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
