Fiat
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.
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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.
Bankruptcy judge approves the sale of Chrysler to Fiat
On Sunday, Judge Arthur Gonzalez has officially approved the sale of American-based Chrysler to Italian-based Fiat. When the auto maker emerges from the bankruptcy, the newly formed Chrysler Group LLC would be co-owned by Fiat, the US Government and two other entities. The former would take up 20% (with the possibility of a short-term increase to 35% if certain financial and manufacturing goals are met) while the latter would be responsible for 8%.
Another 55% would be taken by the UAW’s health care fund and the balance of 2% would be taken up by the Canadian Government. This means now we can safely to see various vehicles that would be the result of platform sharing and so on. Please click here to learn more about Chrysler’s bankruptcy.
Fiat to also merge with General Motor’s European brands to create a new automotive giant?
Reports have surfaced that Italian-based auto maker Fiat, has officially revealed its intention to acquire General Motor’s European auto brands, which can eventually turn the auto maker into new automotive giant. With its confirmed merger with Chrysler which has just gone into Chapter 11, General Motors-owned auto brands in question include Saab, Opel and Vauxhall.
Apart from the above mentioned brands, Fiat currently has Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Abart, Maserati as well as Ferrari in its group. With the additions of the General Motors-owned brands, Fiat can become the world’s second largest automaker with an expected annual revenue of up to 80 billion Euros and vehicle sales of nearly 7 millions a year.
Chrysler files for bankruptcy, deal with Fiat confirmed!
Struggling American auto maker Chrysler has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday as both the U.S and Canadian governments motivated the auto maker to make the decision. Bob Nardelli, CEO has also stepped down from his designation, and in fact the entire top management, made up by 9 executives will be completely replaced, with the appointments of four board members by the U.S government, three by Fiat, which has also struck an alliance with the company, one by the Canadian government and one more by the UAW, to help oversee the health care trust fund.
For now, Chrysler will continue its operations with capital injected by the U.S and Canadian governments, which can go up to US$ 7.5 billion in total, with the government up north forking out US$ 800 million. The ‘new’ Chrysler and the U.S government expect the company to emerge from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy within the next 60 days or so.
Regarding the newly forged partnership with Fiat, the Italian auto maker will do its end of the deal by supplying Chrysler with vehicle platforms, production technologies and management services, in return for a 35% stake in the company. Fiat may gradually increase the stake to 50% in the future.
2011 Fiat Uno rendering!
The 2011 version of the Fiat Uno is expected to be launched in 2010, and for now, we have an artist rendering to show you. The new Uno is expected to feature air bags as standard and will be offered in both three-door and five-door forms. The European version is expected to feature an interior that would look a lot like the Fiat 500’s, while other markets will most probably get an interior that looks like the one in the Palio. Rumor also has it that the new Uno will share its platform with the next Fiat Panda.
