Alfa Romeo names Tacoma dealer as its sole Western Washington store

After a nearly two-decade absence from the U.S. market, Italian car maker Alfa Romeo Friday named 82 U.S. and four Canadian dealers to sell its cars in North America.

Among those 82 is Fiat of Tacoma, which sells cars made by Alfa's parent company, Fiat.

Fiat of Tacoma is one of two dealers designated to sell the upmarket brand in Washington. The other dealer is in Spokane.

Sales of Alfas will start slowly with limited availability of the company's sporty 4C model. The line will later be expanded to include sedans and perhaps an SUV.

Alfa exited the U.S. in 1995.

The brand gained perhaps its greatest public fame in the iconic 1967 movie The Graduate in which Dustin Hoffman drove a classic red Alfa Spider 1800.

According to industry sources, the initial 4C models offered for sale at U.S. dealers will be a limited edition priced at nearly $70,000.  More ordinary 4Cs will be priced beginning at $55,000.

The company's sedan, to be built in the same Belvidere, Ill. plant as its sister car, the Dodge Dart, will be less expensive.

Alfa will position itself against such imported brands as BMW, Audi, Volvo and Mercedes.

In addition to its namesake brand and Alfa Romeo, Fiat produces Maserati, Ferrari, Chrysler, Dodge, Lancia, Ram and Jeep brand vehicles.

The Fiat vehicles sold in the U.S. are built in a Chrysler plant in Mexico. Fiat reentered the U.S. in 2011 after a 27-year absence.

Phil Bivens, owner of Fiat of Tacoma and the new Alfa dealership at 3740 South Tacoma Way, also owns Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Enumclaw, Tacoma Nissan and Auburn Chevrolet.

Alfa said it intends to eventually expand its U.S. dealer network to 300 stores.  The 82 dealerships announced Friday are spread among 33 states. Among the states that for now have no Alfa dealers are Washington neighbors Oregon and Idaho.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/06/13/3242156/alfa-romeo-names-tacoma-dealer.html#storylink=cpy

Godzilla Ad

FIATs new Godzilla ad has started running on TV screens nationwide. But thousands of those screens aren't in front of a sofa. They are mounted on gasoline pumps run by Outcast Media, which programs and handles advertising buys and placement on its network of some 21,000 gasoline pump TV screens in 135 DMAs.

 

In January, the company was acquired by Greensboro, N.C.-based fuel dispenser and integrated fueling company Gilbarco Veeder-Root. Gilbarco says the deal will take Outcast from its reported 36 million viewers per month to 100 million in two years, thanks to the 60,000 additional retail fueling stations and a piggyback on Gilbarco's own growth plans.

 

Nathan Gill, co-founder and CRO of Outcast Media, says Outcast is more an extension of traditional TV than a digital play with scale on par with prime-time show reaching consumers that have an automotive mindset. He says the appeal to automakers is that a gas-pump buy reaches (obviously) only drivers and, therefore, consumers who are driving age or older. And probably people driving to and from work. "They are driving 50% more than the general population and are 4.5% more likely to be looking for a new vehicle," he says. 

 

But it's also as expensive as TV, although it's treated as a video buy, per Gill. The benefit is the captive, hard-to-reach audience. "They are commuting, working longer hours, out and about and watching less TV; they are watching less traditional media. So they are hard to get in front of." 

Birmingham, Mich.-based Gas Station TV (GSTV), which reports 45 million viewers per month, ran its own Fiat campaign last December. Interpublic's UM handles media for Fiat. GSTV said the ads garnered 60% recall, with 45% of it unaided (per Lieberman, which it contracted for the study.) The difference with GSTV's campaign was that it was custom-made for the pump experience, as it featured a Fiat fan inside the screen gazing out and hoping for an encounter with one of the cars. 

 

“Brands now realize the importance of diversifying their media mix and exploring new avenues, including video at the pump, to reach their target audiences,” said Denise Smith, SVP, group media director at UM, in a statement about the campaign released around the time it launched. 

Gill says that in addition to running a Tier 1 national-campaign creative on Outcast, auto marketers like the network for lower-tier local market advertising with sales event messages, as well as messages about fuel efficiency -- a pitch that makes obvious sense. The other growth area is dealer parts and services. "Lots of OEMs want to make sure owners are using their service centers."

He says 75% of the Outcast Media drive-in audience is 18 to 49 years of age; 82% are employed; and half are college grads. The average household income is $83,000. "What you see there is a function of the fact that these people are driving to work every day."

Automatic Abarths and Turbo

If you're a fan of the design (and the performance numbers) of the Fiat 500 Abarth and its cabriolet version but not its manual transmission, you'll want to hear this. Fiat has announced that the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio will be offered with an optional six-speed automatic transmission in addition to a slightly redesigned interior. The new models will appear at the New York auto show next week.

Fiat seems to have come to terms with North America's transmission preferences. It will be offering an Aisin AW6F25 six-speed automatic that has been reinforced with more clutch plates and given a stronger heat treatment for higher torque capability on the Abarth and Turbo models. The new transmission will offer a Sport mode, able to do fuel-cut upshifts, rev-matching downshifts, brake-assist downshifts, corner-gear hold and fast-off gear hold. We suspect the resulting sound might convince everyone within earshot that you're driving a six-speed manual, given the Abarth's warbly exhaust.

"Adding an optional automatic transmission makes the Abarth and Abarth Cabrio accessible to an entirely new group of customers who want to enjoy the thrilling driving experience of the Fiat 500 Abarth with the convenience of an automatic gearbox,” said Jason Stoicevich, head of FIAT North America.

Don't worry: The manual five-speed transmission is staying in our favorite Abarth and Turbo 500 models. Both are powered by a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine, with the Abarth making a stout 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. The midrange Turbo model produces 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, still plenty to get the small hatch seriously moving.



The additional transmission isn't the only thing Fiat is offering in the 2015 500 models: All 500 variants will receive a new 7-inch high-definition TFT (Thin Film Transistor) cluster display. The display will show the gas mileage, rang, and distance traveled in addition to speed and fuel level. The new screen will also display radio station and telephone information, and it will work with Rear Park Assist if the 500 is optioned with that system. .

Fiat tweaked the center console, introducing a new cupholder design and a more conveniently located USB port integrated with the radio. The 500 also will receive a number of new paint colors for 2015, including Giallo Moderna Perla (modern pearl yellow), Laser Blu (bright metallic blue) and Billet Argento (billet silver).

Mazda Teams With Fiat: New Miata to Spawn Alfa Romeo Roadster

The two latest automakers to climb into bed together are Mazda and Fiat and their love child promises to be one impressive performance machine.

Having signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding, the Japanese and Italian automakers have agreed to examine the development and manufacturing of a roadster model for the Alfa Romeo brand based on Mazda’s upcoming next-generation MX-5 Miata platform.
Distinguishing the two machines won’t just be the unique styling but, but also engines unique to each brand.
According to a joint release, production of both vehicles would occur at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant starting in 2015.
“Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time,” said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.
The partnership will also allow Mazda to take advantage of economies of scale, helping reduce its costs in building the Miata.
“This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship.” said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
With the new Miata-based roadster, Alfa Romeo will have another exciting new product to offer when it returns to the North American market

Alfa Romeo 4C Running Ahead of Schedule, Will Bow Next Summer

Development towards the production model Alfa Romeo 4C appears to be ahead of schedule, as the Italian automaker plans on unveiling the model next summer.

This will be months ahead of the originally rumored 2014 Detroit Auto Show debut date, and will mark the beginning of Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. market. The Giulia sedan is also on schedule and it appears that the model will be built in North America and possibly Europe. Both vehicles will be reintroducing the Alfa Romeo brand to Americans, so it’ll be important that both are as presentable as possible.
Regardless, it appears that Chrysler-Fiat will invest plenty of time and effort into the Alfa Romeo brand. Recently, Japanese automaker Mazda and Fiat signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to develop and manufacture an Alfa Romeo roadster based on the next-generation MX-5

Ferrari to build new engines for Fiat

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has signed EUR50m agreement with Fiat to develop and build new engines for its top models including Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia.

As per the agreement, Ferrari will produce two new engines including bi-turbo V6 engine which will generate 450hp, as well as, a V8 powertrain, which can generate an output of nearly 500hp.
According to ansa.it, the production of the new engines is expected to begin in 2014.
Initially, the new engines will power the production version of the Maserati Kubang SUV concept and then follows subsequently.
Fiat's move tends to reduce the production of engines by its family manufacturers, thus cutting the production costs and the new engines are expected to deliver enhanced fuel economy and reduce emission, while offering high performance.

FIAT OF TACOMA HAS ABARTHS IN!!!!

       FIAT 500 ABARTH

               HAS ARRIVED!!

COME DOWN TO THE TACOMA STUDIO TO TEST DRIVE AND ORDER YOURS TODAY!

"IT HITS THESE SHORES WITH AN ATTITUDE PROPELLED BY A RACING HISTORY THAT RIVALS THE MOST LEGENDARY OF MARQUES.  IT MAKES PASSIONATE STATEMENTS SITCHED IN LEATHER AND PROJECTS DETAILS TAILORED STRAIGHT TO THE HEART OF PURE PERFORMANCE.  ON RACETRACKS. ON HIGHWAYS.  AND NOW, ON CONTINENTS.  CODED FROM A VISION, IT LANDS WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE ABARTH BADGE HAS COME TO REPRESENT.  BEHOLD THE SCORPION.  THIS IS THE FIAT 500 ABARTH.

 

Turbocharged, twin intercooled, and MultiAir equipped 1.4L 16v engine delivers 160 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque.  All backed by a manual five-speed transmission with 3.35 final-drive ratio for quick acceleration.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIAT 500 ABARTH CALL A SPECIALIST AT FIAT OF TACOMA TODAY.  

253-830-5700

           
                  FOUR CYLINDERS.  MASSIVE HEART.            

2012 Abarths Sold Out

Eager to get your hands on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth? Get in line, and be warned: you're going to have to wait.

According to The Detroit News, Chrysler has stopped taking wholesale orders on the 2012 model year 500 Abarth. According to sources within the automaker, customers who plunk down the money for the hotted-up 500 right now will be put on the 2013 model year waiting list, with those cars expected to arrive in the fall. In a statement to the Motown newspaper, Chrysler officials simply said that the number of orders received "exceeded the production run of this model for the 2012 model year."

Chrysler had originally planned to build about 1,000 Abarth models for the 2012 model year. However, those cars were all spoken for by the end of April – the Abarth's first month on sale – so the automaker upped production to 3,000 units. According to the Detroit News, this was the maximum number of units that the Fiat factory in Toluca, Mexico could handle.

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Abarth 695 Maserati Edition bows at Mille Miglia

The Fiat 500 in its various guises positively romps on its popularity, making special-edition hay with terrific frequency. This latest outing in the form of the Abarth 695 Maserati Edition follows a familiar trail, coming three years after the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari that debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

That hatch had a tuned 1.4-liter turbo four putting out more than 180 horsepower, a variable exhaust system and paddle-shifting automated manual under its Ferrari 430 Scuderia-mimicking paint scheme. But aside from the paint, this one gets much the same treatment: 180-hp output, Abarth Competizione gearbox and dual mode exhaust.

It goes the GranTurismo route instead of hard-core sports car, though, using the convertible Abarth as a base and adding Pontevecchio Bordeaux paint with a gray top, sand-beige leather and black interior, Jaeger instrumentation, and 17-inch Maserati-style Neptune wheels and hexagonal tailpipes. Still, it gets even bigger Brembo brakes than the Ferrari version.

Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato

2011 Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato Concept

There are few certainties in life, aside from death, taxes and the number one rule of automakers worldwide: future products are not to be commented on, ever. There’s logic behind such a sentiment, as building excitement for products that don’t exist tends to negatively impact sales of products already in dealer showrooms.

That’s why we tend to be skeptical when outlets publish future product plans from automakers. While some of this information may prove to be accurate, other bits and pieces will likely turn out to be wishful thinking. As a rule, the farther away a projected launch date is, the less likely it is that particular model will see the light of day.

In other words, we doubt that Automobile’s projections on Chrysler’s future product lines will turn out to be entirely accurate, but we’ll bet they’re probably on the money with the projected 2013 launch of the Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato.

First shown as a concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Zagato-ized hatchback restyles the current Fiat 500’s rear to present a more coupe-like profile, while retaining the car’s hatchback sensibilities. It may be smaller than the current Fiat 500, but it retains the car’s 2+2 seating arrangements, albeit with less rear headroom.

The concept was shown in an electric-yellow paint scheme, trimmed with burnished chrome and gunmetal accents. If the car is launched as a limited-edition model (likely the case), expect to see production versions carry the same artfully bold color scheme.

There’s no word yet on pricing or content, but expect the Fiat 500 variant to be a Zagato for the masses, priced accordingly. If you’ve always wanted a Zagato-styled creation in your garage, this may be the least expensive path to ownership the world has ever seen.

That is, of course, if the Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato gets the rumored green light for production.

500T and Abarth Convertibles?!

These 2012 Fiat 500 Abarths will reside above an anticipated 500T Sport in the lineup.

Fiat is planning to introduce a 500T Sport for the 2013 model year, according to documents the company has filed with NHTSA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This seems to corroborate rumors of a new model that would be positioned between the standard Fiat 500 and the Abarth, which would feature a less powerful version of the U.S.-spec Abarth’s 160-horse turbo four. (The T in 500T is for “turbo,” of course.)

The evidence includes a chart filed with NHTSA, which explains how to decode VIN numbers; it clearly shows a “500T Sport” listed among Fiat’s 2013-model-year offerings. Fiat applies Pop, Sport, and Lounge to the base 500 as trim levels, but this 500T Sport is listed separately from those, as well as apart from the 500C convertible models. Among the convertibles, though, we now see an Abarth listed for the first time. No real surprise there—the car already exists—but it’s a vehicle Fiat hasn’t publicly confirmed for the U.S

Abarths are now at FIAT of Tacoma

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth may be small -- smaller than even a Mini Cooper -- but it's a heavy car.

With a curb weight of about 2500 pounds, the 500 Abarth isn't pound-heavy -- it's heritage-heavy. Just look at all the stylized scorpion badges. The 500 Abarth has eight of those badges on its exterior alone, if you count the wheel centers, and all of them remind you of one thing: a reputation for performance that's as large as the 500 is small.

This is the car the most fervent Fiat fans have been waiting for, ardently avoiding local dealers for fear of cracking and buying a regular 500. It certainly looks the part, especially our tester, turned out in Rosso paint and the optional gunmetal-colored 17-inch wheels, red brake calipers peeking out from behind the spokes. The rear valance has the requisite vents to match the restyled front air dam, with inlet and exit ducts for the twin intercoolers mounted just forward of the front wheels. The interior gets a restyled shiftknob and a chunky, flat-bottomed steering wheel. And those Abarth badges...well, they do the intended deed.

Open the hood and you're greeted with a red plastic engine cover that isn't quite long enough to hide the most significant revision to the little 1.4-liter Multiair engine: the small Garrett turbocharger that puts 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque on tap. As in the good old days, the heart of any Abarth is the engine, and this one pushes out nearly 60 percent more hp than the standard car. While the engine is somewhat different from the European version despite its identical horsepower to the premium esseesse (Italian for SS) model, the transmission is the same -- a five-speed manual unique to the Abarth (an automatic is not available).

The engine fires with a throaty burble, the din exiting via twin chromed exhaust tips -- a far cry from the normal car's mild rasp. Setting off, a mash of the throttle sends the boost gauge twirling and the Abarth leaps forward, picking up steam north of 4000 rpm and revving strongly to redline. Torque steer, a valid concern with high-output front drivers, is virtually nil in a straight line, thanks in part to an active locking differential that's tied into the new three-mode electronic stability control program. At the dragstrip, we recorded a 0-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds -- 3 seconds faster than the 500 Sport -- and a 15.3-second quarter-mile run with a trap speed of 89.8 mph. The last Mini Cooper S we tested (the Cooper is a primary 500 competitor despite its slightly larger scale) was roughly half a second quicker to 60 mph, but a full second quicker to the quarter mile. A standard Cooper was just over 1 second slower in both categories.

Like the Abarths that have come before it, the 500 Abarth has been tuned to be a well-rounded sport coupe. Engineers tweaked the 500's front MacPherson strut design and added Koni dampers and shorter coil springs that are stiffer by 40/20 percent front/rear.

 

 

 

Abarth also added its own front control arms, beefier anti-roll bars front and rear, and reinforced the rear axle and coiled spring mounts. An Abarth tweak to the electronic power steering makes it 10 percent quicker and improves road feel compared with the 500 Sport's. Front brake disc diameter is increased by an inch to 11.1 inches, and our tester's optional alloys were wrapped in sticky 205/40R17 Pirelli PZero Nero rubber.

FIAT 500L

GENEVA — The 2013 Fiat 500L compact crossover will get several engines, including the new 0.9-liter TwinAir, as well as more than 30 exterior color choices — and "fragrance diffusers." It debuts at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show.
The Fiat 500L will also get a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a MultiJet 1.3-liter diesel engine when it launches in Europe later this year. It will deubt in the U.S. early next year.
Fiat said the five-passenger hatchback will also get an eco:Drive application that gives the driver advice for cutting fuel consumption. The EPA has yet to rate the 2013 Fiat 500L. It will also get the optional my:Car, which diagnoses, records and certifies the car's history and state of maintenance.
The 500L — the L in the car's name stands for "large" — is 163 inches long, 70 inches wide and 65 inches tall.
Fiat 500L buyers will get a choice of white, gray or black for the alloy wheels and a range of accessories, including custom graphics, chrome-plating, ski roof bars and a bicycle holder. The 14-cubic-foot trunk can hold up to five suitcases, said Fiat.
The 500L will be built on Fiat's SUSW (Small U.S. Wide) platform, which also will underpin a new compact Jeep crossover in the U.S., as well as replacements overseas for the Fiat Punto and Palio.

Fiat convertible 500 Abarth plans leaked

According to documents submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Fiat is already planning a convertible version of the 500 Abarth, and a turbocharged non-Abarth version of the 500 called the 500T.

Good news for fans of high-performance small cars and convertibles everywhere, if it holds up.

And it looks like it will hold up.

The documents, sourced via Car and Driver, show a pretty clear chart of upcoming 2013 models, and the Abarth is clearly listed under the "2 Door Convertible" group, while the 500T Sport is added to the standard Pop, Sport, Lounge, Abarth, and Electric lineup.


Having wrung out the hardtop 500 Abarth at Spring Mountain in the US earlier this year, we know it delivers on many levels where the standard 500 doesn't. Whether the similarly-powerful, but non-Abarth 500 will show similar fun potential remains to be seen.

The convertible version of the Abarth is sure to win fans, however, as many of you commented that a soft top was the only thing holding you back.

Of course, it will likely be the retractable-cloth-roof (a la 500C) sort of convertible, rather than the whole-top-comes-off kind, but even so, it means more sun in the cabin with (hopefully) all of the benefits of the Abarth.

2012 Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati

A few years after Abarth brought the 695 Tributo Ferrari to the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Italian automaker is set to head to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with another commemorative, limited edition model that pays homage to another Italian contemporary - the 695 Tributo Maserati.

According to Abarth, the 695 Tributo Maserati is the confluence of the things we love about Abarth and Maserati, particularly the combination of "the highest level of elegance combined with the comforts of a car, but with the handling that’s suitable for everyday driving. "

In terms of its design, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati comes with a "Pontevecchio Bordeaux" paint finish and matched with upholstery dressed in Poltrona Frau leather beige sand. True to its name as an elegant iteration of the popular Italian hatch, the 695 Tributo Maserati also comes with carbon inserts, as well as a matte finish and trim on the dashboard, a black tricolor leather steering wheel, door panels and rear panels that have been given a gray track treatment by UV-LUX, and a new set of 17" alloy wheels.

As far as powertrain is concerned, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati will be powered by a 1.4-liter Turbo T-Jet engine that produces 180 horsepower and mated to an electro-mechanical Abarth Competition transmission with steering wheel controls.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth: Fiat's little guy is going guano crazy.

Just one year ago at the Los Angeles auto show, Fiat announced its official reentry into our country with the debut of the U.S.-spec 500. Since then, the brand has added the pseudo convertible 500C, but sales of all Cinquecentos have failed to impress. You might say they could use a little boost, so what better time to introduce a hotter turbocharged variant to our shores? Conveniently, Fiat is pulling the wraps off the U.S.-spec 500 Abarth at this week's Los Angeles auto show. It will go on sale in March.

For those not familiar with the current-gen 500 Abarth, it’s not new. First introduced to Europe in 2008, the 500 Abarth is an absolute hoot to drive. European Abarths have 133 hp in basic tune or 170 in the Esseesse version—say “SS” as an Italian would; it stands for “supersport.” Here, though, we get a turbocharged version of the regular 500’s wimpy 101-hp, 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder that will make about 160 hp. (The Abarths currently available in Europe don’t have MultiAir variable valve-lift; to read more about the technology, click here.) Torque is a healthy 170 lb-ft starting at 2500 rpm. Unfortunately, Fiat is sticking with a five-speed manual transmission—beefed-up for service in the Abarth—rather than fitting a six-cog unit. Sure, we understand the concept of cost control, but a little shrimp of a car with a small engine (think less sound deadening plus engine noise) might want a sixth gear for highway cruising.

The Rest of the Racing Kit

In Europe, Abarth is considered a separate brand—one with substantial racing heritage. The 500 Abarth benefits from this connection with a suspension that has been substantially revised from the normal car's. New front springs are 40 percent stiffer than the regular 500’s, while the rears are 20 percent stiffer. Koni shocks go up front, the car sits 0.6 inch lower than a normal 500, and there's more negative camber now. The Abarth’s steering is quicker, and the front brakes grow an inch in diameter to 11.1 inches. The standard wheels are 16s, and 17s are an option.

To complement the fiercer hardware, the cutie-pie face of the 500 gets more aggressive. The Abarth’s front fascia has a larger intake opening, accented by a subtle chin spoiler. There are new rocker extensions and the rear bumper hosts a diffuser with dual exhaust pipes. Other unique exterior items include a roof-mounted spoiler, red brake calipers and mirror caps, and Abarth’s signature scorpion logos and decals. Inside the 500 Abarth, you'll find a very serious little place. There's a flat-bottomed leather-wrapped steering wheel, a boost gauge, and bolstered seats with integrated headrests. Cloth is standard in either black or a black/red combo; leather is available in the same schemes.

Overall, Fiat promises that the 500 Abarth stays true to the Continental version, saying that, “every piece of hardware and every mile of development tuning has been thoroughly examined to ensure the European model’s DNA is delivered to North American driving enthusiasts.” We know a lot of changes were required, both to fit the U.S customers and to fit our regulations, so we hope this statement is more than just an empty promise. We'll find out for sure when we drive the U.S.-spec Abarth in the coming months

Alfa's U.S. relaunch in back on with the Alfa 4C

 

The achingly beautiful Alfa 4C seen at the Geneva show is to spearhead Alfa Romeo's U.S. relaunch in 2012.

Yeah, you're having flashbacks. "The achingly beautiful Alfa 8C is to spearhead Alfa's U.S. relaunch in 2009." Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne first announced in 2006 Alfa's return to the U.S. via Maserati dealerships, and that was supposed to happen by late 2007. Alfa has excuses for not making it back then, and by pausing while parent Fiat Auto cemented its relationship with Chrysler, Alfa now has access to a solid distribution system.

Where the 8C was front-engined and a bit retro, the 4C is a defiantly modern mid-engine car. The Geneva concept car is what the real thing will look like. The concept has a carbon-fiber body, sitting on a carbon tub by race car maker Dallara. For cost reasons, the production car might have to switch to some metal panelwork-it depends on sales predictions, which determine how much to invest in tooling for metal.

Alfa people swear the European price will be under 50,000 euros (or U.S. $71,000), which is what they pay over there for a mid-range Audi TT.

Power comes from a 1.8-liter four, mid-mounted for agility. Alfa historians will delight at the 1750cc capacity, as used back in the '60s, but this one's no relic. It has a turbo and direct injection and makes more than 230 horsepower, fed through a six-speed twin-clutch automated manual transmission.

With a 2100-pound target weight and the strong traction bestowed by its weight distribution, 0-60-mph performance should be somewhere in the low-5-second range.

The main event in terms of sales at Alfa's U.S. launch will be a crossover based on the Giulietta platform, which supports the next-generation Jeep Patriot/Compass. The Patriot and Compass will be consolidated into one model, and the Alfa will have unique sheetmetal.

The Giulietta is a highly regarded VW Golf rival in Europe, making it the most competitive mainstream car Alfa has made in decades. The platform has been designed for AWD, and for the wider track, various wheelbases, and bigger wheel housings of a crossover.

The Giulia four-door sedan will also arrive shortly after the crossover, again for model year 2013, and will be positioned as an Audi A4 rival. The Giulia uses a wider, longer version of the Alfa Giulietta's platform. The 1750 turbo engine will feature here, too, plus Chrysler's new V-6 and AWD options.

The Giulia will be built as sedan and sportwagon, although the wagon is less than likely for U.S. sales.

For 2014, Alfa will launch its small car in America. It's sold as the two-door MiTo in Europe, but the U.S. version will be launched after an extensive facelift and be sold here as a four-door hatch. Main engine is the 1.8 MultiAir developing 170 horsepower, though the 1750 is fitted to performance versions. The Giulietta will also wait for a facelift before launching in the U.S. in calendar year 2014.

That same year, the large Alfa crossover will launch, giving the company a vital rival to machinery such as the Lexus RX and BMW X5. It will be built in the U.S. down the same line as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, with which it shares underpinnings. Like the small crossover, it will have all-Alfa sheetmetal, and will emphasize road performance over the Jeep's off-road ability. Fiat/Alfa is working on a 3.0-liter clean diesel for its version, plus a seven-speed version of the six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

2012 Fiat 500L Small Crossover SUV at Geneva

Fiat presents the first official images of the 500L Small Crossover SUV, the new model which will have its world preview at the International Geneva Motor Show on 6 March this year.
500L – the L stands for ‘Large’ – is the new addition to the 500 range, which, following the Abarth and Cabrio versions, furthers the brand’s strategy, with the aim of extending its offer by introducing models in a position to satisfy different types of customers.
With the ‘L’, the 500 expands and grows together with customers, to accommodate new experiences and needs once more.
With MPV passenger space combined with the feel of a small SUV on the road and the restrained dimensions and efficiency of a B segment car, the new Fiat model defies the conventional distinctions between the various segments, combining the typical characteristics of different categories in order to create a distinctive alternative to the traditional B and C segments.
With the 500L, the Fiat brand demonstrates its creative spirit once more: a marriage of functionality and emotion, it features a 5-seater single-volume structure which is 414 cm long, 178 cm wide and 166 cm high. It is a further development of the concept of ‘cab forward’ introduced by Fiat with the 600 Multipla, a precursor to the concept of the compact people carrier.
Produced at the Fiat factory in Kragujevac, Serbia, 500L is a ‘first car’ for those who won’t settle for anything less than Italian style, the versatility that comes from a functional design and engine technology that sets the bar in terms of efficiency.
The Fiat 500L will be introduced to Europe in the last quarter of 2012, with an engine range which will initially comprise two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre) and a turbodiesel engine (1.3 MultiJet II) and the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology from Fiat Group Automobiles.
Starting today, the first official video of the 500L is available on the www.fiatpress.com website. The 500L is the new Fiat car that will make its world debut on 6 March at the Geneva International Motor Show.
The 500L – the L stands for ‘Large’ – is the new addition to the 500 range, which, following the Abarth and Cabrio versions, furthers the brand’s strategy, with the aim of extending its offer by introducing models in a position to satisfy different types of customers.
With the ‘L’, the 500 model grows in size to accommodate new experiences and needs once more. If the 500 is the super-compact car perfect for young people and the city, the Fiat 500L is the first car of the 500 family able to contain all of life’s greatest emotions all together: children, friends, journeys. Every time great emotions become great experiences.
The 500L expresses all of the taste of Italian style with a distinctive look and interprets the totally Fiat capability of conceiving and designing cars which are innovative in substance and in form. Substance turns into the modern equation of “space-efficient” that distinguishes all of the most innovative Fiats in history, from the 600 Multipla onwards. Just as the 600 Multipla was the forerunner of the concept of compact people carrier, the 500L is the new Fiat interpretation of the Simply More philosophy applied to the Multispace concept. The 500L reformulates the category of compact cars for the modern family in an emotional vein by developing some of the 500′s winning emotive elements in unprecedented forms.
Designed by the Centro Stile Fiat, which drew inspiration from the cab forward concept, the modern reinterpretation of a car concept designed to achieve better external visibility and a large amount of internal light, the 500L has ‘seamless’ glazing that runs all around the car to improve the sense of command of the road and to make parking manoeuvres easier. The glass roof – the largest in its category – also floods the passenger compartment with plenty of light, just as the colour range with no less than 30 body colours is record-breaking for its segment.
ln the same way, the level of comfort that the new 500L offers will be a benchmark owing to the roominess of its interior, the best in its category in relation to the external dimensions – 414 cm long, 178 cm wide and 166 cm high – in addition to a boot with a capacity of almost 400 litres that is able to hold up to 5 roller suitcases or a full-size push chair.
The 500L defies the conventional distinctions owing to its passenger space typical of an MPV, its presence on the road characteristic of a small SUV and its compactness and efficiency worthy of a B segment car. By following this novel recipe, the Fiat 500L puts together characteristics peculiar to different categories to offer a concept of distinctive and versatile first car that is an alternative to the traditional saloons of the B and C segments.
The Fiat 500L will be introduced to Europe in the last quarter of 2012, with an engine range which will initially comprise two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre) and a turbodiesel engine (1.3 MultiJet II). Standing out amongst the petrol engines is the new 0.9-litre TwinAir, the new development of the multi-award-winning Fiat two-cylinder engine that set the world fuel consumption and emissions record thanks to its low displacement and inclusion of a high-efficiency turbocharger. The emissions level will set the record amongst petrol engines for the MPV category in this latest evolution as well.

Jay Leno and the FIAT Abarth

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/2012-Fiat-500-Abarth/1371751

Fiat 500 Abarth ad with Charlie Sheen

A 60-second commercial for the Fiat 500 Abarth pairing perennial bad boy actor Charlie Sheen with the Romanian model who starred in the car's "Seduction" Super Bowl commercial will begin airing on TV, Chrysler Group said Thursday.

"House Arrest" features images of a 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth racing through the hallways of a mansion filled with nattily dressed partygoers. As the subcompact power slides to a stop in a room filled with people, its driver's side door opens and Sheen's left leg steps out, fitted with an electronic monitoring device around the ankle.

The self-described warlock waves to his guests as he is approached by Catrinel Menghia, the Romanian model who starred in the Abarth's "Seduction" Super Bowl commercial.

"I love being under house arrest," Sheen says to the camera. "What do I get for good behavior?" he asks Menghia.

The advertisement's existence was revealed first by Automotive News on Feb. 20.
The spot, which was created in partnership with Doner of suburban Detroit, will begin airing on broadcast and cable television.

The Fiat 500 Abarth is a high-performance version of the subcompact, featuring a 160-hp engine that delivers 170 pounds-feet of torque. It is scheduled to arrive in Fiat's 140 U.S. dealerships by early April, where it will be priced from $22,700, including delivery.

"The Fiat 500 Abarth is the 'small but wicked' personality of the Fiat 500 and this spot captures that attitude and spirit," Olivier Francois, worldwide head of Fiat brand and Chrysler Group's chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "The Fiat 500 Abarth is the bad boy of the Fiat vehicle lineup and Charlie Sheen personifies the edgy and fun attributes of the Fiat 500 Abarth in 'House Arrest.'"