At the Caravan Salon, which will take place in Dusseldorf, Germany from August 29 to September 7, Fiat will be showcasing a new, interesting concept. The Fiat Portofino show van is based on the new Fiorino and it wants to be a modern interpretation of the classic beach buggy, built by some Italian coachbuilders in the 60’s. The concept was created by two companies Vernagallo-Holiday and SALT, the first one a specialist in small recreational vehicles and the second one an exclusive tuning programs specialist.

The Portofino wants to be an useful, practical vehicle and luxurious at the same time: at 4 metres long and 1.7 metres wide it can accommodate 5 people while the 1/3 – 2/3 split rear seat that may be removed to allow very bulky items and tools to be carried. The seats benefit from waterproof upholstery and the floor has a special wood finish. Fiat also plans on releasing a covered version soon, which is meant to protect the passengers from rain or from too much sun.

One more photo after the jump. Read More: "Fiat Portofino concept van to debut at Dusseldorf"

The Fiat 500 is a trully great car, that enjoys a lot of popularity, due to its small size, perfect for the big cities, its economical nature, getting pretty good fuel averages, and its retro look, a true modern classic. And Fiat is definitely having a lot of work to do to honor all the demands in the European markets, but that hasn’t stopped them to further experiment on the little model, a report surfacing that the italian manufacturer is planning a hybrid version of the small cult-car.

This wouldn’t be a big surprise, after presentig the Fiat Panda Aria concept last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it was only natural that Fiat would further modify the 900 cc engine, this new version of the 500 being powered by one, coupled to an addapted battery pack, which should provide emission under 90 g/km of CO2, and a fuel average of about 2.94 L/km or 80 mpg. These modifications to the engine would make its power in naturally aspirated mode to be about 65hp (48kW) and in the turbocharged mode around 105hp (78kW).

The 500 hybrid is supposed to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next year. Other features to be seen on this car are a stop-start ignition system and a dual clutch gearbox to take it’s fuel average even lower. One thing is for sure, the 500 will get even more popular after this hybrid version will be launched, the term eco-friendly gaining it a new boost in popularity.

Read More: "Hybrid Fiat 500 in the works?"

Already on sale in Europe, the Fiat Panda Cross is now available in the UK too. Powered by the 70 hp 1.3 liter MultiJet diesel engine, the car achieves some impressive fuel economy numbers, 42.1 mpg urban, 67.3 mpg highway and 54.3 combined. Also, the car offers better off-road experience than the Panda 4×4 on whos platform it’s built, and it features an increased ride height, round light units front and rear, chunky side protection strips in contrasting colours, roof-bars, 15-inch alloy wheels and new bumpers. The Fiat Panda Cross is available right now at UK dealers at a starting price of £11,995.

Check out more photos after the jump. Read More: "Fiat Panda Cross now available in the UK"

According to The Guardian, Chrysler is currently in talks with Fiat and Tata over a possible future cooperation. As we already know, Fiat and Tata have a partnership. Fiat agreed this month to handle the financing in Europe for Tata’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands, while Tata said it was open to Fiat selling its ultra-cheap Nano.

Though no officials from the three companies confirmed, rumors say that Chrysler, the third largest U.S. automaker, has been in discussions with Tata about arrangements to sell its Jeep Wrangler SUV in India and possibly other Asian markets, the sources said. The cooperation between Tata and Chrysler could result in the two automakers launching an electric vehicle. Tata said in January that “exploratory discussions” had begun with Chrysler over sales for a battery-powered version of its Ace mini-truck. By concluding a deal with Tata, Chrysler also could look to sell a version of the Jeep Wrangler to the Indian military, another person familiar with the talks said.

In addition, Chrysler has been talking to Fiat about leasing Chrysler production capacity in North America and cooperating in retail distribution in the U.S. market. That could allow Fiat to return to the world’s largest auto market, while Chrysler could cut costs at a time when sales are down and it faces mounting pressure to shore up cash. Like the other two Detroit giants, GM and Ford, Chrysler has faced scrutiny over its liquidity because of the sharp decline in sales. Chrysler lost $1.6 billion in 2007 and the holding company that includes both the automaker and its financing unit, Chrysler Financial, lost $509 million in the first quarter.

It sure looks like the tiny Fiat 500 is the car to be customising these days, after two versions from Abarth and several other tuning houses, it seems that Ferrari also wants some of the cars as “courtesy cars” for their clients.

Hearing this, Fiat has decided to release 200 limited edition 500’s exclusively for the Maranello based manufacturer. These models will feature the top 1.4 litre engine capable of delivering 100 bhp and as a special feature will have a custom made exhaust system made by Ferrari’s home manufacturer, Magneti Marelli, that will sound similarly to the models of the Scuderia. Also on the outside the car will have a traditional bright red paintjob, red brake calipers and sporty 16 inch alloy rims.

On the inside, the Sport version which was the base for this model, was enriched with features like all leather interior, electric sunroof or hi-fi sound system, and also has the words “Limited Edition” on the kick plate.

Source: TheCarFanatic

The italian car maker, Fiat and the German car maker, BMW, are working togheter to develop new platforms for small cars,according to Automotive News Europe magazine. They are also considering a new family of gasoline and diesel engines, says the report from Automotive News` website.

The report came because Sergio Marchionne, the Fiat Chief Executive Officer, told reporters that it would sign an industrial alliance in the car sector but he did not identify the partner. “We’ve been working on it for a good while. It’s something simple” said Sergio Marchionne. Fiat and BMW press officers declined to comment on the report but everyone knows that car makers are involved in many alliances to share production and other costs.

Marchionne also said that FIAT’s target for this year includes a higher trading profit of 3.4-3.6 billion euros. “From what I can see, there is no reason to postpone the 2008 targets,” said Marchionne.
“We are about to close the quarter and the results are all in line with the targets and we don’t see anything coming up for the rest of the year, barring any disastrous events in the next six months”. “What’s important is to see how the third and fourth quarters will go,” he said. Marchionne also added: “2008 and 2009 will be exceptional years.” and thats because “Brazil and Latin America continue to go strongly and we don’t see any dark clouds on the horizon”.

In the US, other car makers are not doing it so well, like General Motors Corp are having a hard time. The US giant is considering in selling brands like Dodge, Buick, Pontiac, and Hummer. But that doesn’t affect anything at FIAT because “Fiat is not interested in any of the American group’s brands.”
Read More: "Fiat and BMW to work together"

Who can forget the Fiat 500 ? Vlad even had the chance of test driving it and I’m sure most of you remember that the guy from Abarth fiddled a bit with it. Well they’re back with another version of everybody’s favourite retro-car, dubbing it the “Opening Edition” and only releasing 100 of these models available for the Italian market.

It is powered by a tweaked version of the standard 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, once capable of delivering 135 bhp in stock, now offering 160 bhp with a torque of 230Nm (170lb-ft). This engine, coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox is capable of propelling this tiny car from 0 to 100 km/h 7,2 seconds and topping out at an impressive 211 km/h.

But the performance changes don’t stop here, perforated disc brakes, stiffer suspension springs and brake pads, BMC sport air-filter and brand new 17 inch alloy rims come to complete the racing image of this 500. The interior hasn’t been left out either, tinted windows, leather trim and alluminiun badged make sure that you sense the difference inside.
Read More: "Abarth’s Fiat 500 “Opening Edition”"

The Fiat 500, the small Italian car everyone seems to love is also attractive to tuning companies, which try to make the car even more funky than it already is. After last week we’ve showed you the Hamann Sportivo program for the Fiat 500, now we’ve got Novitec which created a program for the car.

The German tuner modified the 70 hp 1.3 JTD turbo-diesel, which now develops 83 hp / 61 kW, sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.9 seconds and reaches a top speed to 165 km/h (102 mph). The plug-and-play control module is available for just Euro 335.

Novitec also modified the 1.4 liter 16-valve petrol engine, by fitting it with a supercharger. As a result, the engine now develops 131 hp / 96.4 kW and 172 Nm of torque. The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 198 km/h. The nimble little engine can propel the Fiat 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.8 seconds while its top speed is 198 km/h (123 mph).

The Fiat 500 also got from Novitec a new front apron, stainless steel exhaust with either one or two exhaust tips, additional air dams and 16 or 17 inch multi-spoke wheels.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Read More: "Fiat 500 tuning by Novitec"

Yesterday, I had the chance to drive the new Fiat 500 and I must say it’s quite a cool car. I’ll write a post with all my impressions, next week. Meanwhile, you can check out the photo gallery, here.

Also, next week, we’ll post the Audi A4 review. Though we drove the car back in March, at the Geneva Motor Show, we also wanted to make a video of the A4, but our video editing skills suck, so we decided to publish the review as it is now. We’re sorry it took so long, but we really wanted to make a quality material.

We also want to start a new section. Because some of you, our readers, sent us photos of your rides, we’ll start the “AU Readers’ Cars” section, which will include photos of your cars. So, if you want to share your rides and your thoughts, please drop an e-mail at info@autounleashed.com. It would be cool to see what we drive, because, after all, we all love our cars, even if it’s an old piece of junk or a brand new Bugatti Veyron.

Read More: "Fiat 500 and more Auto Unleashed news"

The German tuner Hamann is known best for its tuning programs for BMW cars, so this comes somehow as a surprise. Because their latest creation is a tuning package for the Fiat 500 but it looks like Hamann didn’t take it really serious, because the program doesn’t match the cool BMW programs the German company got us used to.

Called the Hamann Sportivo, the package features a 30 mm lowered suspension, new 17-inch alloy wheels, new sport exhaust system which also provides the engine with a new sound and sports braking system. Under the bonnet, by remapping the integrated control unit, the 1.3 Multijet 16v engine now develops 90 hp, 15 hp more than the production version. On the interior, the Hamann Sportivo fetures a set of aluminum pedals and embroidered Hamann sportive logo.

More photos after the jump.
Read More: "Hamann Sportivo tuning based on the Fiat 500"

In a recent interview for the Financial Times, Fiat’s Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne announced that Fiat is considering moving the production of some Alfa Romeo cars to the US, which became a very attractive country for producers, after the dollar got very weak in comparison to the Euro.

This would be the return of Alfa Romeo to the US, after the company was forced to abandon production here in 1995. Fiat already started talking to the Detroit 3 (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) about sharing production, but so far there was no official reaction from them.

Fiat plans to start producing Alfa Romeos in the US in 2011 or 2012 and rumors say that the Fiat 500 might also be produced in the US, but no confirmation so far.

Read More: "Weak dollar tempts Alfa Romeo to start production in the United States"

Besides the Fiat 500 Abarth, the Italian car maker will also show the Fiat 500 Aria Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The car is an eco-friendly concept powered by a 1.3 liter 16v Multijet Euro 5 turbodiesel unit (with anti-particulate DPF filter) mated to a robotic Dualogic shift transmission.

The Fiat 500 Aria is also equipped with a Stop&Start system which allows to control the temporary switch-off of the engine which, combined with the Dualogic shift, manages to reduce consumption by around 10% in the urban cycle and the CO2 emissions are 98 g/km. Also, recycled materials are used, like the recycled rubber used for the floor, which is composed by rubber granules deriving from used tyres, or the seates upholstered with recycled and woven leather.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Read More: "Geneva Preview: Fiat 500 Aria Concept"

After a few days ago some photos of the Fiat 500 Abarth leaked on the web, today we’ve also got a video of the small Italian ‘beast’. Enjoy!

Read More: "Video: Fiat 500 Abarth"

With its debut scheduled for the Geneva Motor Show, the Fiat 500 Abarth is no longer a surprise, because here are leaked photos of the “angry” small Italian car. Besides large wheel arches that house big wheels, wide air intakes, rear air diffuser, double exhaust pipes, red caps for the external rear mirrors and Abarth badges all over the car.

There are also rumors that Fiat will present two versions, the Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth SS, the latter having an even more powerful engine. But just rumors so far, guess we’ll have more details in a couple or days or else we’ll have more at the car’s debut at Geneva.

Check out more leaked photos of the Fiat 500 Abarth after the jump.

Read More: "Fiat 500 Abarth leaked photos"

We haven’t seen a Fiat 500 on the streets, yet, but what we’ve seen are a lot of tuning programs already made by various tuners. And here’s another one, the M Sports Kit by Monaco Elite Design. This Fiat 500 has a cool black matt paint finish (12 more matt exterior colors will be available next year), aluminum front and rear grills, widened arches and 16″ alloy wheels. The interior cabin features the warm feeling of a ‘Dark Tobacco’ leather trim upholstery.

The pricing for the package is 6,600 Euro (for the exterior) and 2,000 Euro (for the interior). View more photos after the jump.

Read More: "Fiat 500 M tuning by Monaco Elite Design"