Now reports from Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper are claiming that Chrysler is in an advanced state of talks with Fiat, with an eye to teaming with the Italian automaker for possible production in the U.S. Fiat has been looking for idle capacity at auto plants as it plans Alfa Romeo’s American return, and has discussed cooperation with BMW or Detroit Three companies.
Meanwhile, Fiat chief technology officer Harald J. Wester revealed to Handelsblatt that the much-celebrated Fiat 500 minicar will be offered for sale in the U.S., though no time frame was given. Wester said that the American market 500s would be built either in the U.S. or at one of Fiat’s existing facilities in South America.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured) would like his company to have the lowest CO2 emissions of any automaker in Europe by 2012. To help accomplish that goal, and stay ahead of the curve for emissions standards set by the European Union, the Fiat group is developing both gasoline and diesel hybrid systems for its small cars and vans.While he claims that Fiat is still currently in the research phase, CEO of powertrain technologies Alfredo Altavilla says, “if everything proceeds as expected, we could begin production within three years.”
(Click through the jump to read more or on the thumbnails below to check out another interesting Fiat, the 500 Abarth.)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was lucky to escape injury recently, when a brake failure in his vintage Fiat caused a rollover crash.
Seinfeld was alone at the wheel of his 1967 Fiat BTM in East Hampton, New York last Saturday, when the car’s brakes suddenly failed. The comic attempted to use the emergency brake to stop, without success, and was forced to swerve to keep from driving into an intersection. The swerve caused the car to roll over and come to stop just yards from the highway. East Hampton Town Police Chief Todd Sarris said that Seinfeld’s quick thinking, “probably avoided a very serious accident.”
While Seinfeld was reportedly “a little shocked” when he returned home, his sense of humor was evidently undamaged. In a message of warning to all the “kids out there,” Seinfeld said, “I want to make sure they all know that driving without braking is not something I recommend, unless you have professional clown training or a comedy background, as I do.”
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Sources familiar with the project disclosed the possibility of using one of any number of closed automotive factories formerly in use by one of the Detroit three companies. Another scenario has parent company Fiat expanding an existing Case New Holland agricultural machinery plant. Fiat is the owner of Case New Holland, which owns and operates 11 plants within North America.
The Fiat group is also reported to be talking with several U.S. states about incentive and tax abatement packages, though no state in particular was mentioned in the report.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
A strengthening euro and weakening U.S. dollar are complicating Alfa Romeo’s planned return to the American market next year. The changing exchange rates mean that exporting European models to this country will be a considerably more expensive prospect for the Italian manufacturer.
To help keep these costs down Alfa officials are considering the prospect of building a production facility in Mexico, which would be capable of supplying the U.S. with car’s like the upcoming Mi.To hatchback, as well as Alfa’s 149 and 159 models.
Fiat executive Sergio Marchionne recently spoke with Financial Times about North American production for subsidiary Alfa saying, “I’ve always had the view that we had to produce in America.” Marchionne went on to reveal that Alfa is hunting for a U.S. production partner, noting that the company is likely to lose money in North America until such a relationship is formed.
“I can suffer the loss initially, as long as I know I’m going to be producing enough,” said Marchionne.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
In the March 12 edition of its print magazine, Autocar is reporting that tuner Abarth is preparing a new version of the screamingly popular Fiat 500.
The newest Abarth model will reportedly be a convertible version of the Euro microcar, and could go on sale as early as the first part of 2009. The news of the “hot” convertible was obtained by the buff book from a company spokesperson at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The same report claims that two Abarth-only models could follow the 500 drop-top. Fiat is considering a small, two-place convertible and coupe from the tuning house.
(Check out some images of the Fiat 500 from Abarth in our gallery below.)
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
While Tata Motors is in the final stages of its Jaguar and Land Rover takeover, the imperialist eye of company chief Ratan Tata has moved to a new potential target. Tata has already become strongly involved with Fiat and is now reportedly mulling the possible acquisition of a stake in Ferrari.
Fiat actually increased its stake in Ferrari to 85 percent at the same time Tata joined the Italian automaker’s board of directors in 2006. Fiat still owns an option to buy a further 5 percent of the legendary sports car builder, and it’s that option that is reportedly titillating the Tata chief.
The move would make a measure of personal sense for Mr. Tata, who has admitted to dreaming of being a participant in the running of the Ferrari empire. Meanwhile, the sale could also benefit Ferrari, which continues to explore expansion in the burgeoning Indian market.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Perhaps the only thing we love more than Fiat’s retro-cute 500 compact is adding more power underhood. That’s why we thank Abarth, the revived Fiat tuner, for bringing their Abarth 500 SS to the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
Yes, the car still has that unmistakable bubbly profile, but Abarth subtly tweaks the exterior - especially in the front and rear bumpers - to give the hot hatch a more aggressive look. The 17″ alloys nicely fill the wheel wells, while their center logos - along with the red side striping - are direct throwbacks to Abarth’s glory days.
As great as the car looks, it looks even better underhood. Aside from fitting the car with a sport-tuned suspension and exhaust system, Abarth manages to coax 135 horsepower from the 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4. That may not leave the ground singed in flame, but it’s more than enough to make us want to wring the uber-500 across some (or all) of Switzerland’s hilly and winding roads. Can you blame us?
A source for Financial Times Deutschland has revealed that BMW is in negotiations with General Motors and Fiat to sell its own engines and transmissions to the two automakers.
The German daily paper cites that it will release the details today, according to Automotive News.
BMW is already involved in a joint effort with BMW and Daimler AG – with the two-mode hybrid transmission. The extended sales of powertrain units to other automakers would boost revenues and allow BMW to redistribute development costs over more production – and, in theory, allow them to spend more on R&D.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Famed tuners Abarth have toughened up the tiny Fiat, kitting out what is admittedly one of the best looking European small cars in quite some time. The Abarth 500 is lower and meaner, with a blackened front diffuser merging nicely with a new bumper and side skirts. Italy’s national racing red can be found throughout the new fast Fiat, most poignantly in the center of the radically-cool Abarth five-spoke alloys.
There’ll certainly be loads more to discuss about the hot 500, once the car makes its happy entrance in Geneva in a few weeks. Until then, check out our mini gallery of Fiat 500 Abarth images below.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Some of you laughed at the news that Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa received a personalized Fiat 500, but we’d argue he can still have some fun with the nueva Topolino. Case in point is this footage from the recent Fiat 500 Challenge, which pitted a handful of Massa’s teammates and colleagues against each other. Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene joined Massa last month to flog the Fiats around a snowy course.
We’d argue that such an event should have waited for the arrival of the Abarth 500, but it’s mildly enjoyable nonetheless. If one clip isn’t enough, part two is also hosted on YouTube for your enjoyment.
Switzerland in March may be a bit cold for drop-top driving, but that may not deter Fiat. According to AutoExpress, the Italian firm will launch a convertible version of it’s retro 500 compact car at the Geneva motor show.
As we’ve not seen any official materials from Fiat on the drop-top 500, we only have AutoExpress’ rendering to go by. The look isn’t bad (although it is a bit frumpy in the hind quarters), but we’re confused by what the British magazine anticipates from Fiat. Although the photo makes the new car look like a conventional convertible, the magazine says the 500 ‘vert will simply be a sliding cloth top installed on the existing car, much like the original 500. AutoExpress claims the car will retain a glass rear window, full-frame doors, and the existing car’s roofline. The rendering seemingly sports none of these cues.
We suppose either design would sell; the die-hard 500 fans may love the retro throwback, but convertible lovers in Europe would enjoy any form of drop-top motoring. We’ll see for ourselves in March when WINDING ROAD covers the Geneva show, but we’re still holding out for the reincarnation of the Jolly.
Diesel with Attitude: The Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro
Report: Volkswagen Working on Driverless Self-Parking System for Production
More Spied Images of New Camaro Interior
Early Scoop on Volkswagen Tiguan's U.S. Launch, Diesel Delayed? Not Coming? 
Report: Mercedes-Benz to Leverage Aluminum for Next E-class
