2014 Fiat 500 Pop Hatchback on 2040-cars

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Road Race Motorsports rolls out Fiat 500 M1 Turbo Tallini Competizione

We've seen some pretty radical modifications based on the Fiat 500 - from the Abarth 695 Biposto to that ridiculous idea to put a Ferrari engine in the back of a Cinquecento - but we never seem to get tired of it. On that note, we bring you the Fiat 500 M1 Turbo Tallini Competizione.
Built by Road Race Motorsports, the M1 takes a tarmac-rally approach and features an extensive list of modifications. For starters, the engine has been retuned to produce 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, helping to knock a second off the 0-60 time (7.2 seconds from the factory). Upgraded brakes net a 20-percent improvement in stopping distance, and Road Race has put a special emphasis on high-speed stability and cornering performance.
Other modifications include a limited-slip differential, carbon-kevlar clutch and a reworked suspension with Bilstein shocks, stiffer bushings and upgraded sway bar, with 16-inch wheels wearing Toyo Proxes rubber. In addition to a full carbon-fiber widebody kit that helps cut 120 pounds off the curb weight, Road Race has given the M1 a new front air dam, side skirts, hood vents, brake ducts and rear spoiler. The interior has similarly been upgraded with racing buckets, five-point harnesses and a roll cage.

2016 Fiat 500X configurator is live, $20,000* to start

Fresh off an entertaining commercial during the 2015 Super Bowl, Fiat has unleashed the configurator for its all-new 500X CUV. And like its brother, the Jeep Renegade, the 500X starts cheap, but can get expensive in a hurry. Prices for the base 500X start at an even $20,000, not counting a $900 destination charge. That'll get you the front-drive-only, base-level Pop trim, with a 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, six-speed manual transmission, 16-inch steelies with wheel covers, a four-speaker stereo and unlike its Jeep-branded sibling, standard air conditioning. Next up is the $22,300 Easy, and its standard nine-speed automatic transmission and 2.4-liter four-cylinder. 17-inch wheels come standard, as does a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six-speaker stereo and Bluetooth connectivity, a Dynamic Selector Traction Control system, cruise control and remote start. For those that want to butch up the 500X's cutesy interior, the $23,100 Trekking trim adds a more aggressive front fascia with integrated fog lights and brawny 17-inch wheels. In the cabin, "premium" cloth seats replace the standard thrones. The luxurious Lounge trim starts at $24,850 and adds a 6.5-inch touchscreen with navigation, standard heated and powered cloth seats, optional leather seats, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a 3.5-inch color display in the instrument cluster, a rear-view camera and four different interior color options. At the very tip-top of the range, we have the Trekking Plus, starting at a lofty $28,100. Adding basically everything from the Lounge trim with the aesthetics of the Trekking, if you really want the best 500X available, this is your CUV. This was the priciest model we could configure, hitting $33,500 with all-wheel drive, the $2,600 Trekking Plus Collection 2 (forward collision warning, auto high beams, lane departure warning and a dual-pane sunroof) and the stylish, $1,000 Giallo Tristrato paint. The prices listed above are for front-wheel drive only – adding all-wheel drive bumps up the 500X's price by $1,900. Beyond that, there are a plethora of option packages available on everything from the Easy to the Trekking Plus, meaning you'll be able to drive your out-the-door price beyond even what's listed here. These packages, like on the Renegade, will add everything from luxury features, like a heated steering wheel/seats and a panoramic sunroof, to safety items, like blind-spot monitoring and a rear-view camera.

FCA earnings improve in first quarter

Following on the recent global financial releases from Ford and from General Motors for the first quarter of 2015, FCA is now putting out its own numbers, and things look quite good for the company. The automaker posted adjusted earnings before taxes and interest of $895 million, a 22-percent jump from Q1 2014, and net profits of $103 million, a $296-million boost from last year. Revenue was also up 19 percent to $30 billion. Despite the favorable figures, actual worldwide shipments fell slightly by 2 percent to 1.1 million vehicles. FCA is giving some credit for these strong Q1 results to the automaker's performance in the NAFTA region. Shipments grew 8 percent to 633,000 vehicles, and net revenue jumped a strong 38 percent to $18.1 billion. Adjusted earnings reached $672 million, compared to $425 million in 2014. The company especially praised the Jeep Renegade, Chrysler 200, and Ram 1500 for helping the bottom line. The numbers could have been even higher, but the corporation admitted that "higher warranty and recall costs" partially drug things down. For the full year in 2015, FCA expects to ship between 4.8 and 5 million vehicles worldwide and post up to $5 billion in adjusted earnings. There should be about $1.3 billion in net profit, as well. FCA CLOSED Q1 WITH NET REVENUES OF ˆ26.4 BILLION, UP 19% AND ADJUSTED EBIT AT ˆ800 MILLION, UP 22% 30/04/15 FCA closed Q1 with net revenues of ˆ26.4 billion, up 19% and adjusted EBIT at ˆ800 million, up 22%. Net industrial debt was ˆ8.6 billion, up ˆ0.9 billion. Full year guidance confirmed. Worldwide shipments were 1.1 million units, 2% lower than Q1 2014, reflecting strong performance in NAFTA and weak market conditions in LATAM. Jeep's positive performance continued with worldwide shipments up 11% and sales up 22%. Net revenues were up 19% to ˆ26.4 billion (+4% at constant exchange rates, or CER). Adjusted EBIT was ˆ800 million, up ˆ145 million from Q1 2014, with all segments except LATAM posting positive results. The positive impact of foreign exchange translation was offset by negative impacts at a transactional level. Net profit was ˆ92 million, up ˆ265 million compared to the net loss of ˆ173 million in Q1 2014. Net industrial debt was ˆ8.6 billion, up ˆ0.9 billion from year-end mainly due to timing of capital expenditures and working capital seasonality. Liquidity remained strong at ˆ25.2 billion. The Group confirms its full-year guidance.