500 Abarth W/ Magneti Marelli on 2040-cars

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Chrysler banks $507 million in Q2, trims 2013 earnings forecast

Chrysler has some good news and some bad news. First, profits were up 16 percent over the second quarter of 2012, bringing the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based manufacturer $507 million on the back of strong demand for trucks and SUVs (a recurring theme this quarter, particularly in the US). Q2 revenue was up as well, from $16.8 billion in 2012 to $18 billion in 2013. The bad news is that the Pentastar's overall earnings forecast for net income in 2013 has been trimmed from $2.2 billion to between $1.7 and $2.2 billion, according to Automotive News.
In addition to the adjusted net income forecast, Chrysler tweaked its operating profit from $3.8 billion to between $3.3 and $3.8 billion. This has gone largely unexplained by Chrysler, perhaps hoping the news of a three-percent increase in its transaction prices for Q2 will allow it to sweep this adjustment under the rug.
The star of the show for Chrysler has been its US sales, which saw a 10-percent jump, both bettering the industry average of eight percent and improving over the same stretch of 2012. As with the increase in transaction prices, Chrysler has the new Ram pickup and Jeep Grand Cherokee to thank. Perhaps most worrying from this report, though, is that every brand in the automaker's stable saw an increase in sales... except for the Chrysler brand itself.

Fiat 500 gets unique leather trim for charity auction

It may or may not be to everyone's liking, but the Fiat 500 definitely has a style all its own. This particular example, however, takes it even further. What you're looking at is the very first example of the freshly facelifted 500 to roll off the assembly line. But it's not just the serial number that makes it special. The convertible model is painted in Bossa Nova white with a red roof and the 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine with a modest 69 horsepower. What sets it apart, though, is the unique treatment applied by Stefano Conticelli. The Umbrian master craftsman has hand-applied honey-gold leather trim, but not inside where you'd expect it: the exterior has been decked out in the buttery-soft hides, including the wheel arches, along the quarter panel, on a stripe running down the flank nose, and around the head- and taillights. The leather trim is outlined with a blue stripe reminiscent of Riva yachts. The wing mirrors, meanwhile, have been done up in mahogany wood, and a picnic basket is affixed to the tailgate. The result, even more than a standard Cinquecento, may not be everyone's cup of espresso, but it's certainly unique – and from the photos, at least, looks rather finely crafted. The one-of-a-kind retro city car will be auctioned off in Monte Carlo at the I Defend Gala to raise funds for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Europe organization. Related Video: A Fiat showcar for auction, for a noble cause The New 500 will be a leading light in Montecarlo at "I Defend Gala 2015", the first edition of the charity gala supporting the "Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Europe" Foundation, which champions human rights. On 16 July, in Montecarlo, in the spectacular setting of the Riva Tunnel, the "I Defend Gala 2015" will take place: an evening devoted to defending the universal values of basic human rights, in aid of "Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Europe". The organization's central priorities are focused on the power of the individual to generate change, and involve supporting defenders of human rights via strategic partnerships. FCA has long been committed to various urgent issues such as sustainable mobility and education, both of which it supports through numerous projects. At "I Defend Gala 2015" it will participate with its New 500: a global icon sold in over 100 countries, a perfect emblem for the worldwide corporate charisma of FCA, based on the harmonious collaboration and different nations and cultures.

2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio

To no one's surprise, I was stoked about the Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio. I've always enjoyed the exquisitely flawed driving dynamics of the 500 Abarth hardtop, and the idea of being able to fold the top back and take it all in with some fresh air blowing around was really appealing. That super awesome exhaust note would no doubt be even more audible without a huge chunk of sheetmetal and glass in the way, and even with the slight weight penalty (33 pounds versus the hardtop), the Cabrio should still be just as tossable as ever.
So when the Fiat arrived at my door, I slid the roof back and stowed the normal press car paperwork in the glove box so it wouldn't fly about during what ended up being a genuinely spirited drive. I had a great time, and my subsequent days with the 500 Abarth Cabrio were just as enjoyable. Sunshine, Italian supercar-like rumble, and hilariously fun dynamics. Awesome.
But then I remembered my paperwork in the glovebox. And when I examined the fine print, my jaw dropped. The bottom line: $31,100, including $700 for destination. For a Fiat 500. Ouch.