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Fiat showed off the 500 Electric in New York, should sell it here too

The New York Auto Show was pretty predictable for the most part; lots of model refreshes, trim lines and new engines. The stuff you would expect from a lot of auto shows. But there was one truly bizarre, inexplicable appearance: the Fiat 500 Electric. For reasons unknown to us, or even to a Stellantis PR representative, the Fiat booth was not adorned with just one lonely 500X — which is currently the brand's entire U.S. lineup — but there was also a pomodoro (tomato) red 500 Electric convertible and a pale pink metallic 500 Electric hatchback. Two cars that Stellantis has, since the model's introduction a couple of years ago, said will not be coming to the United States. They weren't roped off or on any fancy display. They just sat on the carpet like any other regular Stellantis product. And of course, we had to check them out. And ... they're pretty great! We think Fiat should sell the 500 Electrics here. Here's why: First off, they're wonderful designs. They're still just as cute and retro as the 500's gas-powered (and electric) predecessor, but with far more attention to detail. The headlights intersect with the hood, and the turn signals pop out from the belt line. Nifty recessed door handles sit below that line. Little tabs with the model name bump down from the window trim. The retro, grille-less fascia is natural and practical, and the whole car has subtly athletic curves. Plus, you can get it as a convertible, something the competition doesn't offer. The excellent detailing continues inside. The materials are certainly cheap (and admittedly, the doors sound a little flimsy on closing), but it pulls the same tricks that the Ford Maverick does. It has fun with the colors, materials and shapes to make it pleasant. It has a soft, curvy dash panel that can be covered in cool fabric or painted to match the body. The seats are available with the "FIAT" wordmark stitched all through the upholstery. And it has convenient controls to go with the bright and responsive touchscreen. Furthermore, that rear half-door on the hatchback is great for rear seat access. The rear seat is still tight, but you can get three adults into the car in a pinch (mind your heads and knees). Basically, it's an extremely stylish and chic machine, something that the electric car market could use more in the low-end segment. And it likely would sell at the low end.

2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth | Drivers Notes

We spent the week with a Grigio Argento Aluminum 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, known to many simply as the Fiata. As you may know, the 124 Spider is heavily based on the current ND Mazda Miata. In fact, both cars are built side-by-side in Hiroshima, Japan. The Miata has been a staff favorite for years, so we were interested to see how Fiat would handle the changes. While there are a lot of shared components between the two models like styling and suspension tuning, the biggest changes are under the hood. Fiat swapped the Miata's 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four for a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four. In Abarth trim, the 124 Spider makes 164 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, slightly more than the Miata (though that's offset by a bit of extra weight). Associate Editor Reese Counts: I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this car. The current Miata is nearly flawless when it comes to driving dynamics, so I was afraid Fiat's alterations would undermine what is a fundamentally good vehicle. My fears were almost immediately put to rest. While I'm still not sure I would buy one over a Miata, I can totally recommend it to less performance-minded friends. The suspension is less firm and provides less body roll than the Miata, the latter one of my chief complaints about the Mazda. The transmission isn't as slick as the newer one in the Miata, but the turbo engine it's mated to provides plenty of character. The extra torque provides plenty of kick off the line thanks to minimal turbo lag. On paper, it's really no quicker, but around town it feels like it has a bit more grunt. In a canyon or on a track, I think I would still prefer the Miata. The 124 Spider's looks have grown on me a lot since the reveal in 2015. Honestly, I really didn't like it at first, maybe because I was so in love with the Miata's design. Taken on its own, the 124 Spider really is a pretty thing, with plenty of touches that harken back to the old model. Most important for me, they fixed the terrible, terrible seats in the Miata with new padding and covers. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Senior Producer Eddie Sabatini: I took the 124 Abarth Spider home two days this week, and it was two days of fun. Do I like the Miata better? Yes. For my money, the MX-5 drives better, looks better, and feels better but it's not the runaway contest I thought it would be before I got behind the wheel of the 124.

Fiat already planning 500X Abarth performance crossover

Fiat may treat Abarth as a trim level on the 500 in the United States, but overseas it's a bona fide performance brand. The thing is that, since the demise of the Punto Abarth (and with performance versions of the Panda and 500L ruled out), the Scorpion marque has been reduced to tuning only versions of the standard Cinquecento. But that could be about to change.
The latest reports indicate that Fiat is leaning heavily towards an Abarth version of the new 500X crossover: "The 500X is a good body for Abarth," Fiat designer Roberto Giolti said to CarAdvice.com.au. "It's absolutely perfect in terms of drivability, control. The driving seat is perfectly measured to control the car. So the Abarth would be perfect." That may fall short of an out-and-out confirmation, but strikes us as a warm endorsement from a company insider if we've ever seen one.
Revealed less than two weeks ago at the Paris Motor Show, the new 500X will be available with engines ranging from 110 horsepower all the way up to 184 with the 2.4-liter Tigershark four. Given that the 500 Abarth hatchback already offers 160 hp and that the 500X is considerably larger, it would require a bit more punch, along with a tighter suspension, beefed-up brakes and more aggressive styling inside and out.