Road Race Motorsports Fiat 500 Club Sportivo Tested: Cinquecento Gets (Slightly) Nasty

Often, with cars like the Volkswagen Beetle or Fiat 500, the curse of cuteness can be totally reversed by adding slick wheels, applying a few decals, and slamming the sucker. You don't even have to touch the engine. Fleets of first-gen Scion xBs roll around Los Angeles in just such a fashion. They might make the same 108 hp as those transporting the legions of cheerleaders who also bought xBs, but, slammed, they get props from car dudes.

We'd expect more than just paint and tape and a slam from Road Race Motorsports. Based in the L.A. suburb of Santa Fe Springs, the company earned its credibility over the past few years making hard-core Lancer Evolution parts and, more recently, suspension and engine kits to perk up various Suzuki and Hyundai models. The company's new Fiat 500 Club Sportivo does look slick, even more so when you learn why the hood and roof are matte black. Road Race owner Rob Tallini currently is restoring an old Lancia Fulvia into a tribute to the factory rally cars from the early '70s, and was inspired to finish this 500's hood and roof in similar fashion.

Besides the graphics and the wheels and the slammed Bilstein suspension, the Club Sportivo—okay, that might be a slightly silly name for a car, but then so is Golf—wears some intake and exhaust mods developed by Road Race to make it a little breezier under throttle. The result is a pseudo ricer with an Italian flare, one that goes a little quicker and turns a bit sharper than the stock floater, with substantially less sway in the corners.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/road-race-motorsports-fiat-500-club-sportivo-review

Milwaukee FIAT

2012 Fiat 500: GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2012 Nominee

It was a smash hit in Europe, where it went on sale in 2007. Now, it's reached the U.S.--and, boy, does it get attention.

Driving a 2012 Fiat 500 guarantees stares, questions, and thumbs-up pretty much wherever you go. Perhaps no new car since the arrival of the MINI in 2001 has caused such a stir.

Powered by a 101-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine--built in Dundee, Michigan--the Fiat 500 minicar is the first of several Fiat and Alfa-Romeo models to arrive in the States, courtesy of Fiat's takeover of the bankrupt Chrysler Corporation in a government-sponsored marriage in 2009.

The little Fiat comes as a three-door hatchback, a two-door 500C Cabriolet with a roll-back cloth roof, and soon a 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth hot-hatch model with 170 hp (launched last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show).

Ratings for the Abarth haven't yet been released, but the EPA rates the 500 hatchback at 30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission, and 27 city, 34 highway with the six-speed automatic. The 500C Cabrio model, offered only with the automatic, comes in at 27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1069802_2012-fiat-500-greencarreports-best-car-to-buy-2012-nominee

Next Fiat 500 Minicar: Abarth 'Hot Hatch' Sports Version

This time, it's not about cute.

In less than a month, Fiat will unveil the next model of its 500 minicar at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will be the 'hot hatch' model, with actual performance upgrades for better acceleration, braking, and handling. The current Fiat 500 Sport model combines suspension modification with some unique trim, but has no powertrain changes.

The Abarth name is legendary among Italian car fans, and could be considered roughly the equivalent of "Cooper" for the British Mini line. Abarth was originally an Italian tuning shop that also built low-volume cars; it's now become a  factory brand.

Abarths can be recognized by their scorpion graphics, signifying lots of sting packed inside tiny vehicles. Or as founder Karl Abarth said half a century ago: "small, but wicked."

The 2012 Abarth model will add a turbocharger to the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine used in all North American 500s, along with a six-speed manual gearbox. Fiat hasn't given output specs yet, but they'll likely be close to the European figures of 135 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067979_next-fiat-500-minicar-abarth-hot-hatch-sports-version

Fiat 500 earns top crash-test scores

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Fiat 500, a minicar anchoring the Italian automaker's return to the United States via Chrysler, today received a top rating from an influential safety group.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said the 2012 500 Sport two-door had earned good marks for front, side rollover and rear crash evaluations.

Results reflect performance in crashes that would occur with similar-sized vehicles. The only other mini car to earn similar scores was Ford Motor Co's Fiesta.

The top score for front crash resistance was earned during a retest in August after Fiat/Chrysler modified front seating to make it more secure, the IIHS said.

Chrysler is counting on the hatchback 500 and other fuel-efficient vehicles to revive its lineup, which is dominated by pickups and other light trucks.

The IIHS assesses a range of models each year. Underwritten by the insurance industry, the institute's ratings are closely followed by automakers, consumer groups and safety regulators.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111018/OEM03/310189793/1306#ixzz1bLGp7paA

Video: CNN test drives the Fiat 500 at the Consumer Reports’ test track

The Fiat 500, the first Fiat offering since the company took control of Chrysler, was widely anticipated in the United States.

Consumer Reports just published a road test of the tiny, retro-styled Fiat 500--the first vehicle from Fiat to be sold in America for decades. CNN’s Ali Velshi recently visited our Auto Test Center to take the 500 for a spin around our 327-acre facility and discuss our findings with Senior Director David Champion.

Besides its eye-catching looks, fun-to-drive handling and compact car fuel economy, the 500 loses some of its appeal with a choppy ride, noisy cabin, and tight rear seats. Even with these compromises, the 500 won many drivers over with its playful personality.

Champion goes into more detail on the ride and our review on the 500 with Velshi. Check out the CNN video clip below. For the full take, see our complete Fiat 500 road test and video.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/09/video-cnn-test-drives-the-fiat-500-at-the-consumer-reports-test-track.html

Our MPGs Vs Consumer Reports: Fiat 500

2012 Fiat 500

We liked the Fiat 500 just because it's new, different, and definitely stylish. It attracts attention even from jaded New York City residents, and we can only imagine what it would be like in the wide-open precincts of Texas--where, Fiat says, they're selling far more 500s than they expected.

CR says it got 33 mpg (so did we), and called it "nimble and easy to park," which it is. It criticized the "noisy cabin, flawed driving position, and jumpy ride." We were fine with the driving position, but think the other critiques rather miss the point.

Few Fiat 500 buyers are likely to substitute it for a compact sedan: It's a lifestyle car. And in that role, we thought it did fine, if you happen to want a three-door hatchback minicar with a gigantic dose of style.

So that's our comparison with Consumer Reports--but your opinions may differ from ours and theirs. As they say, your mileage may vary.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1065332_our-mpgs-vs-consumer-reports-volt-civic-hybrid-jetta-tdi-lexus-ct-200h-fiat-500

Fiat plans 500 and 500c Gucci editions

DETROIT -- Gucci editions of the 2012 Fiat 500 and 500 convertible will go on sale in December, Fiat said today.

The cars will feature glossy pearl paint, green and red stripes on the body or roof, and satin-chrome mirrors and door handles. The interior will have special embroidery, two-tone seats, leather accents along with other design touches.

Consumers can also buy the 500 by Gucci collection, which includes travel accessories, track suits, driver's gloves, sunglasses, a watch and other items, which will be available in select Gucci stores and online at www.gucci.com.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110816/OEM04/110819938/1306#ixzz1VJggQcXm