Fiat 500 To U.S. In 2010?

Woo-Hoo! I knew we’d get some fun stuff out of this Fiat/Chrysler deal!

According to reports, Fiat’s 500, a modern updating of the postwar car that saved Fiat financially and got Italy back on the road (as well as starting the Italian version of the baby boom generation, but that’s another story) is coming to America. Supposedly.

Fiat wants to strike while the iron is hot and capitalize on the success of the Smart ForTwo and Mini Cooper and introduce the 500. Also, this will give Fiat a chance to compete with the Ford Fiesta as well.

A Fiat source related to Motor Trend (yeah, I know) that the 500 could be in U.S. dealer showrooms in “well under 18 months.” That sounds positive. The 500 was designed from the get go with North American sales in mind, meaning it would only need a few minor modifications to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards.

Ironically, the 500 might not make it to Canada since Cannuck bumper standards that require the turn signals withstand a 5 mph collision, a requirement the U.S. does not have.

The Fiat source also said that, sadly, the 500 would come to the U.S. with a 100-horsepower four-cylinder gas engine, not the 500 Abarth’s 135-horsepower unit. The Fiat 500 will be marketed through existing Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers - exactly the sort of small car that Chrysler, a company heavily weighted towards the truck end of things, has needed, CAFE-wise.

OK Fiat, you’re halfway there with the 500. You know what you have to do. Bring over the Abarth variant. Now! Now, now now now NOW!

Source: LeftLaneNews

i heard many small cars from Europe are going to US pretty soon and probably everyone would love them. Small, efficient, with sweet design, incredible handling and pretty cheap. who would say no to that?

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

not coming to canada? that would be awful. we are far bigger lovers of small cars, especially over in quebec. and our italian population is huge, myself (half) included. i thought canadian bumper laws got reduced recently? is there still discrepancy between the two? truly unfortunate, i think it would sell like hot cakes in the great white.

i say good, they are finally getting the message,
Americans need cars like the 500 and the fiesta(for all those “buy American” loonies)
im all for the abarth, but i think the SS version( i think it was the SS, the one that Clarkson tested with 165hp) a good competitor to the Mini…
If it comes, ill buy one