, the Tipo 33 Stradale is not quite a street-legal supercar: this is a racing prototype that competed in some of the fiercest LeMans racing battles ever seen. Among its six-plus variants in body style, length, and mechanical package: the Tipo 33 was considered to be among the top three contenders for the late-60’s golden age of endurance racing. Ultimately: the Tipo 33 proved slower than Ford and Porsche, but ahead of McLaren, Ferrari, and the numerous other LMP1 teams. Was the Tipo 33 not a race-winner? Does being spanked by Ford every year it competed mean it is a …

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2014 Fiat 500L

Phew! Latest Real-Life Photos Show a Much Cuter 2014 Fiat 500L

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The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L is exploring its new home in America! A cute couple guides us on this scenic photo shoot through seaport towns, cities, and the countryside. It is a relief to see the 500L looking cute – because that is a critical part of its selling proposition. Hip moms, cool dads, and bright colors are all in the 500L playbook. But even parents have a sense of style! And the first few sets of digital renderings really made the 500L look strange. Yes, it is still the same design – but now it is an adorable odd …

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The FIAT brand partners with Condé Nast for the limited-edition Fiat 500c GQ Edition

Best of Awards – Most Playful Sport Compact – Fiat 500C Abarth

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Hey, can you pop that top off? Ahh, being yelled at in Italiano. Is there anything sexier? Charming and sexy, a fast-talker who never breaks eye contact. If that seductress with the Abarth Scorpion tattoo does not prove it conclusively: this car is a little slice of Italy. Sweet and nice, but ready to give some kiss bites. And like most hot Italian romances, all this might happen in public! Whatever happens, the Abarth 500C is always packing a body by Speedo, and ready for a dip to cool off. Oops, you forgot your bathing suit? That’s okay.   2014 …

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