News

NEW FIAT 500CBYDIESEL GOES ON SALE

05 August 2010

Creativity, fun and irreverence have come together to create another special edition Fiat 500 – the 500CbyDIESEL – which goes on sale today.

The convertible version of the city car, born from a collaboration between Fiat’s Centro Stile and DIESEL fashion brand designers, has been enhanced with the introduction of a new Midnight Indigo Blue colour, a shade reminiscent of stone-washed denim jeans.

Based on the Fiat 500C Lounge specification, the new car comes with a choice of 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol, and 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines. Also available in Crossover Black and DIESEL Green, there’s the option of black, ivory and red soft top colours.

The  500CbyDIESEL has many of the other features that made the hatchback version so distinctive including:

• 16-inch special alloy wheels with DIESEL logo
• Brake callipers painted yellow (optional on 1.4 version only)
• Specific burnished-metal-finish front and rear bumper inserts
• Specific burnished-metal-finish side rubbing strips
• Specific burnished-metal-finish door handles and mirrors
• Unique side pillar moulding embossed with the word DIESEL
• Unique rear moulding with the DIESEL logo
• Special DIESEL branded upholstery in denim fabric and yellow stitching
• Specific leather steering wheel with yellow stitching
• DIESEL logo on the gear lever knob

In line with the Fiat 500C Lounge version, the 500CbyDIESEL will also be fitted with automatic climate control and rear parking sensors as standard.

“The 500byDIESEL took the automotive and fashion worlds by storm last year, and we are delighted to be able to do it again with a 500C version,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK & Ireland. “All the stylish details, combined with the 500C Lounge product features, make the Fiat 500CbyDIESEL the perfect choice for style lovers!”

Prices for the Fiat 500CbyDIESEL start at £14,865 OTR for the 1.2-litre version and rise to £16,265 OTR (1.4-litre) and £17,265 OTR (1.3-litre MultiJet).

FIAT 500 LIMITED EDITION BACK - AND THIS TIME ITS BLACK

30 July 2010

Following on from the success of the Fiat 500 Pink, another unique limited edition version of the popular city car has been announced – the Fiat 500 BlackJack.

Just 200 examples of the matt black supermini will be available when it goes on sale next week. As with previous special edition 500 models, the BlackJack will initially be available on-line.

The BlackJack name reinforces the character of this car: irreverent and mysterious. The 500 BlackJack is the first vehicle in this segment to offer the special paint, and is one of several exciting Fiat 500 limited editions being introduced this year.

Based on the 1.2 and 1.4 Sport specification, the Fiat 500 BlackJack features:

• Individual matt black paint finish
• Mouldings, door handles, door mirrors and plate holder in metallic effect
• 16-inch alloy wheels in matt black with red coach line
• Red brake callipers (1.4 only)
• Special carpet mats

The 500 BlackJack – like all Fiat 500s – comes as standard with Fiat's Start&Stop, which stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it immediately the driver wants to move off again.

"The paint finish is the most striking feature of this new limited edition," says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. "It has previously been a characteristic of new supercars, and gives the Fiat 500 a stunning new image. I am sure the BlackJack will be a huge hit with Fiat 500 fans."

The new car costs £12,165 OTR (1.2) and £13,565 OTR (1.4).

FIAT 500 SCOOPS ANOTHER TOP GREEN AWARD

15 July 2010

The award-winning Fiat 500 supermini has received further confirmation of its green credentials after scooping top honours in the Supermini category of the What Car? Green Awards for the second year in a row.

The awards, which took place last night (14 July) at Twickenham Stadium, Middlesex, are designed to recognise and highlight motoring's most economical and environmentally-friendly cars.

The What Car? judges chose the 1.2-litre version of the Fiat 500 for top supermini honours in this year's competition – the same award as the one picked up by the popular city car in 2009. The vehicle is fitted as standard with Fiat's fuel-saving Start&Stop system – as are all 500 models.

The Start&Stop system stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again.

"It's everything that a green supermini should be – affordable, fun and easy on the environment," says What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler. "It's no surprise Fiat's brilliant 500 has won this category for the second year in a row. Nothing else in this class can mix as much style, affordability and fun with such green credentials."

"Part of the 500's attraction to customers is that it delivers great value for money at the fuel pumps," adds Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd. "Add in the fact that the car is great to drive, stylish and fantastic to look at, and we think we have a winning formula. I'm delighted that the What Car? judges agree with us."

Available with a choice of three frugal, ultra-low emissions, Euro 5-compliant engines: 69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 95bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the new Fiat 500 can be ordered in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge – along with a limited edition 500byDiesel version.

With a starting price of just £9,465 OTR for the 1.2 Pop, the new Fiat 500 represents outstanding value.

FIAT'S 1.4 MULTIAIR TURBO IS BEST NEW ENGINE OF THE YEAR

29 June 2010

The FPT 1.4 Turbo engine, the first Fiat power unit to incorporate revolutionary MultiAir technology, has won the prestigious Engine of the Year award in the Best New Engine of the Year category. This innovative four-cylinder engine combines MultiAir, the electro-hydraulic management of the inlet valves, with a turbocharger, setting new efficiency standards.

Developed and manufactured by FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies – the 1.4 MultiAir Turbo engines, with power outputs ranging from 135 to 170 bhp, now equip the Fiat Punto Evo and will soon to be introduced to the Fiat Bravo.

The top of the range 170 bhp version, with 124 bhp/litre, has an outstanding specific power output which, combined with peak torque of 250 Nm, guarantees sporty performance, together with record-setting fuel consumption and emissions.

MultiAir technology, which has already won numerous awards, is based on direct control of the intake air, cylinder by cylinder and stroke by stroke, without a throttle valve, and reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10%, while increasing power by 10% and improving torque by 15%. Additionally, all polluting emissions are also significantly reduced by careful monitoring of combustion. MultiAir technology is versatile, easily applicable to all petrol engines, and has the potential to be developed for diesel engines in future.

The Best New Engine of the Year award, bestowed by an international jury of 65 specialist journalists from 32 countries, was collected by Aldo Marangoni, FPT Product Engineering Vice President.

"The award is further confirmation of the Fiat Group's acknowledged capacity for technological innovation. The Group won the prize in 2005, in the 1.0 to 1.4-litre capacity class of the International Engine of the Year, with the small but sophisticated 1.3 MultiJet, which opened a new chapter in the history of diesel engines, a field in which the Group has always been a leader, having been the first to launch innovations such as direct injection and common-rail technology on the market," says Marangoni.

"Lots of power combined with serious reductions in emissions makes this a very good engine. Then, when you look at the fuel economy, Fiat's MultiAir turbo powertrain becomes a great engine – it's easy to see why it has won Best New Engine for 2010," says Dean Slavnich, Co-Chairman of the Awards, and editor of Engine Technology International.

LATEST ART EXHIBITION IS CHILD'S PLAY FOR FIAT MARYLEBONE

21 June 2010

Fiat's flagship dealer, Fiat Marylebone, has proved once again its suitability for hosting art exhibitions, with a breath-taking display of paintings from an artist aged just six years old.

The Wigmore Street, London showroom was chosen this week to host a new series of works from Sebastiano Ludovico, whose seventh birthday is not until August. The young London-based talent has already attracted the interest of Hollywood film stars and British pop musicians with his incredible sense of colour, an instinctive creative maturity and a natural fantasy.

Among the paintings displayed at the 'Fiat through the eyes of a child' exhibition were some inspired by past and present Fiat cars, while others included fusions of paint with model cars, gauze, wood, steel and even CDs.

Fiat Marylebone was designed with art exhibitions and fashion shows in mind, as well as the ability to display a wide range of Fiat and Abarth cars, and has proved the perfect venue for stylish receptions such as last week's (17 June) event.

The glittering occasion attracted more than 100 guests from the business and art worlds, while American soul singer Kym Mazelle, British TV actress Angela Griffin, operatic tenor Andrew Amdur and former TV 'Apprentice' Raef Bjayou were also present.

"We have once again hosted an important exhibition at Fiat Marylebone, and I'm delighted the showroom now has such a good reputation for these types of events," says Tony Dittli, managing director, Fiat Marylebone. "We were again able to combine an art exhibition with our unique showroom environment, featuring Fiat and Abarth cars.

"Sebastiano Ludovico is a remarkable talent within the art world and I, like so many of our guests at this event, was completely amazed by his work – an incredible achievement from one so young."

FIVE MILLION CARS BUILT AT FIAT'S MELFI PLANT

19 May 2010

Another historic manufacturing landmark has just been passed by the Fiat Group as the five millionth vehicle rolled off the production line at Fiat's SATA plant in San Nicola di Melfi, Italy, one of the world's most dynamic automotive factories.

And it's fitting that the milestone car was a red Punto Evo 1.4 Emotion – a model which evolved from the Grande Punto, and is at the forefront of motoring innovation, in terms of the environment, safety and style.

The event was celebrated at the plant with a ceremony attended by provincial dignitaries and the director of the SATA plant, Nicola Intrevado.

The first vehicle built at the plant, a Fiat Punto, came off the production line at SATA in September 1993. It was followed by the second series Punto, the Grande Punto and the latest model, the Punto Evo, which entered production in September 2009.

The Melfi plant was the first Italian factory to be awarded Silver Level certification by WCM (World Class Manufacturing), an international standard for production cycle organisation.

FIAT 500 PROJECT PUTS CUSTOMERS IN THE PICTURE

03 May 2010

A new project to celebrate the building of 500,000 Fiat 500 city cars has been announced by Fiat.

Just 31 months since the launch of the popular supermini, the brand is celebrating reaching the half-million mark with a special showcar, called Fiat 500 Thousandth. The car will feature an unusual contribution from owners, as it will be entirely covered by 1500 photos displaying the faces of Fiat 500 customers, celebrities and fans.

Bookings for a place on the car will become available from next week (3 May). Users can click here and use the special application showing a plan view of the Fiat 500. A few minutes later, after registering, they can book one of the free spaces online by sending a photograph.

Seventy per cent of the places are reserved for Fiat 500 owners. Users can also attach a short text describing their relationship with the car, or a link either to a personal video on YouTube or to their personal Facebook page.

The showcar will be ready three weeks after the booking stage is concluded and will feature in forthcoming events and international motor shows. The Fiat 500 Thousandth will be the first ‘collective car', a further confirmation of the spirit of the original model with potential customers being involved from the earliest stages of design.

FIAT TO SPONSOR MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP

20 April 2010

Further evidence of the success of Fiat Group Automobiles UK's agreement as official car supplier to British Cycling can be seen this weekend (23-25 April) at the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup.

Taking place in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, the championship attracts some of the world's best cross-country riders and tests their skills on a challenging course watched by thousands of spectators and enthusiasts.

In keeping with the forestry conditions, Fiat will supply British Cycling with a selection of cars perfectly suited to the job, including Panda 4x4, Qubo Trekking and new Doblo models. In addition, the company will have a display of Fiat 500 city cars at the Dixon's Hollow biking centre in the heart of the Forest.

"We said at the start of this agreement that we wanted to support all areas of cycling in the UK, and the mountain bike support shows how much we want to do that," says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. "The event gives us a chance to showcase our range of vehicles to a wide, sports-minded audience, and is especially appropriate for our more rugged cars."

"We are delighted that Fiat has chosen to venture into the mountain bike discipline and it shows just how far the sport has come in recent years," says Jonny Clay, British Cycling's Event Director. "Fiat's commitment to the environment supports our efforts to promote cycling as a sustainable form of transport, and this weekend we will be relying on some of its lowest-emitting vehicles in and around Dalby Forest."

THE 500,000TH FIAT 500 ROLLS OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE

31 March 2010

Another important milestone in the history of the Fiat 500 has been reached with news that the 500,000th Fiat 500 has just rolled off the production line. The half-millionth car was a 69 HP 1.2 litre version with Start&Stop, finished in Funk White.

On sale and in demand in 83 different countries around the world,this new production milestone has once again focused the media spotlight on the Fiat 500, which is built at the Fiat Auto plant in Tychy, Poland and has confirmed its reputation as an Italian style icon capable of winning the hearts and minds of the public and the international motoring press.

In addition to success on the sales front, the Fiat 500 has already won 40 international awards, has received the prestigious Euro NCAP 5-star crash safety rating, and boasts a dedicated internet site (fiat500.com) with a community of over 120,000 users from 206 different countries taking part in 30 online activities and clocking up an amazing 240 million page visits.

This production record and the model's unquestionable popularity are the result of the 500 project being a genuine 'platform' for an entire family of cars. This was demonstrated by the debut of the 500C, the original cabriolet version of the 500 that pays homage to the 1957 soft-top but comes packed with advanced solutions in terms of build, engines and passenger comfort.

The UK range currently includes hatchback and Cabrio, several configurations (Pop, Lounge, Sport and by Diesel), one turbo-diesel and two petrol engines (all Euro 5), and availability of manual or sequential robotised (Dualogic) gearboxes. There are also special editions such as 500 Pink, and high performance Abarth 500s to consider.