FIAT 500 Wins 'Gear of the Year' Award from Mens Journal

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 2, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- 

Men's Journal's 'Gear of the Year' award marks the new Fiat 500 as one of the most innovative and game-changing products of 2011

• Award represents the adventurous, modern and 'live the interesting life' spirit of the magazine's readers
• More than 15 U.S. awards and 80 international awards recognize the unique styling, engaging driving dynamics and fuel efficiency of the Fiat 500
• Starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $15,500

Men's Journal magazine's "Live the interesting life" creed truly reflects what the Fiat 500 is all about – being unique and offering customers a way to experience more in life. And with its segment-exclusive Italian styling, efficient city-friendly proportions, innovative technologies and attainable price, the new 2012 Fiat 500 earned the magazine's coveted "Gear of the Year" award.
"We're extremely honored to win the 'Gear of the Year' award from Men's Journal," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "The new Fiat 500 is truly distinctive and we will continue to expand the appeal of our Cinquecento, with the upcoming introduction of the Fiat 500 by Gucci, aimed at Italian style lovers, and the Fiat 500 Abarth, targeted towards Italian performance enthusiasts."
Over the past 12 months, a team of Men's Journal editors, writers and correspondents tested hundreds of new products to create their annual list – a product list that represents more than 40 of the most innovative and game-changing products including sports equipment, apparel, technology and culinary tools. In addition, the 2011 Gear of the Year award marks the first time cars have been included on the list.
For more information — and the complete list of Men's Journal magazine's Gear of the Year recipients — pick up the annual December/January "best of" issue (on newsstands now) and visit http://www.mensjournal.com/ for product updates all month long.
About Men's Journal
Launched in 1992, Men's Journal is an award-winning, general interest men's lifestyle magazine with a total audience of 3.6 million per issue. Built on the idea that men are always looking to experience and achieve more, Men's Journal is dedicated to providing its readers with the gear, know-how, style and insights to "live the interesting life."
About the 2012 Fiat 500 models
Building on the attributes that made the original version an icon more than 50 years ago – the 2012 Fiat 500 models provide an entirely new generation of drivers with the best of Italian motoring: craftsmanship, style and safety, combined with fun-to-drive small-car efficiency.
The 2012 Fiat 500 offers high levels of safety, fuel economy, quality and advanced technology. With its city-friendly four-passenger size, engaging driving dynamics, all-new fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir^® engine with eco:Drive™ Application, seven standard air bags and available TomTom^® Navigation with standard BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication technology, the new Fiat 500 offers a unique driving and ownership experience. This package is further enhanced with new quality and refinement adaptations for the U.S. market, plus a "Top Safety Pick" for 2011 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Expanding on the qualities that have made the original Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) a timeless and efficient automobile, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio (500c) adds open-air freedom and even more driving enjoyment. And with its cleverly designed multi-position power-retractable cloth top and iconic body-side silhouette, the new Fiat 500c delivers style with class-leading interior sound quality.
At local FIAT Studios, customers may choose to personalize their Fiat 500 or 500c with selections including as many as 14 available exterior paint colors, 14 unique seat color combinations, three models and two interior environments. And to ensure that every new 2012 Fiat 500 will be distinct, a full line of authentic Fiat 500 accessories by Mopar^® will offer customers even more personalization possibilities, including unique striping packages, exterior and interior styling accessories and authentic FIAT-styled merchandise.
Offering even more exclusivity and style, the limited-edition 2012 Fiat 500 and 500c by Gucci models arrive at FIAT Studios nationwide this December. For more information, visit www.fiatusa.com/gucci. The high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth will arrive into the U.S. market in the first-half of 2012.
The 2012 Fiat 500 and 500c Pop models have a U.S. MSRP of $15,500 and $19,500 respectively (plus $500 destination).
SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC

FIAT 500 Abarth – ‘Seduction’ video from FIAT of Tacoma

Alfa Romeo announces new 1.8-liter turbo with up to 300 horsepower

 
If you were to design your own engine for today's automotive market, what features would it include? Aluminum construction? Direct injection? Turbocharging? Variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust? Small displacement but a high output? Try all of these features and you're looking at the latest powerplant developed by Alfa Romeo and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

The 1.8-liter turbo four leverages the latest developments in engine technology for an output as high as 300 horsepower while still meeting the most stringent emissions standards on the horizon (including the upcoming U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations, which bodes well for its eventual American application).

It's the engine that's expected to power the production 4C sportscar, and given that it's designed to be mounted either behind the cabin or in front, longitudinally or transversely, it will surely find its way into other Alfas as well. (Maybe a couple of future Dodge products, too) And when it does, we hope it won't lose much in output, because

New 2012 Fiat 500 “Pink Ribbon” Edition Proceeds Benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®

New 2012 Fiat 500 “Pink Ribbon” Edition Proceeds Benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®

• FIAT Brand teams up with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to produce 250 “Pink Ribbon” limited-edition Fiat 500 models
• Committing to a $50,000 minimum donation, Fiat Brand will donate $1,000 per Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon limited-edition vehicle sold to BCRF to support the foundation’s mission of achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime
• Available at FIAT Studios beginning October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The FIAT Brand is excited to announce the introduction of the 2012 Fiat 500 “Pink Ribbon” limited-edition model. Produced in partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation^® (BCRF), the collaboration allows breast cancer awareness advocates to express their support for the cause in modern iconic Italian style.




FIAT of Tacoma is proud to be apart of this movement and will have a limited supply of these limited edition "Pink Ribbon" FIAT 500's for sale for the surounding areas of Puyallup, Kirkland, Seattle, Olympia, Burien and Bellevue.

“We are honored to partner with an upstanding organization like The Breast Cancer Research Foundation that supports a cause so important to our consumers and our company,” said Laura Soave, Head of FIAT North America. “The Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon edition offers our FIAT consumers a unique and stylish way to express their support, help fund breast cancer research and ultimately drive change.”

Through the partnership, 250 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon limited-edition vehicles will be available at FIAT Studios in October. Through the sales of the Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon model, FIAT will donate $1,000 per purchase, with a minimum of $50,000 contribution to BCRF. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

“At The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, we are constantly looking for ways to further breast cancer awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness month and beyond,” said Myra J. Biblowit, BCRF President. “The partnership with FIAT is especially exciting as it allows breast cancer supporters to literally drive awareness for the cause year round. We are extremely appreciative of FIAT’s collaboration in this effort as the brand’s contributions will help fund innovative research that will advance the fight against breast cancer worldwide.”

About the 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon Edition
Designed exclusively for FIAT Brand’s partnership with BCRF, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon limited-edition model features several exclusive design elements that highlight the Cinquecento’s iconic silhouette.

Based on the highly stylized 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge model, the Pink Ribbon limited-edition is available in Argento (silver) and Bianco (white) exterior paint colors and features a signature dark pink bodyside stripe with “500” logo and an accenting “ribbon” in light pink.

The interior of the Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon adds to the 500 Lounge model’s already stylish interior with unique pink accents contrasting the Nero (black) interior. Highlighting this limited-edition model are Nero leather front and rear seats with pink accent stitching on the perimeter and signature “500” logo embroidered on the front seatbacks and a pink ribbon embroidered on the floor mats. For added detail, pink accents are hand-stitched through the Nero leather steering wheel and provide additional contrast in front of the body-color instrument panel bezel.

And to match this specially appointed Cinquecento, a pair of uniquely designed Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon key fobs provide customers with a personal reminder of the FIAT Brand and BCRF’s partnership to find a cure.

Only 250 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon limited-edition models will be available at FIAT Studios nationwide in October. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of the 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon is $22,500 (including $500 destination). For more information, visit www.fiatusa.com/500PinkRibbon.

About the 2012 Fiat 500
With beautiful Italian styling, timeless functionality, fuel efficiency and innovative technology – the same attributes that made the original version an icon – the 2012 Fiat 500 is relevant for an entirely new generation of drivers.

The 2012 Fiat 500 offers a multitude of safety features, fuel efficiency, world-class quality and advanced technology. With its city-friendly four-passenger size, engaging driving dynamics, all-new fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir^® engine with eco:Drive™ Application, state-of-the-art TomTom^® Navigation with BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication technology and seven standard air bags, the new Fiat 500 offers a unique driving and ownership experience. This package is further enhanced with new quality and refinement adaptations for the U.S. market, including an all-new six-speed automatic transmission.

Every 2012 Fiat 500 includes FIAT FORWARD CARE™ – a standard four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, four years of unlimited roadside assistance and a three-year/36,000-mile maintenance program that includes wear-and-tear items.

The reintroduction of the FIAT brand in North America is led by the modern generation of the Fiat 500, now joined by the Fiat 500 Cabrio.

About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation^® (BCRF)
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. In October 2011, BCRF will award $36.5 million to 186 scientists across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and China. Currently, more than 90 cents of every dollar donated is directed to breast cancer research and awareness programs. With exceptionally low administrative costs, BCRF continues to be one of the most efficient organizations in the country and is designated an “A+” charity by The American Institute of Philanthropy, the only cancer organization to achieve this.

Fiat eco:Drive Application Offers a New Way to Help Improve Driving Efficiency | GreenCar.com

Fiat eco:Drive Application Offers a New Way to Help Improve Driving Efficiency GreenCar.com

Ad of the Day: FIAT 500

The car of the future may be designed for tomorrow but fondly looks to yesterday for its sense of style.

That's the sense you get from this new spot for the Fiat 500, the brand's first TV commercial since it returned to the U.S. in March after an absence of a quarter century. The ad opens with footage of an original Fiat 500 heading to a drive-in movie in 1957, the year the Italian automaker introduced the model. As Elvis Presley's 1957 hit "Jailhouse Rock" plays, the Fiat becomes a 2012 model, as a voiceover says: "Every once in a while, something comes along so powerful in concept, so revolutionary in design, it becomes a cultural icon and defines a generation. Another icon has arrived,

 

That's a little overwritten, but it's clear what Fiat and Detroit ad agency Impatto are doing—imbuing the Fiat with both an authentic back story and a shiny new polish in a category fairly obsessed with nostalgia. The tagline, "Simply more," positions the model as a deceptively diminutive vehicle that hits well above its weight.
The client has spoken of traditional advertising as a necessary evil—the bigger goal is to get people to see and touch the vehicle in person. As such, the drive-in theme will extend to events, with Fiat planning to create "pop-up" drive-ins around the country where it will screen original versions of films that have since been remade. (They'll kick things off with a showing of the original Ocean's Eleven on the Jumbotron in Times Square on Aug. 19.) But the brand is balancing the retro vibe with aggressive new-media efforts and ultra-modern messaging, including an iPad app (see below) and a music video (also below, released in May) set in a Fiat factory and featuring a pulsating version of Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major, Rv 228: Allegro as remixed by a Los Angeles-based electronic band. Also notable: Fiat USA has almost 13,000 Twitter followers—many more than Scion or Mini—and 200,000-plus Facebook fans.
Print ads will feature headlines such as "Form & Function meet. And begin a torrid affair," "Bigger isn't better. It's just harder to park," and "On a scale from 1 to 10, it's a 500."
The car looks great across the various media, and the strategy—both in product development and advertising—seems solid. If you're going to dredge up the past, you'd better be properly engineered for the future.

Fiat Abarth to Hit US in 2012

When you ask most Americans what comes to mind when you say Fiat, one word consistently came up: "broken." Now with Fiat making a re- entrance behind their fantastic 500, feelings are changing. Although the Fiat 500 has only been on US soil for about a year, it is already gaining momentum like a blue whale rolling down a hill. It has just been announced that the long awaited Fiat 500 Abarth will make its American debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and go on sale in the first half of 2012 . This is a huge move forward because according to Inside Line, the initial debut for the Abarth models was supposed to be introduced in the first half of 2013.

When this hot hatchback hits the market its major competitors will be the venerable VW Golf GTI and the Mini Cooper S. The angle that the Fiat successfully utilizes is that over the years both of its competitors have gone somewhat soft and strayed quite far from their roots. In the Fiat Abarth, the lineage is as clear as day and also adds a touch of warm nostalgic familiarity. As soon as your right foot hits the gas, a direct channel to your adrenal glads will be opened. The exhaust note from this peppy 1.4 liter engine reminds us of a little Boston terrier behind a fence, it sounds big but it’s really not. These primal signals will serve as a reminder of how a ’hot’ hatchback can enrich your life.

We adore the little Fiat. Its sense of style, presence, and plucky attitude make it a must have vehicle. This admiration will be multiplied with the Abarth version of this venerable Italian hatchback. The Fiat 500 Abarth serves as a case in point for automakers; in order to move forward, one must often look back.