Ever since marking its return to the U.S. with the Fiat 500, Fiat has been steadily expanding the breadth of this nameplate to include the all-electric 500e, the sporty Abarth, the bigger 500L and soon, the 500X. Circling back to the standard 500, Fiat is giving its iconic little hatchback a...Read More»
Minicars are big business nowadays. That's often because they earn good gas mileage -- nothing to sneeze at, given today's increasingly higher fuel prices. They're also easy to maneuver and park, which is a nice bonus for urban dwellers. What most minicars don't do well, however, is protect their...Read More»
Last week, we discussed Alfa Romeo's return to the U.S., led by the late-2013 arrival of the 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C. While the car looks great, we had some questions about Fiat's sales strategy for the sleek two-seater. Here's the problem: the 4C is essentially an intro-level supercar. (Alfa Romeo even...Read More»
Many folks in the auto industry have praised Sergio Marchionne for revitalizing Chrysler. But according to a report in Automotive News, Marchionne may have made a major miscalculation about Fiat's prospects on this side of the pond. Will Fiat and its poster child, the Fiat 500, survive -- and...Read More»
Streamlining product lines is nothing new among automakers, but Chrysler’s plans for future products may catch some consumers by surprise. The idea is to reduce duplication across brands, eliminate customer confusion and, obviously, increase sales. What’s on tap for Chrysler Group in...Read More»
Fiat's rollout of the 2012 500 is ramping up to warp speed. Not only have we seen special Gucci editions of the city car, but we recently spotted a new commercial for the 500 starring Jennifer Lopez zooming rapidly around the block from whence she comes. Now, there's another 500 special edition on...Read More»
Last week, we told you about Fiat's new commercial for the 500c, starring singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. But watching that ad is a little confusing, like joining an episode of Cheaters halfway through. Why, for example, are those men beating the crap out of one another? Why are they chasing J-Lo?...Read More»
Newly single mamí-from-the-block Jennifer Lopez has gone boldly where few A-List celebs are willing to go: deep into the belly of a car commercial. For now, at least, it appears that J-Lo is the face of the 2012 Fiat 500c. In an ad that debuted this week on Monday Night Football, Lopez...Read More»
If you're considering the purchase of a 2011 Fiat 500, you may want to hold off a few weeks longer. In addition to the standard model currently in showrooms, Fiat is also launching a very special edition of the 500 -- one that's tricked out by Gucci. Like many human models, it's set to debut during...Read More»
Fiat has some ambitious plans for their 2012 Fiat 500 in the U.S. market. The automaker wants to sell a minimum of 30,000 Fiat 500s in the United States this year, but delays in dealership openings have put that plan in jeopardy. Through June, Fiat sold just 4,944 500s in America; to reach its...Read More»
No one really knew how well the Fiat 500 would sell in the United States. Brand champions, such as Fiat North America head Laura Soave, predicted success, based on the car’s novelty factor and pent-up demand for the Fiat brand in the United States. Escalating fuel prices played into...Read More»
Father's Day is a less than a week away. What better way to show your Dad that you care than to bond with him for a few hours over some seriously beautiful examples of automotive art? Best of all, some of them are free or charge a small fee that goes to charity. Here are a random 10 spanning coast...Read More»
When a guy in a glossy black twin-cab diesel pickup truck leans out the passenger window with a camera to take your picture--and you're driving a tiny avocado green 2012 Fiat 500C Cabrio with the roof rolled down--you know this is an unusual car. Not since the introduction of the 2002 Mini Cooper...Read More»
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt makes its TV-ad debut tonight during the World Series. By the way, did you know it's American? So we hear. [PoliticsAndCars] Can you really get a deal on a car you really want? Lucky you, we've found five vehicles that have become a little more wheely-dealy lately...Read More»
With the buzz around the introduction to the U.S. of the 2011 Fiat 500, I figured there had to be something about this tiny car that appeals to a growing segment of the population. I mean, we’ve already got some pretty cool small cars zipping around and doing quite well sales-wise, including...Read More»
Back in August, some Chrysler dealers were worried about CEO Sergio Marchionne's plans to launch Fiat in the U.S. They were concerned about the expense (Marchionne wants to sell the Fiat in new, Fiat-branded showrooms), the logic of adding another brand to the Chrysler family, and the demand for...Read More»
Today was huge for Chrysler! They announced/revealed pictures and some details on four new or refreshed 2011 models. From the refreshed Chrysler 200 (which is the new name for the Sebring) to the new Fiat 500 Sport, it was a frenzy of news. Chrysler took the social media route in releasing the...Read More»
A week ago, we told you that Chrysler's Sergio Marchionne was planning to meet potential Fiat dealers and explain his vision of the American Fiat network. Yesterday, the CEO did just that, and he seems to have generated lots of enthusiasm among attendees -- even though other dealers are clearly...Read More»
Just when you think you've seen enough green, High Gear Media is rounding out the week with more coverage of hybrids and electric cars today. Batting lead: the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which turns in Fusion-like fuel economy and has big tax credits in its arsenal--and sports a comely new front...Read More»
