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Fiat debuts two cars in the Chrysler display at the 2010 NAIAS

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The Fiat Abarth and the Fiat 500 are on display at the 2010 NAIAS in Detroit.

by Michele K. michelek@mac.com

DETROIT -- Tara from Fiat said that the Fiat 500’s on display at the auto show would be available in the USA in about two years. They will slowly bring more Fiat cars over. The Fiat 500 was rear-engined on the pattern of the Volkswagen Beetle just like it’s bigger brother, the 1955 Fiat 600.

Fiat previewed the all new 500 in March 2007 exactly 50 years after the first Fiat 500 was presented. The design of the new 2007 Fiat 500 is based on the 2004 Fiat Trepiuno concept.

This car features a distinctive retro-look just like the Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI but is substantially cheaper than those cars, with a starting price of €10,500 (similar to how the original Fiat 500 was cheaper than the Volkswagen Beetle and Austin Mini). The car is 3.55 meters long and 1.65 meters wide. Top speed is 180 km/h (112 mph). The basic price is €10,500 in Italy; with options €15,000.

Fiat shares the underpinnings of the new 500 with Ford for the 2009 Ford Ka. Production takes place in Fiat facilities in Poland, and is currently scheduled for mid 2007 with commercial debut in September 2007.

Three four-cylinder engines are available. A 69 PS 1.2 8v unit, the 75 PS 1.3 Multijet common-rail turbo diesel, and a 100 PS 1.4 16v engine coupled to a 6 speed manual gearbox as found in the Panda 100HP. Currently, three trims are available the Pop, Sport and Lounge. A fourth more basic model called 'Naked' may be put on sale, although it is doubtful whether it will be available in all markets.

A Fiat 500 Abarth was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, and it is be powered by a 1.4 liter Fire engine with an IHI variable geometry turbocharger. The Abarth has 135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp) and 180 N·m (130 lb·ft) of torque, with the option with 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp) and 206 N·m (152 lb·ft) in sports mode.

The all-new 500 received critical acclaim from many magazines. British-magazine Car called the new Fiat "irresistible". The car also received a full five star EURO NCAP crash test rating.

This car was one of Shaun K.’s favorite autos at this year’s show.

For more information, visit http://www.fiat500.com/.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The 2011 Fiat 500 makes its North American debut at the NAIAS.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The Fiat Abarth SS has five-point harnesses tied into racing seats.

 

This page was last updated on Wed, January 20, 2010 12:04 PM

 

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