2012 Fiat 500 Pop Automatic Cruise Ctl Alloys 185 Miles Texas Direct Auto on 2040-cars

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Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth loses 10 hp in its journey to the US [UPDATE]

Update: A Fiat spokesperson got back to us about some questions about the Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth, and those quotes are now in the story. The Abarth-tuned version of the Fiat 124 Spider crosses the Atlantic to debut in US spec at the New York Auto Show. The droptop gets a much longer name on these shores as the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth, and the trip across the ocean robs it of 10 horsepower, too. The Elaborazione Abarth in the US makes 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder. If those numbers seem familiar, it's because they are identical to the standard 124 Spider in this country. In Europe, the Abarth model makes 170 hp and 184 lb-ft from the same engine. Buyers on both continents can choose between six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes. "The engine of the EMEA [Europe, the Middle East and Africa] Abarth Spider has unique tuning developed according to European regulations, so the [horsepower] number is different," Fiat spokesperson Angela Bianchi told Autoblog. Customers in the US also appear to lose out on some European features. The reveal in Geneva seems to show Brembo brakes as standard equipment on the convertible. However, the US announcement is clear that the four-piston monoblock aluminum calipers are optional here. Bianchi told Autoblog the decision to make the Brembos optional was "a decision by the brand here based on customer preference." Other than these changes, the two models are practically identical. There continues to be a stiffer suspension with mono-tube Bilstein front and rear shocks, and the limited-slip differential helps put the power down. The Abarth's Sport Mode button also recalibrates the engine, automatic transmission, electric power steering and dynamic stability control system for better response when the driver wants it. Aesthetically, the Abarth has the same retro-sporty look on both continents, too. The black hood calls back to the original convertible. Inside, black and microfiber upholstery is standard, but options include full leather or leather and Alcantara Recaro sport seats. We'll keep an eye out for smaller changes when we see the Abarth droptop in the Big Apple.

1950s car ads are timeless

Usually around the Super Bowl a few great car commercials show up, but for the most part auto ads today pale in comparison to the '1950s and '60s. In an era with a truly viable magazine industry, automakers would take out gorgeous full-page spreads to get the word out about their wares. It was also a time when imports were just hitting the US, and there was a boom in sports cars. Car and Driver has gone for a dig into its advertising archives from when the book was known as Sports Cars Illustrated for a truly great viewing experience. You can imagine a young Don Draper mulling over the copy for these ads, but some of it is laughably quaint today. For example, there's a great image of a driver whipping an Austin-Healey 100 around a track. The italicized red text proudly proclaims, "From 0 to 60 MPH in 10.5 seconds." One of the beautiful parts about these advertisements is that you seldom see photos of the cars. Instead, there are often detailed drawings that slightly distort the vehicles' lines. With this approach, the Porsche 356 ends up looking far more curvaceous than in real life. Plus, the front end of the Chrysler 300 looks large enough to land a helicopter on. The whole thing is worth scrolling through. There are some fascinating glimpses into auto history like an ad for Abarth exhausts before the brand was just known for tuning Fiats. Related Video: News Source: Car and DriverImage Credit: GM Heritage Center Marketing/Advertising Read This Chrysler Fiat Porsche Performance Classics porsche 356 abarth

Recharge Wrap-up: Renault-Nissan at COP22, BMW launches Cruise e-Bike

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has been chosen to provide a fleet of electric cars for the UN's COP22 Climate Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco. The group will provide 50 passenger EVs – the Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf, and Nissan e-NV200 – to shuttle delegates to and from conference venues. The Alliance will also provide more than 20 charging stations to support the shuttle fleet. The group provided electric shuttles for the historic COP21 summit in Paris last year. Read more from Renault-Nissan. FCA, Iveco, and gas grid company Snam have signed an agreement to boost natural gas as a cleaner alternative fuel for Italy. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, FCA and Iveco will work together to develop CNG vehicles, while Snam will invest in CNG supply facilities like filling stations to support a growing fleet. Italy leads Europe in the amount of natural gas consumed for transport, with 1 million vehicles currently on the road. Read more at Green Car Congress. LG Chem has officially announced it will build a battery plant in Poland to the tune of about $340 million. Located near Wroclaw in southwestern Poland, the plant is expected to produce 100,000 batteries a year for 200-mile EVs beginning in 2019. The plant could help Poland in its goal to reduce pollution by introducing a million EVs on its roads by 2025. "We will turn the Poland EV battery plant into a mecca of battery production for electric vehicles around the world," says UB Lee, President of LG Chem's Energy Solution Company. Construction begins in the second half of 2017. Read more from Automotive News Europe. BMW has introduced the Cruise e-Bike. Its Bosch Performance Line electric motor provides electric assistance at speeds of up to 15 mph. The battery can be either be removed or remain on the bike for charging, which takes 3.5 hours for a full charge. "BMW aims to be the leading provider of premium mobility services, and our bicycle collection furthers that mission," says BMW Accessory and Lifestyle Manager Eric Riehle. "As we enter the holiday season, these bikes make the perfect present for those wishing for their first BMW." The BMW Cruise e-Bike costs $3,430. Read more from BMW.