13 Fiat Pop $13,991 Auto Spoiler 15" Alloy Exterior Pop Appearance Blue & Me on 2040-cars

Auto blog

It turns out the Fiat 500X isn't a track car

Our long-term Fiat 500X has been a trusty sidekick for road trips, errands, and all the other tasks you normally throw at a baby crossover. But our exhaustive testing does not stop there. On a recent trip to GingerMan Raceway (where we tracked the BMW M2, Ford Focus RS, and our long-term Mazda Miata) the little green Fiat came along on camera-lugging duty. And then Mike and I got in and took it for a hot lap. Though this may seem crazy on the surface, let me try and defend myself. The mode switch on the 500X's center console has a little graphic of the crossover next to a waving checkered flag to signify Sport mode. That was really all the indication I needed to confirm the vehicle's true intentions. So we switched it to track attack, did a brake-torqued launch, and went hunting for apexes. As you'll see in the video above, the baby Fiat ute was actually kind of entertaining on the track. Its torquey 2.4-liter engine engine is fun enough to work, and the nine-speed auto shifted relatively quickly (when I remembered to request shifts). We (okay, I) sort of forgot the last rule of hot-lap club. Wait for the end to find out what I mean. So no, we didn't set any lap records. Except we probably set the track record for a 500X, because I can't imagine anyone else is going to take theirs to GingerMan any time soon. But please, prove me wrong. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Fiat Long-Term Garage Crossover Performance Videos Original Video fiat 500x

If Tesla Model 3 is successful, Sergio Marchionne will copy it

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne hasn't hidden his disdain for electric vehicles, but he would copy the Tesla Model 3 if it is successful, according to Automotive News Europe. If Elon Musk "can show me that the car will be profitable at that price, I will copy the formula, add the Italian design flair and get it to the market within 12 months," Marchionne told Automotive News Europe during FCA's annual meeting in Amsterdam. In terms of pre-orders, the Model 3 is a success. Musk tweeted on April 7 that the company had over 325,000 reservations for the sedan, which he estimated were worth around $14 billion. The car will start at $35,000 before incentives. Marchionne, however, isn't optimistic Tesla can actually make the electric sedan work financially. "I'm am not surprised by the high number of reservations but you have then to build and deliver them and also be profitable," he told ANE. The FCA boss is a noted skeptic of EVs. In 2012, he said that the company only built the 500e because of California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate and to give engineers experience with the technology. He doubled-down in 2014 when he claimed FCA lost $14,000 on each 500e and said he would rather people didn't buy them. More recently, he infamously said "you'd have to shoot me first," before he'd allow a fully electric Ferrari. Related Video:

Stormtrooper-painted Fiat 500 brings Star Wars to LA Auto Show

Some of you might have heard that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is opening on Dec. 8. FCA US is one of the brand sponsors paired up with Lucasfilm on the cinematic Third Coming, so it's been rolling out themed products to get ready. At this week's LA Auto Show it showed off a Fiat 500e draped in the same lack-of-colors as customized by Garage Italia, the artistic tuner headed by Fiat scion Lapo Elkann that recently brought us the Alfa 4C La Furiosa. The 500e is ready for the First Order Legion - it might save them all that marching - with a black-and-white wrap that mimics the helmet across the windshield and hood, and puts Stormtrooper graphics on the wheel centers. The theme continues inside with custom leather and Alcantara seating, graphics painted in lacquer, and a Stormtrooper looking back at you from the steering wheel. Previously, FCA dressed up Dodge Chargers up like Stormtroopers and put them into Uber service in New York. The FIAT Brand Displays Custom Painted Fiat 500e "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Stormtrooper and Diane Von Furstenberg Custom-wrapped Fiat 500X at 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show November 19, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The FIAT brand will have two special custom-designed vehicles on display at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. As part of the FCA US LLC support of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," opening December 18, the FIAT brand will display a custom-painted Fiat 500e stormtrooper. Lucasfilm recently announced that it is collaborating with FCA US, in addition to six other global brands, for the launch of an expansive, historic promotional campaign in support of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." The exterior livery of the Fiat 500e stormtrooper is inspired by the armor of the First Order Legion, with a two-tone black and white custom painting of the car body. The windshield and the side windows are wrapped to bring out the immediately recognizable visor and helmet of the First Order stormtrooper. Inside, everything is in black and white, too, with total custom front and rear seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara®. The dashboard is painted in white and it is enriched by the "Star Wars" logo on it. All the details are painted in white/black lacquer, and a First Order insignia can be found on the two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel.