The FIat 500 may be the only Fiat-branded vehicle to be sold in the new Fiatsler empire, but according to Automotive News [sub] the model will be offered in four, possibly five body styles. “Hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback,” models will roll out of Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico, plant starting in 2011. Or not? AN suggests that a US production site for the 500 could under consideration, despite persistent hecho en Mexico rumors. And that “sporty hatchback”? It’s the Abarth! Will Americans only be offered the 135 hp Abarth, or is the 180 hp Abarth SS on the docket as well? No word from Turin (er, Auburn Hills?) yet. Oh, and how small is the 500 again? “About 10 inches shorter than Toyota’s Yaris hatchback?” That’s small.
[TTAC reviews the 500 here, TTAC lists Google Translate(d) foreign reviews of Fiat products here.]
That’s great and all, but how much are these things going to cost? If they’re built in the U.S., one would assume that means by UAW labor, making them rather expensive.
Hopefully the planned wagon version will be more nicely done than the buttfugly Mini Clubman.
About 10 inches shorter than Toyota’s Yaris hatchback?” That’s small.
Find It Again Tony
or
Flattened It Again Tony
Step One: Take a look at how freakin’ TINY that crapcan is.
Step Two: Get used to it.
OH BOY!
I love these little cars. I want either an Abarth or the convertable. Maybe both at once?
I cant wait. Mini Cooper is like so over. HAHA.
It took MINI, what, five years to produce a wagon, and was it 3 years to produce a convertible? And in the meantime, they’ve got to get the 500 to comply with US regs.
Sounds great and all, but what’s Fiat going to do to keep Chrysler’s doors open so they can sell this low-margin cars in numbers that won’t even appear on the radar?
US Regs will be easy enough. The latest Euro regs are very similar if not more stringent. The problem is going to be the Americanization of it.
Americans will prolly get A/C and automatic. That will kill this little bugger.
OK I’ll play along. Allow me to rummage in the collective parts bin for a moment…
Thinking….
Thinking….
Idea!
While we’re blurring the lines between Italian and American… why not snag the engine from a SRT-4 and mount it transversely in the middle of that runty lil Fiat 500 driving the rear wheels. That would be all sorts of fun and Positively stupid fast. Utility might be compromised a bit but it’ll never have problems keeping the inside of the car toasty warm. Plus that new gaping hole under the hood would make a great place for a fuel cell. 2.3L + Turbo (make mine a Garrett GT30R pls).
Kurt, A/C is almost universal in Europe, and every popular car offers automatics, including the 500. It’s not the 1950’s anymore.
First, COOL. I would love to see these suckers over hear.
Second, if they want to sell any they’re probably all going to have to be the 180hp version AND they’re going to need some dual-clutch arrangement in addition to the manuals.
Hopefully, it’ll be the Fiat show when it comes to how the Abarth makes its debut and the left over Chrysis managers will be locked in a closet somewhere…
I am not too optimistic about Fiatsler. However…180hp in a car almost a foot shorter than a Yaris? Now that would be a freakin’ blast.
Yeah, so small you could fit one between the panel gaps of an impala or full-size pick-up truck…
Because someone on TTAC has to ask, so why not me: what about the 1.3L diesel?
Watch out Mini Cooper, there is a new kid coming to town!
There is something about this Luigimobile that rings cute with me. Price it below a Smart car and it is a winner…… Even has a back seat. Any one have reports on Euro reliability on this little fellow.
Sign me up.
A Futurama quote springs to mind:
“Built in America’s Heartland, Mexico!”
135 HP should be enough for a pocket rocket like this. 180 HP sounds like overkill…
Isn’t this car significantly smaller than the Mini?
I’m REAL interested.
And if there’s any car that’s going to bring Fiat back into the US, this is it. They screw this one up, it’s back to Italy – again.
Hopefully they’ve learned from the last time. For those who don’t actually know the old Fiat’s, or have only heard the bad stories, Fiat actually made a good car.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t made for typical American buyers and their maintenance habits.
I figure the Fiat will not last. Too many Americans won’t appreciate it’s diminuitve size or frugal consumption of gasoline – unless – gasoline jumps to $4 per gallon or more and stays there and a portion of the population will have an epiphany. I see where China is interested in buying Iraqi oil… Or maybe the oil futures salesmen want us to believe there will be a shortage…
And yes, I drive an unloved diminutive vehicle everyday.
Sergio Marchone has answered my prayers!
Viva Fiatsler!!!!
If they don’t F it up and make it look like a Chrysler I will buy one, an Abarth. I love that thing.
Hmmm… scary reliability and helping to prop up Chrysler on one hand… 2,000 lb hot hatch with 135hp on the other. This will be tough. Let’s wait and see how much it costs.
I’m always perplexed when people think that a car like this is shockingly small. People must have adapted to the steady super sizing that happens with every model redesign. Look at the modern 500 compared to the original:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1966_Fiat_Nuova_500F_and_2008_Fiat_500.jpg
Too many Americans won’t appreciate it’s diminuitve size or frugal consumption of gasoline – unless – gasoline jumps to $4 per gallon or more and stays there and a portion of the population will have an epiphany.
An epiphany and liposuction.
The 500 is a luxery small car. It is a highly badge engineered Panda which is much cheaper. So without a doubt it will have an A/C
“Look at the modern 500 compared to the original:”
Wasn’t the original Fiat 500 the Topolino from 1937? Not pullin’ old-fart rank on you, just curious….
@Colinpolyps :
Any one have reports on Euro reliability on this little fellow.
Not on the 500 – it’s too new. But the Panda has been out for years, made in the same factory on the same platform. Germany’s biggest auto club ADAC’s breakdown statistics place the Panda above the Japanese competition.
Of course that’s the Polish factory. No clue what it would be like hecho en mexico.
Mirko Reinhardt,
There is no problem with Mexican built cars. Except for VW’s, but the problem there is VW not Mexico. Chrysler’s Toluca assebly plant is modern, flexible and builds a good product. That is where the 500 will be built.
Not sure you will get a 180hp version in the US, there isn’t one in Europe. The 180hp 1.4 turbo is fitted to the Abarth Grande Punto SS (the plain Abarth in that application getting 155hp). The 500 goes from 135hp in normal to 155hp in SS form. It is physically smaller than the new MINI but it has much better space utilisation, so more space inside. As for equipment, one of the big differentiating factors of the car in Europe is that you can spec it up any way you like, with many more options than are common in the price class. The one problem I do see is that all the autoboxes Fiat is using in its small cars at the moment aren’t quire up to scratch for the car to get a sufficient size following in the US. Could be rectified over the next 2 years, though (assuming something is already in development).
What’s cool is the Abarth 500 they’re sending over-
Abarth is an in-house tuner along the lines of BMW’s M or Mercedes’ AMG… and has a fifty-year history modifying FIAT cars for racing and street performance.
Can you imagine 160hp in this thing with 6-spd stick?
Topanga Canyon here I come…
http://fiat2america.blogspot.com