Fiat

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Premium Hatchbacks

While they may just be catching on here in America, across the ocean premium hatchbacks like the Audi A3 and Mini Cooper represent the way things are done. They offer the luxury of a larger sedan or SUV, but in a smaller, more economical and more urban-friendly form. And at this year's Geneva Motor Show, there was no shortage of automakers unveiling their new visions for the segment.

Mini came back with an even smaller concept, Infiniti and Saab threw their proverbial hats in the ring, Fiat showcase two new variants of its popular 500 model and its sister company Lancia joined with a new entry of its own. Follow the jump to see what they had to offer.

Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, 500, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 by gucci, fiat 500 zagato coupé, fiat 500 zagato coupe, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, infiniti, infiniti etherea, jason castriota, mini, mini rocketman, mini rocketman concept, saab, saab phoenix, zagato

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VW Closing Purchase of Porsche. Still Eyeing Alfa-Romeo

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

German automaker Volkswagen this week is expected to complete its long-planned $4.5 billion acquisition of luxury sports car maker Porsche. When the ink is dry, it will formally add Porsche to a brand stable that includes Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti, as well as mass-market brands Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat.

And VW AG supervisory board chairman, billionaire Ferdinand Piech (grandson of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche) isn't through trying to add premium and luxury brands. At the Geneva Motor Show this week Piech reiterated his interest in acquiring Italian brand Alfa Romeo, owned by Fiat, despite public statements by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne that the marque is not for sale.

Tags: alfa romeo, Aventador, bentley, Bugatti, Ferdinand Piech, Fiat, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Porsche, Sergio Marchionne, Volkswagen AG

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Fiat 500 by Gucci

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

As if the Fiat 500 weren't stylish enough already, now Gucci's had their way with it to create the special edition you see here. The brainchild of Lapo Elkann – the rakish playboy brother of Fiat chairman John Elkann and grandson of his late predecessor Gianni Agnelli – the Fiat 500 by Gucci is a joint effort between Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini and Fiat's Centro Stile.

Tags: 500, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 by gucci, gucci, lapo elkann

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Alfa Romeo Plans New "Affordable" Coupe: Could Come To U.S.

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Alfa Romeo reportedly has plans to build a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe that would become the brand's halo car, according to Automotive News Europe.

Alfa, owned by Italian automaker Fiat, plans to show a concept version of the car at next month's Geneva auto show next month, one of Europe's two big auto shows this year.

The concept is set to be built as the 4C GTA and go on sale for about $55,000), the trade weekly reported. Alfa has not had a truly affordable rear-drive car of significance since it discontinued the Duetto Spider (pictured) in 1994.

Tags: Alfa-Romeo, Duetto Spider, Fiat, Geneva Auto Show

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Fiat Hopes To Attract Luxe Buyers To $17,000 Fiat 500 With Style

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Can a car priced between $15,500 and $17,500 be of much interest to the typical luxury buyer?

It can if it's Italian and will soon be offered as a convertible and electric vehicle.

The new car is the Fiat 500, and it will start showing up in Fiat "Studios" any day now, starting in Los Angeles, and extending to 130 dealerships by the end of the year. Fiat USA's website has a full list of dealer locations.

The 500, of course, is the U.S. version of the Fiat Cinquecento that is offered today in Europe. The car seats four, has a 1.4 liter multi-air engine and comes offered in ten exterior colors and ten interiors. If you want to have a totally unique Fiat 500 in your neighborhood even if you aren't the only one, then it will be more than possible.

The entry-level car, the 500 "Pop," comes with a manual transmission, as does the mid-level version, the 500 "Sport." if you must have the automatic transmission, then you'll have to go for the top of the line "Lounge" edition.

The automatic was perfectly adequate during Luxist's drive of the car around San Diego, CA. But the manual will provide more driving enjoyment for those who like and can drive with a clutch and shifter.

The 500's EPA ratings are 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on highway. That's for the manual.
Cars equipped with the six-speed self-shifter will only achieve 27/34 mpg.

Fiat is making its re-entry to the U.S. after a 27 year hiatus. The Italian automaker in 2009 took control of U.S. automaker Chrysler as part of the company's bailout from the U.S. government and subsequent bankruptcy reorganization. Fiat is leveraging the Chrysler dealer network to re-introduce Fiat to American consumers, though the Fiat studios are, in many cases, in separate buildings from the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep lineups.

Tags: alfa romeo, Chrysler, design icons, Ferrari, Fiat, Fiat 500, Lancia, Maserati, MINI Cooper

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Abarth 500 Gulf Edition exclusive to Luxembourg

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Abarth 500 Gulf Edition exclusive to Luxembourg

Buyers in Luxembourg have a very exclusive new special edition on the market. Teaming up with Fiat, Gulf Oil is celebrating their tenth anniversary in the European principality with a special edition Abarth 500.

Only ten examples of the unique retro hatchback will be made, each sporting the same iconic Gulf livery that has adorned countless racing cars over the years – including the contemporary Aston Martin Le Mans Prototype. The blue and orange color scheme, complete with Gulf logos, features prominently both inside and out, and the Abarth 500 EsseEsse comes equipped with all the options for 25,000 euros (about $35,000).

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Tags: 500, abarth, abarth 500, abarth 500 esseesse, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 abarth, fiat 500 abarth esseesse, gulf, gulf oil, luxembourg

Fiat Rounds Out the Year of Art Cars at Exhibitalia

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art

As the year draws to a close, we're inclined to unofficially name 2010 as the Year of the Art Car. Since we last changed our calendars, César's McLaren supercar went up for sale, Jeff Koons lent his brush to a BMW race car and an Aston Martin, Francoise Nielly painted the Citroën Survolt concept car, and Laurence Gartel did the same with a Tesla Roadster.

But the latter wasn't the only art car showcased at this year's Art Basel festival in Miami. At the four-day Exhibitalia event held there, Fiat led multiple artists to create works inspired by the Fiat 500. Some used parts of the car as their canvas, but one Christian Balzano transformed the entire vehicle into an art car. The last of the year? With mere weeks to go until 2011, we can only assume, but the new year will have a real task on its hands trying to top this one.

Gallery: Fiat 500 at Exhibitalia

Tags: 500, art basel, art basel 2010, art basel miami 2010, Art basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, art car, exhibitalia, fiat

Abarth 500 Monza Limited Edition by Fenice Milano & Romeo Ferraris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Abarth 500 Monza Limited Edition by Fenice Milano & Romeo Ferraris

Romeo Ferraris and Fenice Milano share a common passion for the Fiat 500. While both Italian tuning houses have taken on far more expensive machinery, they've also devoted considerable attention to the retro hatchback, and have chosen it as their way of paying tribute to one of Italy's most famous racing tracks.

The Abarth 500 Monza edition is limited to just ten individually numbered and personalized examples. Romeo Ferraris stepped in to give it nearly twice as much horsepower (260 vs 135 stock), upgraded brakes and wheels and a full aero kit. Fenice Milano has given it a custom paint job with red and blue stripes, Monza logos and a white leather interior, complete with custom tote bag. Take a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Abarth 500 Monza by Fenice Milano & Romeo Ferraris

Tags: 500, abarth, abarth 500, fenice milano, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 abarth, monza, romeo ferraris

First Fiat 500 in North America Brings in $85,000 at Toronto Charity Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity

Fiat would not exactly be considered a luxury automaker, but their spritely 500 hatchback has been winning over premium buyers around the world. Soon it will be on American shores as well – a little sooner than we thought, as it turns out, as the first one has already been sold on the Western banks of the Atlantic. But not in the United States.

Chrysler Canada donated the very first Fiat 500 for the 17th annual Venetian Ball in Toronto as a fundraiser for the Villa Charities. The organization helps the elderly and mentally handicapped in Canada's Italian community, and the little Fiat raised $85,000 – in Canadian funds, mind you, which are worth more than American these days – for the charity.

Gallery: Fiat 500 at 17th Annual Venetian Ball

Tags: charity auction, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 prima edizione, venetian ball, villa charities

Fiat 500 BlackJack Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If the Pink edition of the Fiat 500 wasn't at your pace, the Italian automaker has just announced the new BlackJack edition. As you might have guessed, the new special features a matt black exterior finish, offset by glossy black trim and red accents on the black wheels. The interior is presumed to continue the black treatment, and UK buyers can choose between 1.2 (£12,165) and 1.4-liter (£13,565) engines, each featuring the Start&Stop system that saves fuel when the car is not in motion. Production will be strictly limited to 200 examples, initially available exclusively through the Fiat website.

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Tags: 500 black jack, black jack, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 black jack

Fiat 500C Sardinia by Romeo Ferraris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Between the Pink and Diesel editions, buyers looking at the Fiat 500C but looking for a little added dose of style have where to look. And now they've got another option, thanks to Italian customizers Romeo Ferraris.

The tuning house may be known for more hardcore models, but in the case of the limited-edition 500C Sardinia, has gone a decidedly more style-conscious route. Only 50 examples of the Fiat 500C Sardinia by Romeo Ferraris will be made, each featuring a unique shade of green inspired by Italy's emerald coast, offset by gold accents and sand-colored roof and leather interior with a cork dashboard. 16-inch wheels and a new exhaust are the only performance modifications, but you can see it all in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Fiat 500C Sardinia by Romeo Ferraris

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Tags: 500 c, Fiat, Fiat 500 C, Fiat 500C Sardinia, Fiat 500C Sardinia by Romeo Ferraris, Romeo Ferraris, Sardinia

Gooding Brings the Sumptuous Italian Classics to Pebble Beach

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

This year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shaping up as one for the record books, and for evidence look no further than Gooding & Company. The venerable auction house is bringing out a positively lust-worthy array of classic machinery for the Monterey event.

We've already brought you news of the Marx Brothers' 1927 Mercedes Boattail Speedster and the '56 Maserati 200 SI and '51 Ferrari 340 American announced along with it. Now Gooding has announced a whole slew of vintage Italian stallions heading with them to the auction block at Pebble Beach.

A Zagato-bodied 1954 Fiat 8V, a 1971 Lamborghini Miura S and an alloy-bodied 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione will be on consignment at the event, along with the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod and 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato pictured in the galleries below, ensuring that the event will bring in millions and make a few collectors very happy indeed.

Gallery: 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato

Gallery: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod

Tags: ferrari, ferrari 250 gt, ferrari 250 gt swb, fiat, gooding, Gooding and Company, gooding co, gooding company, lamborghini, maserati, Maserati A6G, Maserati A6G54, monterey, pebble beach, Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, zagato

Gianni Agnelli's Classic Yacht for Sale at $1.8 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Men's Style

Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli, who died in 2003 at the age of 81, was one of the most stylish men who ever walked the Earth. An avid playboy and racecar driver (Fiat of course owns Ferrari), Agnelli was also a keen yachtsman, and enjoyed many years of sailing his Knut Reimer-designed 82-ft. yawl Agneta with its distinctive port-wine colored sails and superb varnished hull, built in 1948. Now the stylish yacht with its restored Burmese teak deck has been listed for sale in France via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $1.8 million.

A regular on the on the Mediterranean Classic Yacht regatta racing circuit, the Agneta's spacious owner's stateroom features a marble fireplace and en-suite bath suitable for an elegant gentleman, while interiors are fitted with polished paneling and exotic inlays. We don't know for certain but can speculate that Agnelli, whose estate was worth $4.4 billion, entertained famed female companions like Anita Ekberg, Rita Hayworth and (rumored) Jackie Onassis aboard the beautiful boat.

Gallery: Gianni Agnelli's Agneta

Tags: classic yacht, Ferrari, Fiat, Gianni Agnelli, Italy, JamesList, Mediterranean, playboy, sailing, sailing yacht, wooden boat, yacht

Fiat 500C by Diesel

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Fiat 500 has rapidly emerged as the must-have fashion accessory for style-conscious motorists in Europe and Asia. That bit has been helped along by the various special editions the Italian automaker has produced in conjunction with upscale denim powerhouse Diesel, and this is the latest.

Based on the convertible 500C – which features a unique retractable roof that slides between a solid frame – the latest Diesel edition had its unveiling on April 12 in Japan in advance of its sales debut next month in its home market, where the price tag will come to around the equivalent of $24,000. Three color options are available, including the dark indigo exterior paint you see above, with a denim-inspired interior to match.

Tags: 500, 500 c, diesel, diesel industry, diesel jeans, fiat, fiat 500, Fiat 500 by Diesel, fiat 500 diesel, fiat 500c, fiat 500c by diesel, fiat 500c diesel

Fiat 500C Pink Limited Edition Drops Its Top

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Everybody's got a different reason for their choice in automobile. For some it may be the hood ornament that acts as a status symbol. For others it could be something as simple as an iPod connector. And some see their vehicle as just another fashion accessory.

For that last category of buyer, Fiat UK released a special-edition 500 Pink a few months back. Now they're following up with a convertible version, called the 500C Pink. Based on the 500C 1.2 Pop trim level, the Pink edition doesn't cost an arm and a leg at £13,500 (about $20k), representing a £1,200 premium over a conventionally-colored model while carrying £1,870 worth of extra equipment. Which just goes to show that fashion accessories needn't be expensive. Good taste, on the other hand....

Tags: 500, 500 c, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 pink, fiat 500c, fiat 500c pink, fiat uk, pink

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