13 Fiat 500 Abarth White Only 7k Miles Heated Seats on 2040-cars

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Spitballs flying between Nissan and Fiat

At the 2012 LA Auto Show, Fiat brand chief and recently crowned marketing genius, Olivier François, attempted to distance the Fiat 500e from other electric vehicles, asking rhetorically, "Isn't ugliness the worst kind of pollution?" Nissan has apparently taken issue with these comments, feeling slighted for what it considers digs at the Leaf's styling. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Nissan's marketing chief Simon Sproule shot back, "Let's face it, Fiat has not shied away from controversial styling themselves," he continued, "many would describe many of their products as visual pollution." Ouch.
Sproule says that while the 500e is a "me-too" product, made only to appease US emissions regulations, the Leaf is a serious effort at producing an EV. The Nissan marketing boss points out that the Japanese automaker has invested billions in EV development and production facilities, while Fiat will lose $10,000 on every 500e sold.
However sales of the Leaf in the US are down five percent. Nissan sold just 8,330 Leaf's so far this year, but Sproule contends that it has less to do with styling, and more with the charging infrastructure. Sproule also thinks that Nissan hit a balance between styling and practicality with the Leaf: "It's still very recognizable as a five-seat hatchback, fully functioning, absolutely competitive with the packaging of the Golf of any other mainstream vehicle." For a segment where efficiency is king, isn't that what matters most?

Fiat is quitting the minicar segment it dominates

Fiat plans to exit the minicar segment its global empire is built on. Strict safety and emissions regulations looming over the European new car market will soon make developing pocket-sized models prohibitively expensive, so the Italian firm will shift its attention to the next segment up. "In the very near future, you will see us refocus on this higher-volume, higher-margin segment, and that will involve a move away from the minicar segment," announced Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) boss Mike Manley during a recent conference call with analysts. He didn't provide a specific time frame, but industry trade journal Automotive News speculated the move will happen by 2024. The 500 and the Panda, Fiat's entries in the segment, continue to sell relatively well in spite of their age. The 12-year old 500 was the 16th best-selling car in Europe in 2018; the eight-year old Panda finished in 20th position, but it led the Italian sales chart by a significant margin. Fiat already announced the next-generation 500 -- which likely won't be sold in the United States -- will only be offered with an electric powertrain, but the current car is expected to remain in production for as long as possible. The Panda's future is murkier; the 2019 Centoventi concept hinted at an electric replacement, but Manley's statement seemingly suggests Fiat shifted the project to the back burner. The next-generation 500 will make its debut at the 2020 Geneva auto show and go on sale shortly after. While the model will live on as an electric car, Fiat will focus on slightly bigger subcompact cars that enjoy thicker profit margins, like the Renault Clio and the Volkswagen Polo, Europe's second and third best-sellers (behind the Golf) in 2018. The Italian firm left the segment when it deep-sixed the Punto in 2018; it's now looking for a way back in. The on-going tie-up with Paris-based PSA Group would give it access to the new platform found under the Peugeot 208 and the Opel Corsa. It was developed with gasoline-, diesel-, and electric-powered drivetrains in mind. Fiat's rivals on the European market have recently come to a similar conclusion. The Ford Ka+ and the Opel/Vauxhall Karl retired earlier than expected, decisions partly blamed on sluggish sales, and Volkswagen will allegedly drop the gasoline-powered variant of the Up! to focus on the electric model. Smart's ForTwo and ForFour have gone electric-only.

Alfa Romeo will gain a Jeep Compass-based SUV

It was reported earlier this week that FCA would invest into its Italian factories to ramp up production at currently underutilized locations. Those plans have now been clarified with official information from FCA, as reported by Automotive News. The entire investment is worth $5.7 billion. First of all, Alfa Romeo will gain a new compact SUV based on the Jeep Compass architecture. The still-unnamed model will be available as a plug-in hybrid, and it will be built in Pomigliano, Italy. No U.S. availability has yet been announced, but it would not be odd to see the Compass-based model sold below the Stelvio in the States. The last time Alfa Romeo had anything similar in its model portfolio was when it offered Crosswagon-badged four-wheel-drive versions of the 156 and 159 wagons. As for the Jeep Compass itself, it will begin to be built at the Melfi plant in Italy. The rumored small "baby" Jeep slotting under the Renegade has not yet been officially mentioned. Fiat will introduce a battery electric 500, built in Turin, and the Pomigliano plant that will make the compact Alfa Romeo SUV will also be used to build a mild hybrid version of the Panda city car. The 500X will gain a PHEV variant. The Stelvio platform will also spawn a corresponding SUV for Maserati, and FCA also mentioned Maserati will introduce a new, unnamed model it will make in Modena. Automotive News quotes Italian press as saying this will be the Alfieri coupe and convertible, also offered as battery electric versions. Related Video: