Comments on: Nardelli: Fiat 500 to come to U.S.

By: shane train

shane train — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:45:12 +0000

shaver: It IS a niche.

It remains to be seen whether it will “remian(sic) a niche”.

That could change.

By: shaver

shaver — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:22:23 +0000

This will be interesting to say the least. Everyone loves Italian here, but the micro car class will remian a niche. I can see a lot of people downsizing to a compact or maybe even a sub-compact.

By: livelyjay

livelyjay — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:29:42 +0000

Can we get the Abarth edition?

By: A4

A4 — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:26:06 +0000

it has to go on the roof rack though.

By: A4

A4 — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:25:45 +0000

Buy a 500 and get a free pizza.

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:00:27 +0000

shane train, your logic is sound. I think this is what they will do also. Many people will like the new 500. Personally I am opposed to it from the start on account of its lack of a small rear engine but if they released an Abarth variant I might start paying attention.

I feel the same way about VW’s UP! concept car. They had my attention when they were going to release a rear engined spiritual successor to the Beetle. It doesn’t matter if it has modest power if it is rear drive. Then they decided to make it front-drive and it stopped being interesting.

I’m not taking into account market factors in my thinking. I just feel that if you’re going to buy a new car it had better be fun and unique in its design and drivetrain– and if it isn’t a rear engined 500 then something else (like horsepower, handling and an LSD) has to make up for its commonality with every other “cute” compact.

By: Flipper

Flipper — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:41:58 +0000

So the future of Chrysler is riding on a Ford (Ka) chassis?

By: Kanucko

Kanucko — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:16:38 +0000

Better be available in Canada ! I hope you are listening Fiasler ! We need a good combo name for this team !

Either fix the car for us…or… ask for a waiver like they did with the Elise ! don’t just ‘not offer it here’.

!!!111!!!1!!!!

By: vortec4200

vortec4200 — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:40:17 +0000

Whoa that’s funny because a salesman at a Dodge dealer said this car will be slightly revised up front to have a clip similar to the 1995-1999 Neon nose and will be sold as “Chrysler Java” and “Dodge Expresso.” I remembered when the Expresso name was used on sport package equipped Plymouth Neons during that era. He even said there’s a trucky version with bulging fenders, lower gray plastic body side cladding, seven slot grille, and raised ride height to be marketed as “Jeep Backpack.” Interesting.

By: olds307

olds307 — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:20:33 +0000

I hope they’re better made than the German Euro-trash we get in this country.

By: shane train

shane train — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:17:07 +0000

Hyperion- judging by America’s past and the tendencies of American buyers, I can’t help but think that introducing the Abarth would be a good move on their part, perhaps they’ll wait though to gauge sales and see if it’s even worth it though before putting up the high performance chips.

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:55:17 +0000

Sacto read my mind.. Imagine the economies of scale if Ford and Chryiat set up joint production for the 500 and Ka in the US!

By: Sacto1825

Sacto1825 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:50:20 +0000

What I find potentially interesting about the Fiat Nuova 500 coming to the USA market is that it could ironically open the door for Ford to sell the Ka in the USA. The reason is simple: the Ka and Nuova 500 are built off the same platform, and to keep the assembly line going they could build both the Nuova 500 and Ka there simultaneously.

By: Mutant@DCX

Mutant@DCX — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:19:30 +0000

500 is going to Sterling Heights assembly in Detroit, Sebring and Avenger are done.
Obama gonna sell molti città automobile

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:29:39 +0000

No mention of a 200HP Abarth version for the USA? For shame…

By: teahead

teahead — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:20:16 +0000

I think they should call it a Dodge Espresso.

By: save saab

save saab — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:49:30 +0000

That’s one step towards Alfa Romeo coming here. Then I can have a MiTo and maybe the reborn Giulia!
LJ: The Ford Fiesta will come in Sedan and Hatchback forms.

By: orangecones

orangecones — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:49:28 +0000

I can see the 500 Abath to suddenly become the new SRT4. Should be interesting. That said, I really like small cars so I am looking forward to this.

By: LDMAN

LDMAN — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:33:05 +0000

@Borat

The 500 and MiTo are based on two different platforms and made in two different countries (Poland and Italy respectively). I had the opportunity to seat in both cars. The 500 by American standards is tiny. The MiTo slightly bigger.
For the moment the only model offered with an “automatic” gearbox is the 500, The MiTo should get the same next year.
Check the convertible action http://www.fiat.co.uk/Showroom/#showroom/500c

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:50:49 +0000

Thanks for the explanation, Borat.

By: ahnuconun

ahnuconun — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:38:42 +0000

Us Canajians has got sum stoopid homo-lo-gay-tion rules. Headlight height, 8 km crash with now body or light damage? How many awesome models have we missed out on because of this?

By: worst 3

worst 3 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:38:18 +0000

could they make it in to the dodge hornet? with an str4

By: Borat

Borat — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:37:49 +0000

So does FIAT 500. The platform is the same Punto. MiTo maybe a bit longer, but it is basically the same car. I enjoy Fit as Mini and loved FIAT 500 (drove in Spain last fall).

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:34:27 +0000

Oh…..forgot to mention, at the autoshows ….(not Chicago, Local shows) the Mini’s we saw had the automatics in them.
I heard Chrysler wants to use the MiTo(engine/platform) for a sporty Sedan( again…. if Chrysler offers no other option, such as a hatchback model.. I won’t be interested. We already have a newer sedan…but the older car/hatchback..will need to be replaced in 1-2 years).
At least there is the Ford Fiesta….(it won’t have a 155 HP engine, though, like the MiTo…)rumored to have both the sedan and hatch(wagon…not the coupe/hatch).
Have a good week, everyone.

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:30:42 +0000

Borat.
I may be confused here… but I thought that the MiTo was based on the Fiat Grande Punto(which is about the length of the current Fit), and the Fiat 500 is something like 3.55 Meters in length(…a meter is what…a little over 39 inches in length, iirc?).
This Fiat 500 would then be about, what.. 138 inches in length?
I heard that the MiTo would be “stretched” to Fit-length(about 161 inches?).

Have a good week, everyone.

By: Borat

Borat — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:19:38 +0000

LJ, MiTo is FIAT 500 with a different grille. It is a small car. So does Mini. I am not aware of it being offered with autoslush box, so it may or may not sell well. Depends on how many Mini’s with manual were sold relative to slushboxes. if you weight over 225 lbs, look for something larger.

Johnny, I see gazillions Smarts in my neck of the woods. This is much more proportional car then Smart and can seat 2 & 1/2 in a pinch (actually it is about the same as Mini, but being a bit taller can seat 2 for a trip to an ice cream store).

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:58:02 +0000

This car, for me..is too small.
Maybe if they sell something akin to the Alfa Romeo MiTo………then , perhaps… I would be interested(and, no.. not a sedan version).

I am afraid Chrysler will build most of the Fiats(use their platforms) and make them all sedans(only..no hatchbacks).

That would = No Thanks, for me.

Have a good week, everyone.

By: LS7

LS7 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:57:45 +0000

I smell return of Dodge Neon.

“Hi.”

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:52:56 +0000

They had better take care of whatever the issue is that could prevent it from being sold up here. Canada is where small cars actually sell no matter what a barrel of oil is worth.

By: Bubs Solo

Bubs Solo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:48:06 +0000

to small of a car to make a large impact on sales.