Smart ForTwo

Smart encourages drivers to “think differently,” a phrase that becomes all that more relevant when trying to find parking in a crowded city. Aside from being the most convenient parking machine on the road, the ForTwo generates a lot of buzz (at least in the US) from its stark design contrast in relation to the average American car.

There’s obviously something special about the ForTwo; countless individuals have taken the leap from bulky, environmentally inefficient vehicles toward the new wave of design and purpose expressed by the Smart. Could this be the vehicle that paves the way for American drivers to completely change their ways?

Toyota iQ

The Toyota iQ is set to make big waves in the super compact market as being one of the first vehicles to offer the size and efficiency of a super compact without sacrificing adequate storage space or modern styling. Toyota removed various unnecessary components of the standard dashboard to accommodate for a comfortable front seat experience, as well as space for two additional passengers in the rear. If you thought cars of this size were only made for two people, think again. The iQ is set for limited production in 2012 and will likely be rebranded under Scion for US consumers.

Mini Cooper Coupe

Mini Coopers have been around for quite some time now, but it wasn’t until recent years that we’ve seen any significant changes in product lines and styles from the Mini brand. Enter the Mini Cooper Coupe. A subtle variation of the standard Cooper, the Cooper Coupe is a 2 door roadster that is undeniably Mini, yet quite unique in its own right. This is the first 2-door vehicle that Mini has produced, commanding a small market segment of emotionally charged Mini drivers searching for the stylish qualities that a coupe can provide.

Fiat 500 Abarth

Fiat has a lot of ground to cover if they want to make an impact in the US auto market, but the recent announcement of the 500 Abarth will surely stir up some excitement for those individuals looking for a little performance with their compact. The 500 Abarth boasts a turbocharged engine with around 130 horsepower – not bad for a car that is about half the size of all the other vehicles on the road in the US today. The exterior fascia upgrades on the 500 Abarth also help seal the concept that small doesn’t have to mean lower performance or inferior styling.

Aston Martin Cygnet

Based on the Toyota iQ platform, the Aston Martin Cygnet is not quite what you would expect from one of the world’s leading luxury vehicle manufacturers. And at a starting price of £30,995 (~$49,595 US), it’s not entirely aimed at the traditional super compact buyers either. Fortunately, Aston Martin carries a brand fully capable of marketing rare and expensive vehicles to small market niches. Few individuals will have the opportunity to indulge in the upgraded styling and feature set of the Cygnet, making it the perfect super compact luxury car for the upscale city dweller.

Kyle Suss is an Internet marketing guru at Suss Buick GMC, Colorado’s largest supplier of Denver used cars.

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Okay y’all, her we go again: Abarth tuner of all things small and Fiat will be rolling out three new specials for the upcoming Frankfurt show. To get the un-anointed up to speed, Abarth is to Fiat, the way John Cooper is to Mini, AMG is to Mercedes or Sox & Martin were to Mopar. In other words, they are the official, unofficial company go fast guys.

And Abarth, just like every other European automaker out there, is not going to let the Frankfurt Auto Show go by without something impressive to show. And, in the Turin tuners corner, there will be not one, but three new rides to gawk at.

Abarth seems to think that their 695 Tributo Ferrari version of the everso cute (and in the case of the 695 Tributo Ferrari, everso fast) 500 wasn’t good enough, so they’re upping the performance game. And that right there is why I pay so much attention to Abarth: Fast is never fast enough for them. Anyway, even though the 695 Tributo Ferrari is the fastest 500 to date, they will be showing a further refined version dubbed the 695 Competizione. Motivated by the same 180-horsepower 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four found in the Tributo, the 695 Competizione also features a paddle-shift transmission (hot!), 17-inch alloys and Brembo brakes that are found in the Ferrari edition. The Competizione does ditches the Ferrari logos and bridges the gap to the track special Assetto Corsa, in a more streetable package.

Number two of three Abarth Specials will be the 500 Cabrio Italia. This special 500 is being presented to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. This whole 150th anniversary thing is sort of like their Bicentennial, only much more puzzling since Italy has been around since Romulus and Remus … but getting into the details of Italian political “structure” would take a lot more room than I have at my disposal, or a lot more patience than any of you have. At any rate, the 150th anniversary is a big deal, so this special 500 gets a special blue paint job with a folding roof panel, a 160-horsepower turbo four with an overboost function and five-speed manual. No, I have no clear idea what an ” overboost function” is, but it sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

And the final Abarth triplet for Frankfurt 2011 is the Punto SuperSport. The Punto is sort of Fiat’s answer to the VW’s Golf or Ford’s Fiesta. Fiat had already produced a hot rod version of the Punto, called the EsseEsse, but the Punto SuperSport takes the existing to new extremes with a 180-horsepower 1.4-liter MultiJet engine, a Koni suspension package and tricked out interior with Sabelt buckets and Jaeger instruments. Nice, huh?

Sadly, no word that any of these will be making it across the pond, but they probably won’t. Which is sad, since Fiat owns Chrysler, and it looks like not only the cross-contamination is happening but Fiat 500s are here already (hell, I just saw two over the weekend).

No, there’s not that big of a market over here for things like Puntos, but I would bet that there are more than enough gearheads out there that would love to get their mitts on a 500 with a 180-horsepower 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four, paddle-shift transmission, 17-inch alloys and Brembo brakes.

I know I would.

Source: Autoblog

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1. Fiat Releases Images of U.S-Bound 500 Abarth
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Fiat’s reentry into the American automotive market continues apace. Even though Alfa is delayed (again) Fiat’s diminutive 500 is already here, in both coupe and convertible form. And even better news for the performance minded among us gearheads is that the Abarth addition of the toaster-sized 500 will be rolling out in the City of The Angels.

Fiat, trying to be everso hip, made the announcement via twitter that its U.S. spec 500 Abarth performance model will take a bow before the klieg lights at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show this coming November.

Sure, we knew the Abarth variant was coming anyway, but confirmation like this is still nice to have. The 500 is aimed squarely at BMW’s Mini line of sub-compacts (and, by extension, the upcoming Scion iQ), so, if Mini gets the John Cooper Works performance package, then Fiat better have something to answer with in that department as well.

Enter the Abarth package. Of course Fiat would go with the venerable and respected Turin tuning firm of Abarth in much the same way that Mini going with John Cooper’s outfit made sense. Both firms, back in the 60s, took unassuming commuter cars and turned them into full-blown track terrors. Abarth, with the original 500 and Cooper with the original Mini. Abarth took the first 500 and doubled the horsepower output (which is sort of damning with faint praise, since the original 500′s plant put out something frighteningly low like 32 ponies) and made it into a terror in its class. And Cooper turned the original Mini into one of the most successful and well remembered rally cars of all time.

Fast forward 45 or 50 years, and here we go again.

Although we here in the good ol’ U. S. of A. won’t get a lot of the real cool goodies, like the sequential semi-auto gearbox (sniff-sniff), we will get the more powerful 1.4-liter turbo with Multiair technology that cranks out around 175 horsepower. Which is not bad for a car as small and light as the 500.

Yes, yes I know that’s not as much as the JCW package on the Mini puts to the tarmac, but then again, the 500 weighs a lot less – as in the order of hundreds of pounds. And why is it, by the way, that Germans still can’t figure out how to make something lightweight? Seriously, they’ve been doing this ‘more is more’ stuff since the 30s, near as I can tell.

No doubt the Abarth 500 will get some snazzy graphics to set it apart from its lesser brethren, but most likely they won’t be as over the top as what you see here. I believe these shots are from a Continental Tire event from a while back, and Conti did the graphics treatment.

And even though all this is good news (funner small hot rods to blast around urban environments in), it is still news that is, by and large, happening before the event, so to speak. Look, let me just put it this way: I would be all over the new 500 and especially the 500 Abarth except for two things (one minor and one major), no semi-auto box and reliability.

The 500 is an unknown quantity on these shores. Sure, the little guys have been running rampant all over Europe for three or four years now, but that’s cold comfort to me. Look at Citroens as an example. Huge seller in France, seemingly indestructible on punishing rally stages … but you get them over here, and they last about as long as a tissue in a flu ward. And Fiat, less face facts, doesn’t have the most stellar of reputations when it comes to reliability. So whoever jumps in first is going to be a fairly brave soul in some ways (or someone who’s rich and just wants to get “that cute little car” for his second trophy wife).

Fiat both knows that sad fact, and they also know something else: They have to make it in America this time round. Why? Because they own Chrysler now, and they are in the U.S. to stay AND they’re going to be bringing in a bunch of Fiat brands to our shores under the Chrysler banner (e.g. Lancias).

So, not only do we have some interesting cars from Fiat heading out way, we also seem to have the full might and backing of one of the worlds largest carmakers putting their full weight behind it. Now if they’d just put that semi-auto box in the little guy …

Source: Autoblog

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This past weekend, owners of Fiat cars convened on Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate their Fiat products organized by Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited. Casually called the Fiat Freak Out 2010, the 27 year-old annual fan gathering convention was celebrated ever since the Italian brand left the United States in 1983. Recognizing that Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. continued to sell Alfa Romeos statewide up until the mid-1990s, the Fiat Freak Out grew without new Fiat vehicles for more than a decade. For them, Fiat’s anticipated relaunch within the North American marketplace stirs up passion.

Making a formal but surprise at this year’s Fiat Freak Out event was the Head of Fiat North America Laura Soave. Beyond praising the members of Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited, she presented a special gift to the devoted fans of the Fiat brand; the opportunity to reserve to buy the initial 500 stateside-bound Fiat 500s.

Presented as collectors edition models, Fiat 500 Prima Edizione (Italian meaning First Edition) will sport many defining features such as sequentially-number VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and Prima Edizione badging. Limited to one of three colours, the Fiat 500 Prima Edizione can either be order in Italian-named colours Bianco (White), Grigio (Gray) or Rosso (Red). Each first edition Fiat 500 model will also be equipped with a manual transmission contacted to the 1.4 liter, four-cylinder engine producing a nifty 100 horsepower. Besides the special VIN code, customers reserving the Fiat 500 Prima Edizione will also get to choose the build number for their car.

While fan within Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited received the first shots to claim their Fiat 500, the remaining Prima Edizione edition vehicles will soon be made available on-line to other American Fiat enthusiasts at www.ciaofiat.com. It’s fair to warn that even Fiat has shown their no sure of the immediate demand of the hot little 500. When the modern Fiat 500 was first listed for sale in 2007, the planned 58,000 car annual production sold in only 3 weeks. As the first Fiat 500s enter specialized Chrysler dealerships late this year, we’ll see if the appetites of Americans are in line with Europeans.

Debuting the small car in the United States with a limited edition Prima Edizione model, Fiat enthusiasts in North America can expect other special Fiat 500 variants. Certain to engage the hardcore Fiat fans would be the import of the sporty 500 Abarth.

Photo Source: Chrysler
Information Source: Chrysler, www.motorauthority.com

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Lancia Delta S4

Up until the mid-1990s, Italian manufacturer Lancia and rallying went hand in hand. By the time FISA unveiled Group B, Lancia, unlike Audi already had a long and lauded history in rallying. Their sexy, triangular fighter, the Stratos, had already been canonized in rally mythos. Like the Mini Cooper in the ‘60s, the Stratos eclipsed its material form and became a rallying symbol in the ‘70s. The Stratos lost factory backing in 1976 when Lancia’s parents at Fiat decided to back their own Abarth 131 instead. The car still tore its way to victory throughout the late ‘70s in the hands of privateers, but by 1980 the car was outclassed and out of style. Fiat gave Lancia the nod for another works rally car and a new project was under way by 1981.

Lancia Stratos

The 037 followed the Stratos in layout as a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe and was loosely based on the Lancia Monte Carlo (Scorpion in the U.S.) road car. It was designed by Fiat’s psychopathic in-house tuning firm Abarth, famous for their willingness to compromise anything but performance. The 037 chassis was the Monte Carlo’s center section sandwiched between tubular steel subframes and draped in lightweight Kevlar bodywork penned by Pininfarina. Suspension was fully independent fore and aft with the rear receiving a dual damper setup to keep the business end from bottoming out on rougher stages. Motivation was provided by a two-liter, twin-cam four topped with a roots type supercharger. The car produced around 265hp and weighed in at 2165 lbs. The 037 debuted in the 1982 World Rally season and was less than successful. While the car proved it could tear off quick stage times it also proved that further development was necessary: retirement was the norm for the 037 in ’82.

Lancia 037

Lancia charged into 1983 with the upgraded, much more reliable 037 EVO I. Changes came in the form of a new fuel injection system, a new supercharger providing more boost (bringing horsepower to about 315), an adjustable front chin spoiler, and revised steering and suspension components. The 1983 World Rally season was largely a schoolyard battle between the 037 EVO I and Audi’s Quattro rally car. Lancia came out on top with the 037 taking podium spots in seven of the 12 WRC rallies that year, winning five of them outright, and capturing the manufacturer’s title.

The 037 EVO I proved rear-wheel-drive still had a place in the WRC in ‘83, and Lancia returned in ’84 with the 037 EVO II, hoping to enforce that notion. The EVO II received a modest increase in engine displacement, a higher compression ratio, more boost, and a trick water injection system to keep this volatile mechanical combo from spraying a stew of hot oil and crunchy metallic bits all over each stage. Power came in at around 350 angry horsies. That year Audi captured both the manufacturer’s and driver’s titles. The EVO II performed admirably, drifting in just behind Audi for the manufacturer’s title with Peugeot and their 205 T16 nipping at its mud flaps.

Lancia 037 EVO II

For those of you taking notes, this is important: 1985 was a pivotal year for WRC, from this point forward almost every successful works WRC car has been all-wheel-drive. We shall pivot our focus here, too, in accordance with the muddy scriptures. That year Lancia and the 037 received little more than honorary participation awards, just like those trophies your dad angrily trashed when you were a little kid. It’s also important to note that a wreck in an 037 that year that killed driver Attilio Bettega and contributed to the FIA’s decision to ban Group B for 1987.

The gravel flinging lunacy of Group B piqued in 1986 and Lancia’s Delta S4 was the king of the asylum, a savage mutant of a car with teeth like chainsaws and an insatiable appetite. The car was developed in 1985 and resembled Lancia’s road-going Delta hatch in name only: it was a mid-engined tubular spaceframe chassis covered in aggressively-winged, hatchback shaped carbon fiber panels. Power came from a heavily modified 037 EVO II mill: displacement was knocked down to 1.8 liters and compression was dropped so that Lancia could fit a turbo and a supercharger. That’s one way to kill turbo lag. The car made 500+ horsepower, weighed in at 1,962 lbs and was capable of blasting to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.3 seconds on gravel. Hot damn.

Lancia Delta S4

Lancia let the Delta S4 loose in 1985 at the U.K.’s Lombard RAC rally, the last WRC event of the year. It took both first and second place. Despite the laughably over the top numbers attached to the Delta S4, the 1986 WRC season wasn’t a game of Sunday afternoon T-ball for Lancia, the Peugeot 205 T16 proved a worthy adversary. Delta S4s took podium spots on seven of the 13 WRC rallies that year and won four outright. In the end, Lancia took second place behind Peugeot in both the manufacturer’s and driver’s championships.

Unfortunately, Lancia experienced another tragedy in 1986 when their star driver, Henri Toivonen, and his co-pilot, Sergio Cresto died in a fiery wreck on the eighteenth stage of the Tour de Course Rally. It was this wreck that sealed the fate of Group B and the FIA banned the class for 1987 immediately afterwards. Earlier that year Toivonen had famously lapped Portuguese GP circuit Estoril in a Delta S4 with such speed that he would’ve qualified for a sixth place starting position in the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix.

Tune in next Friday for the 411 on Peugeot’s Group B rides.

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Well, I guess we know just how far out you can take Fiat’s modernized 500 mini car. And Italian tuner outfit by the name of Romeo Ferraris has made a track special version of the little guy that puts out 360 horsepower. Which, given the 500′s size and weight, has to be a hell of a handful when you mash the right hand peddle.

The Fiat 500 has already had some pretty interesting versions once it fell into the hands of tuners. There’s been the Abarth tweaked models, and the 695 Tributo Ferrari is certainly lust-worthy, and the same goes for the R3T rally version of the 500, but the Romeo Ferraris 500 is seriously beyond the pale.

No, the car you see here is not another collaboration between Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari of formula one fame. No this latest Cinquecento is the creation of an independent racing garage named Romeo Ferraris.

Romeo Ferraris has rebodied the 500 in carbon fiber, which is what you would expect for any serious performance car in 2009. They also attached a ridiculously large wing off the back of the Cinquecento. It’s easy to blow that off (on a bunch of grounds), but then you recall the horsepower figures, and you think it might be a sensible idea.

Speaking of the power output from this particular 500, keep in mind that Romeo Ferraris is getting 360 horsepower from 1.4-liter turbo four fours cylinder. That’s a specific power output of more than 257 horsepower per liter, which comes pretty close to that Cinquecento at this year’s SEMA that someone stuffed a 427 V8 into

The Romeo Ferraris Cinquecento make its debut at the upcoming 6 Hours of Vallelunga endurance race on November 22 with drivers Aldo Cerruti, Michela Cerruti and Mario Ferraris taking turns behind the wheel.

Source: AutoBlog

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Remember when Fiat bought into Chrysler, and there was all that speculation about which models, if an, Fiat would be bringing over to America. More than a few people, me included, were hoping that Fiat would bring in their new 500. A great competitor to BMW’s MINI, for one thing, and it also looked to be a stout performer, given its diminutive proportions.

Turns out Fiat IS bringing the 500 to these shores, and not just any 500, but the sporty 500 Abarth version.

Perhaps the most ironic thing about Fiat brining the 500 into this country is that they are taking a page from the Dodge Challenger marketing book. The Fiat leadership has decided on a Challenger-like marketing strategy for the little Turin hatchback, and just as Dodge did with launching the Challenger with the range-topping SRT8, Fiat will first launch the 500 in performance Abarth trim.

WardsAuto says that Chrysler dealers have been updated that the first 500 to hit U.S. soil will be the Abarth version. Timing-wise, the Fiat 500 Abarth could settle in Chrysler showrooms as soon as next year, but would be branded as a 2011 model.

Aimed squarely at BMW’s MINI brand, the 500 Abarth will be propelled by a 133 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder mill. No, that’s nowhere near what the MINI’s engine puts out, but the 500 is much, much lighter than what BMW has to offer, and that extra-light curb weight means the Abarth model can accelerate from 0-60 in 7 seconds and top out at a speed of 127mph. And there’s no need to worry about torque steer since the Abarth has Fiat’s torque-transfer control system.

In addition to the torque-transfer control system, other exclusive touches on the Abarth consist of a rear spoiler, dual exhaust, a sportier suspension setup, thick-rimmed steering wheel, sports seats, a boost gauge and 16 inch wheels.

The Abarth 500 should retail somewhere between $18,000 to $19,000 by the time it lands in America, which is a lot cheaper than the MINI. Fiat expects to sell about 25,000 copies of the Abarth model, and if that pans out, you should be seeing a lot of the little guys around. Sadly, there’s no word of the range topping 500 Abarth SS heading for Chrysler dealerships.

Source: Left Lane News

Photo from Flickr user Ben Stassen

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Hey, since we’re talking about German tuners (or at least we were yesterday), check out this Fiat 500 Abarth cranking out 200HP. Now, I’m not one to advocate huge horsepower numbers from tiny little cars to others … but it always worked for me!

In this particular instance, what we have here is a Fiat 500 Abarth, essentially Fiat’s in-house tuned version of their little mini-car that’s sort of like the John Cooper Works version of BMW’s MINI. This specific Fiat 500 Abarth was worked over by a German tuning firm by the name of Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge. (Say THAT three times real fast.)

What the fine folks at Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge did was launch a sport package for the diminutive Italian with both engine and chassis mods. Normally, the Fiat 500 Abarth that is powered by a 135HP 1.4-liter turbo plant, which is a pretty good starting point for a car that’s about the size of a washing machine. Those interested in going the upgrade route from KSK (I’m not typing that name again), get to choose from two engine packages.

One package ups the power and grunt by 28HP and 45Nm, resulting in final figures of 163HP and peak torque of 251Nm in what is termed “sport mode”. I have no way of knowing, since the Fiat 500 isn’t in America (yet – I’m looking at you, Chrysler/Fiat alliance), but I think “sport mode” is some sort of dash toggle deal that changes the tuning on the fly. The cost for this kit rings in at €950.

The second package comes with a remapped ECU, a larger turbocharger, a sport exhaust system and ads an extra 65HP to the base Abarth set up, bringing the engine output to 200 horsepower. Sadly, KSK didn’t spec any torque figures for this version (I’m hope they’re high), but they did say that package number two tips the cash register at €5,050.

KSK also had a look at the chassis – thank God. What would this little beast drive like if all they did was give it more power and left the underpinnings alone? Anyway, KSK developed a special coilover kit for the 500. It drops the ride height by a few millimeters, and that will set you back €1,270. They also had a go at the look of the car too, letting you get new racing stripes and 17-inch OZ alloy wheels finished in matching red for a cool €1,090.

Anyway, not bad … and, as has been rumored, Fiat, via Chrysler, does bring the 500 to North America, then I could see lots of overseas business for this German tuning firm.

Source: CarScoop

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