2012 Fiat 500 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

New Barracuda, Grand Cherokee Trackhawk coming soon

As we write this, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is conducting a major dealership event in sunny Las Vegas. New vehicles are being announced, redesigned offerings are being teased, and promises are being made to the sprawling company's dealer body. And, as all these announcements are meant to be tip-top secret, they're leaking out left, right, and center. Naturally. FCA is telling its dealers all of the vehicles shown at the Vegas gala will be in showrooms within 12 to 24 months, and that the product offensive will include at least 30 new or significantly refreshed models. Some of those we've known about since FCA boss Sergio Marchionne unveiled his highly ambitious five-year plan in May 2014, while we're hearing about others for the very first time. We've reached out to our sources within FCA, and will update this post as we learn more. It should be noted that while we've tried to rely on concrete sources or corroborations from multiple sources, some of the news here comes from people claiming to have been in attendance and posting in forums like Allpar and Jalopnik's Opposite Lock. Unless corroborated by a mainstream source or confirmed by our own sources within FCA, we're listing each item that comes from a forum. Have those grains of salt at the ready. Chrysler Dodge Durango-sized SUV with stow-and-go was shown. A poster on Allpar Forums claims it had a Durango's interior. New Aspen? Town and Country PHEV confirmed (again). A plug-in minivan was originally announced as part of five-year plan. No news on 200 or 300. Dodge The redesigned Charger will use the Alfa Romeo Giulia's rear-drive platform and, according Automotive News, draw inspiration from 1999's Charger concept car. We're wagering the 24-month time frame specified to dealers will move the new sedan's arrival up from 2018 to mid-2017. Jalopnik's Opposite Lock claims two new Challenger models are coming. Challenger ADR (American Drag Racer) and T/A. ADR should appeal to bracket racers and is more powerful than the SRT Hellcat, while T/A is for track rats, just like Viper T/A. Automotive News claims the legendary Barracuda nameplate will be revived as a Dodge. The Barracuda will be smaller than Challenger, offered as both a coupe and a convertible. Allpar claims it will feature modern styling. A Dodge Durango SRT was announced with 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and rear-drive. Sources within FCA confirmed its arrival with Autoblog. Apparently, dealers were shown an example in B5 Blue.

Fiat opens up vintage-style 1957 Edition to 500 Cabrio

If you liked the 1957 edition 500 that Fiat introduced over a year ago but really wanted the open-air flexibility of the 500C, we've got good news for you: The Italian automaker has extended the vintage-look edition to the convertible model. Celebrating "the spirit of the original 1957 Nuova 500," the 1957 Edition adopts a vintage look with retro 16-inch wheels with a wide chrome lip and body-colored hub along with throwback Fiat logos front and rear and a sport-tuned suspension. It's also got an ivory interior, brown leather seats with ivory stitching, grey door panels and more. And of course the convertible version comes with a canvas roof panel to let in the air and sunshine. The 1957 Edition will be offered in white, light green or baby blue. Pricing for the US starts at $24,700, representing a $1,900 premium over the Lounge trim on which it's based. FIAT INTRODUCES NEW FIAT 500 1957 EDITION CABRIO - FIAT brand builds on the success of the Fiat 500 1957 Edition with the addition of a cabrio version - 2015 Fiat 500c 1957 Edition offers vintage Italian styling with open-air driving excitement, starting at $24,700 U.S. MSRP - Limited-production model builds on the Fiat 500's storied past with unique exterior and interior design elements - Novel exterior appearance, three classic exterior colors, 1957-era body-color wheel design and vintage "FIAT" emblems pay homage to the historic Fiat Nuova 500 April 13, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Just in time for the spring and summer top-down driving season, the FIAT brand today introduced the new Fiat 500 1957 Edition Cabrio. The FIAT brand continues to celebrate the storied past of the historic Nuova 500 with the addition of a cabrio version of the popular Fiat 500 1957 Edition, which was introduced in 2014. The Fiat 500c 1957 Edition features a premium dual-layer power-operated cloth top – a contemporary solution to the famous canvas roof on the original Cinquecento – designed to deliver all-season driving pleasure with the top up or down. "We continue to expand the FIAT lineup," said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand for North America. "The Fiat 500 1957 Edition celebrates the spirit of the original 1957 Nuova 500, and with the arrival of a cabrio version, we are adding open-air fun to the iconic Italian-designed Fiat 500 1957 Edition." Pricing for the well-equipped limited-production model starts at $24,700 U.S. MSRP, just $1,900 more than a base Fiat 500c Lounge.

2014 Fiat 500L

Unexpectedly, This Opposite Attracts
Back in 2007 when the Fiat 500 was launched, I was unrepentantly nuts about the thing. From the first time my eyes clapped on the Nuevo Cinquecento at the Geneva Motor Show that year, I wanted one. Since there were no plans for a North American model at the time, I had to settle for purchasing a 1/18th-scale diecast at the expo. When Fiat finally returned to the US and the Cinquecento went on sale in 2011, I was no less excited.
And then I drove one, and the bloom was off my little Italian rose. Oh, I still appreciated its size and high style, but I found it wholly unsatisfying to drive, something that wouldn't be rectified until the Abarth arrived. It wasn't that the standard 500 was slow - I expected that - it was that its wonky driving position, lackluster transmissions and ropey steering all stood in the way of appreciating its other virtues. The Abarth's characterful powertrain would eventually come along to alleviate most of those pains, but not all of them.