Fiat Rumored to Bring, the USA

The launch of the Fiat 500 in the U.S. market has whetted the Italian company�s appetite, as according to reports, Fiat is now considering the addition of a second model to its North-American range, the successor to the Bravo. As we wrote last month, the next-generation Bravo will take the shape of a small crossover with Fiat looking to emulate the success of Nissan's Qashqai.
The 500's early sales figures have exceeded the firm�s expectations despite initial concerns about relaunching the Fiat brand in the U.S. with such a small car. The partially open-top 500C was added to the range recently, with more powerful Abarth versions to follow in the very near future.

Top Gear Spotted in Italy with Three Hot Hatches

If there is one television crew that is almost impossible to go by unnoticed (at least by the male population) anywhere they go in the world, it is the hosts of BBC�s widely popular Top Gear program. This time, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond were spotted in the medieval town of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy.

Fiat 500 by Gucci Priced from �14,565 in Britain

Having launched a new spicy campaign for the 500 by Gucci starring Russian bombshell Natasha Poly, Fiat is now beginning to announce pricing for individual markets. Today, the Italian released details for the United Kingdom, where the limited edition model designed by Gucci will be offered with two gasoline engines, a 1.2-liter unit priced at �14,565 OTR and a 0.9-litre TwinAir, which won the International Engine of the Year accolade and costs �15,765 OTR.

Some Like it Very Hot: Fiat�s New Campaign for 500 by Gucci

Russian model Natalya Sergeyevna Polevshchikova, more commonly known as Natasha Poly, is the new face (and legs�) of Fiat�s advertising campaign for the limited edition 500 by Gucci. The blonde temptress from the land of hot spies, beautiful ballets and Vodka, is dressed in a one-of-a-kind black leather ensemble and is all over the 500�s ultra compact body [sic...]. The campaign was imagined by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, who was also responsible for the design of the special edition 500. Fiat said the single and double-page advertisements will appear in publications throughout the year.

Fiat�s 0.9-Liter TwinAir Scoops the �International Engine of the Year 2011� Award

And the big winner of the 2011 edition of the coveted International Engine of the Year is�Fiat�s 0.9-liter twin-cylinder gasoline engine also known simply as the TwinAir. A jury comprised of 76 journalists and industry experts from 36 different countries were convinced by the 875 cc unit's low emissions, high fuel economy and impressive output for its size, awarding it four awards: �Best New Engine 2011�, �Best Green Engine 2011�, �Best Sub 1-Liter Engine� and the �International Engine of the Year 2011� overall award.

Fiat Launches TwinAir Lineup for the 500 and 500C with Bespoke Styling and Equipment Features

The Italian carmaker has announced the market launch of the new 500 TwinAir version, available for both the three-door and convertible models. From now on, the TwinAir name not only designates the innovative two-cylinder turbocharged engine, but also a new line of models. The 500 TwinAir lineup comes with bespoke styling elements and upgraded equipment features. Read more �

Fiat Launches TwinAir Lineup for the 500 and 500C with Bespoke Styling and Equipment Features

The Italian carmaker has announced the market launch of the new 500 TwinAir version, available for both the three-door and convertible models. From now on, the TwinAir name not only designates the innovative two-cylinder turbocharged engine, but also a new line of models. The 500 TwinAir lineup comes with bespoke styling elements and upgraded equipment features.

Lucarelli-Monza Crafts Extreme Fiat 500 Abarth with RWD and Mid-Mounted 230HP Engine

There are tuners and there are tuners with some taking the easy way out going for a quick fix while others take up the challenge to create something truly unique. Italy�s Lucarelli-Monza belongs to the second category of tuners. The Monza-based tuning house has revealed details on its newest creation called the 500 Abarth Motore Centrale R230.

As its name implies, the heavily modified Italian hatchback gains a new layout with a mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. Of course, such a radical change is not an easy task with the company having to re-engineer the entire vehicle.

Among other changes, the rear seats of the production model were dropped to create space for the engine while there�s also a new rear suspension set-up and a high-performance braking system with 335mm front- and 305mm rear- discs coupled with four-piston calipers.

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2012 Fiat 500C Debuts in New York, Priced from $19,500

Fiat�s newly introduced 500C may not be a convertible in the real sense of the word, but the Italian company that holds the fates of Chrysler hopes to capture the attention of sun-seeking buyers with its panoramic canvas-top mini, which made its US debut at this week�s 2011 New York Auto Show.

Scheduled to go on sale this May, the new 2012 500C will be offered in two trim levels, the base Pop that is priced at $19,500, and the better-equipped Lounge, priced at $23,500. According to Fiat, the 500C is the only four-seat cabrio in the U.S. market. However, Fiat�s definition of a �cabrio� is loose -to say the least- given that the 500C comes with full frame doors and columns, simply adding a rollover canvas top in place of the metal roof.

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Steve Truglia Loops the Fiat 500 at AutoRAI [with Video]

At this week's AutoRAI show in the Netherlands, sponsor Shell partnered with stuntman Steve Truglia to put on a very Hot Wheels performance. Truglia drove a Fiat 500 through a 22-piece loop that stands 11 meters tall and made it look easy. See for yourself in the video after the jump.

According to the Dutch press release, the 500 was gutted and modified with a roll cage, new fuel tank, and an integrated limiter to ensure the right speed. Check out the stunt and interviews in the video below.

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Romeo Fiat 500 Abarth Endurance Racer

Lets just get this out of the way first, Romeo Ferraris is not a car club with playboy members who drive Ferrari�s but rather its an Italian tuning firm and race car builder and it has announced its participation in the 6 Hours of Vallelunga endurance race in Italy on November 22. And their weapon of choice is a Fiat 500 Abarth.

This is not just any Fiat 500 Abarth but it�s a hardcore competition model with a full carbon-fiber body and a heavily modified 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
that produces a stonking 360 horsepower. Now we have seen some pretty hardcore 500�s but not even the 695 Tributo Ferrari and R3T rally machine comes close to this.

Obviously the tiny 1.4-liter turbocharged engine has been heavily worked on to produce such massive power, in fact, the racer boasts 257hp per-liter and that�s not to mention the super lightweight diet program that the car has been subjected to. The gigantic rear wing looks big enough to help a jumbo jet get up to its flight path but it really is to help the 500 stick to its race route.

Drivers Aldo Cerruti, Michela Cerruti and Mario Ferraris will be taking turns behind the wheel at the upcoming 6 Hours of Vallelunga endurance race on November 22 and we�ll be bringing you more of the race and how the car performed.

Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione limited edition

Abarth firm has released a special edition version of the Abarth 500 bearing the Competizione moniker. The model is special in the sense that only 10 will be built with a price tag of �24,995 - that's about $34,800 ahem, ahem... So what will those lucky Dutch buyers get for �3,000 over the price of a standard Abarth 500?

For the exterior, the Competizione's features include a black roof top, unique 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black and graphics above the side skirts. Inside, the package adds a set of leather sport seats embossed with the Competizione logo while the standard equipment list now includes a navigation system, climate control, and an upgraded audio system.

In standard form, the 500 Abarth is powered by a 135HP 1.4-liter turbocharged four while Fiat also offers the Essesse kit which boosts output to 160HP.

Chick Flick: Barbie gets her own special Fiat 500 for her 50th Birthday

You knew it was coming - a pinked out Barbie version of Fiat's 500 mini. Created by a partnership between the Fiat Centro Stile and Mattel, the customized Barbie 500 is a show car dedicated to famous doll for her 50th birthday and it will appear in public for the first time on Monday 9 March, when it will race through the streets of Milan's fashion district with 'Barbie' on the passenger seat and Ken behind the steering wheel.

Aside from the bright pink paintwork, Barbie's 500 also gets pink seats, an LED-decked vanity mirror, glitzy crystals on interior bezels, hubcaps, outer window moldings and antenna, as well as a glossy cover featuring the distinctive Sixties version of the Fiat 500 and a Barbie autograph.

Fiat 500C: Convertible version

Here are the first official photos of the new Fiat 500C, a rag-top convertible version of Fiat's highly successful retro-mini that will make if world debut at the at the Geneva Motor Show. The 500C is said to pay homage to the open-top 1957 model, which translates to a sliding back canvas rooftop that stretches out to the rear hatch window. The car is available in three colors (ivory, red and black), the soft top will be matched with several body colors, two of which have been designed specifically for the 500C in a Pearl Red and a Warm Grey.

The new 500C is exactly the same size as the basic model (3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m).The car will be offered with the the same three powerplants: 1.3-litre 75HP MultiJet Turbodiesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, and the two 1.2-litre 69HP and 1.4-litre 100HP petrol engines, available with either manual or robotised Dualogic transmission.

Fiat 500 with DIESEL design

Fiat has work with DIESEL to have a new face for their Fiat 500. We know that the car already offered with a diesel engine but what we talking over here is not referring to the MultiJet engine. This is a two-year special run done in partnership with the Italian clothing company. This style exercise is supposed to transform the 500 into an 'Urban Survival Vehicle." Apparently, all that's required for "urban survival" are some DIESEL logos, new trim on the bumpers and bodywork, exclusive wheels, three paint colors, and a dressed-up interior. 100-horsepower cars also get yellow brake calipers. There are 10000 cars are planned to be "DIESEL" soon.