2012 Fiat 500 U.S. Auto Shows

Nearly 30 years after Fiat sold its last car in the U.S., the 2012 Fiat 500 is officially debut at the Auto Show in Los Angeles. Cute as a button, or at least a New Beetle or the Mini Cooper-500 will be powered by a 101-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinders of 97 lb-ft of torque when it goes on sale in January. The small four-cylinder engine is mounted in Dundee, Michigan, and uses variable valve timing and lift for best of 29 mpg city and 37 highway when equipped with manual transmission. A multinational effort, the 500 is being assembled in Toluca, Mexico, the plant used to assemble all of Chrysler PT Cruisers.

Our 500 is not exactly the same as the car is sold in Europe. Adopt more stringent crash regulations in the U.S., the 500 has a new structure and a slightly different design rear torsion beam rear suspension. Other differences between American and European versions are mostly related to comfort seats wider and flatter, more soundproofing materials, and the addition of armrests for the driver. Mechanically, a conventional automatic transmission, six-speed is available. Fiat chassis adjustment and power steering is a little different way, with the latter is slightly faster than the European direction.
Three output levels are available. The key is called Pop, and you start with $ 16,000. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels, stability and traction control, ABS brakes, seven airbags, electric windows and closing, and tire repair kit. For those who require more luxury in their small Italian cars and who does not?-Fiat offers $ 20,000 trim level Lounge, which adds a fixed glass roof, 15 inch alloy wheels, satellite radio, fog lights, audio system Bose, leather seats and steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth and USB port for MP3 player integration.
The version we are most likely to disembark our book for the model of $ 18,000. Fiat called sport, but it’s nothing more powerful than the other 500 models, the nickname has set the firmer suspension. In addition, Sports upgraded from Pop aluminum wheels with 16-inch, red brake calipers, unique front and rear fascia, a Bose audio system and Bluetooth. Choice between different levels of trim includes heated seats, a removable TomTom navigation system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power sunroof $ 850 and $ 1,000 for automatic transmission
Customizing buyers 500s is their choice of 14 colors (including four retro colors that were available for the original 500), four interior colors and customizing the program, which allows them to choose between different graphic in the body. It clear that Fiat is the next mini game plan, which allows buyers to express their personality, putting stripes or other embellishments for their cars.
The 500 will be joined by the 500C convertible (actually a giant fabric ceiling) in the summer of 2011. Those who seek power over perhaps wait until the fall of 2011, when the 500 Abarth goes on sale. Fiat has not yet announced how much power and even the engine is in the market for U.S. Abarth bell, but expect around 170 horsepower from a 1.4-liter turbocharged version of the standard four-cylinder engine of car. An electric version of the 500 reaches the end of 2012, Fiat and promises to produce 5,400 of them in the first full year of production. Considering the interest in an unknown microcar an Italian brand with a poor reputation among consumers who have heard, this number could be better applied as a sales target for the first year Decent all 500s. But since this car looks nice options, customization and future version Abarth, Fiat USA in the future is certainly brighter than it was 30 years ago.