Fiat
Fiat’s product plans for 2010-2011
Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed the company’s product plans which have been revised following the alliance with Chrysler. The company will pay more attention to the much neglected Lancia brand with facelift versions of the Ypsilon supermini, Musa subcompact MPV and Delta models next year. The company is also rumored to rebadge the Delta hatchback as a Chrysler as well.
Fiat also plans to introduce four new models under the Lancia brand in 2011 and all these cars will be based on Chrysler models. These include a mid-sized sedan, a luxury sedan, a large MPV as well as a convertible. Fiat will also roll out a Chrysler-based crossover as well as the next generation Fiat Panda. The Panda is expected to be offered with Fiat’s upcoming 0.9 liter twin-cylinder Multiair petrol engine with turbocharging.
Three versions are expected to be introduced including an 80hp version and a 105hp option. The third spot will be taken up by a 65hp naturally-aspirated version of the engine. The 0.9 liter will first make its debut in the Fiat 500. Alfa Romeo which is also under Fiat’s umbrella will also update the gorgeous 159 and the MiTo. It is also expected to introduce the 8C Competizione GTA.
Revised Fiat Grande Punto Abarth SS to output around 200HP
Following the launch of the Fiat Punto Evo, the Italian auto maker will also unveil a revised Grande Punto Abarth SS that should be able to output around 200HP. 0 – 100 km/h should be quicker than 7.5 seconds and it should deliver a top speed figure that is more than 215 km/h. More to be revealed soon!
Frankfurt 2009: Grande Punto-based Fiat Punto Evo
Fiat has officially unveiled the Punto Evo, which is an evolution of the Fiat Grande Punto. The Evo is offered with a number of engine options but highlights include the a 1.3 liter Multijet diesel as well as a 1.4 liter MultiAir petrol unit, but unfortunately the auto maker did reveal power figures. The Evo is about 3 cm longer than the Grande and comes with revised bumpers, new grille as well as new light housings.
Other features include ABS with EBD, ESP, Hill-holder function, adaptive cornering fog lights, a total of seven airbags (2 front airbags, 2 front side airbags, 2 window bags and a driver knee airbag), new navigation system (Blue&Me-TomTom that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen) as well as an auto start-stop system. The interior has been heavily revised as well, with a renewed fascia, seats, storage compartments and instrumentation.
The Italian auto maker also announced recently that two alternative fuel engines will find their way into the Fiat Punto Evo soon, including a methane and an LPG version. The Evo will go on sale by the second half of next month. Continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Frankfurt 2009: 180HP Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari
The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari made its first public appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Tributo Ferrari is based on the Fiat 500 hatch and is produced to showcase the relationship between Abarth and Ferrari. According to Fiat, the two brands “share a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style”.
Under the hood lies a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v gasoline engine that can cranks out 180HP at 5,750 revs and has a peak torque of 230Nm that is achieved at 3,300 revs. With a 5 speed Manual Transmission Automated gearbox with race-inspired paddle gearshifters, it can sprint to 100 km/h in under 7 seconds and will go on till the speedometer hits 225 km/h.
Fiat has additionally fitted 17-inch wheels shod with 205/40 ZR17 tires, carbon fibre door mirrors, xenon headlights (supplied by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting) and a 4-pipe exhaust system (“Record Monza” variable back-pressure). Apparently, the exhaust system can deliver an inspiring sound over 3,000 revs. Stopping power is provided by Brembo, with 4-piston calipers. Inside, it has carbon fiber seats, red leather inserts, racing pedals with Abarth’s Scorpion logo, a Ferrari-inspired and Jaeger-made instrument panel, special kick plates and a plate bearing the vehicle’s series number. Continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Fiat to reveal the Punto Evo in Frankfurt: Arriving in October
UPDATE: High-res image gallery added.
Italian-based Fiat will be attending next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show with a reworked Grande Punto. Called the Fiat Punto Evo, it is slightly longer by 3 cm, and features new bumpers, new grille as well as new light housings.
It features ABS with EBD, ESP,Hill-holder function, adaptive cornering fog lights, a total of seven airbags (2 front airbags, 2 front side airbags, 2 window bags and a driver knee airbag), new navigation system (Blue&Me-TomTom that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen) as well as an auto start-stop system. The interior has been heavily revised according to Fiat, with renewed fascia, seats, storage compartments and instrumentation.
Fiat has also revised the engine range, with the introduction of the 1.4-liter petrol Multiair engine as well as the new 1.3 liter Multijet diesel. MultiAir is a new engine technology developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies that enables a MultiAir powerplant to offer 10% increase in power, and 15% increase in torque performance, while consuming significantly less fuel (up to 10%) and emitting less CO2 (up to 10%), less particulates (up to 40%) and less NOx (up to 60%). The 1.4 liter Multiair is also available in the Alfa Romeo MiTo.
The MultiAIr system is mainly made up of a new electro-hydraulic valve control system which makes it possible to reduce consumption levels (thanks to direct air control via the engine suction valves, without the use of the throttle) and polluting emissions (thanks to the combustion control). The Multijet system is made up by a new common-rail injector that helps reduce fuel consumption by about 2% and NOx emissions by 30%. Fiat also announced that there will also be two alternative fuel engines including a methane and an LPG version. The Punto Evo will go on sale in the second half of October. Continue reading to view more images of the Fiat Punto Evo. Read the rest of this entry.
2010 Fiat Grande Punto facelift: Leaked images
Three leaked images of the 2010 Fiat Grande Punto were found bouncing around the Internet. These leaked images, taken from the factory, show the Grand Punto’s new front and rear ends, with revised headlights, new grille, and reworked tailights.
It also comes with a new dashboard design, that is inspired by the Bravo. You can see new audio and climate controls, a two-gauge deep set instrument panel and more. The 2010 Fiat Grande Punto will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and is expected to go on sale in early 2010. Continue reading to view two more leaked images.
Source. Read the rest of this entry.
Tata Nano heading to South America, with the help of Fiat
Indian-based auto maker Tata, and Italian-based Fiat, have officially announced that both auto makers will jointly sell the Tata Nano across South America, which is Tata’s next stop in its efforts of introducing the 1 Lakh super affordable super mini to the world.
Thats not all. Via the partnership, Tata plans to ship Ferrari’s and Maserati’s to India, while Fiat is weighing its options to jointly manufacture vehicle and engines in India. On another note, Tata has officially introduced both the Jaguar and Land Rover auto brands in India, both of which are owned by Tata. The Tata Nano, which is now being delivered to customers in India, recently passed a European crash test, which is part of the auto maker’s plans to introduce a revised Nano for the European market.
The European version, which would offer better safety features than the model sold in India, is expected to hit European dealerships by 2011. Tata will also introduce the Nano in the US by then as well. To learn more about the Tata Nano, please click here.
The Fiat 500 is coming to the US
Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that the Fiat 500 super mini will come to the US, however the big man in Fiat did not point out when exactly the cute little car will arrive. Apparently, only the 500 will represent Fiat in the States, and that four models will be offered including the hatchback, convertible, estate, as well as the high performance Abarth variant. This comes after the Italian auto maker purchased a 20% stake in America’s Chrysler.
