Fiat Launches 2012 Punto in Europe, Releases New Photo Gallery and a Video

Following its presentation at the Frankfurt motor show last year, Fiat has published new photos and a video of its subtly tweaked Punto supermini as sales begin across Europe.

Perhaps the most important update for 2012 concerns the addition of the 85HP 0.8-liter two-cylinder TwinAir turbocharged gasoline engine. In addition, Fiat’s engineers have added two new technologies to the 85HP 1.3-liter MultiJet 2 diesel engine, the Intelligent Alternator and Intelligent Flow, both of which help lower CO2 emissions to 90g/km.

Read more »

New Fiat Panda Ad Lifts a Page from Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" Campaign Book

Fiat has aired a new commercial for its third generation Panda city car in its home market titled "This is the Italy we like", which uses a similar (but not identical) theme to the super successful and ongoing "Imported in Detroit" campaign from its Chrysler partner.

Only this time, the promo film focuses on the Italian origins of the Panda, the latest version of which is produced at the Fiat Group's renewed Pomigliano d'Arco Plant, near Naples, and also calls upon Italians to change the views imposed by others and show the world who they are and what they are capable of creating.

Read more »

Fiat Banks on Spicy Abarth 500 Spot, Gives it the Pop-Up Treatment

Why stop when you have a good thing going? And with some 2.2 million views on Fiat's official Youtube channel alone, we'd say the company's 500 Abarth Seduction clip starring Romanian hottie Catrinel Menghia, has been a very successful communication tool for the Italians.

Now, less than a month after the original digital spot made its internet debut, Fiat has released a so-called "pop-up" version by VH1 that incorporates some fun facts about the clip and the two protagonists that will run through the end of December.

Read more »

Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

With government agencies enforcing stricter emission regulations every year and auto manufacturers doing their best to prove that their cars are as eco-friendly as possible, hyperbole is part of the game.

A common saying is that the modern cars are cleaner than lawn equipment and that the carbon dioxide emissions they release are actually lower than that present in the air that comes into the combustion chamber.

Edmund's Insideline decided to put the theories to the test. Since cars come in all shapes and sizes, they chose two examples from the opposite side of the spectrum: a Fiat 500 mini and a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Crew Cab pickup.

The diminutive Fiat is powered by a 1.4-liter four with 100HP, while the big and menacing-looking Raptor sports a 411HP 6.2-liter V8.

Read more »

Artists Tweet that J.Lo's Promotion of the Fiat 500 During the American Music Awards was "Shameless"

Jennifer Lopez has appeared in most of the TV spots regarding the Fiat 500. And that's not all as the 42-year old singer, actress, record producer, dancer, television persona, and fashion designer brought along the Italian city car to the stage during her recent performance at the American Music Awards.

The move, however, came under some heavy criticism. Lopez was attacked on Twitter with messages like “I know I just didn’t see that damb Fiat. I KNOW I didn’t see that friggin’ FIAT” from Roots drummer, Questlove. Singer and award presenter, John Legend, tweeted “that had to be the most shameless thing I’ve ever seen in a performance. I was genuinely shocked.”

Read more »

Fiat 500 Abarth Hottie is Not Italian, but Who Cares? And Oh, There’s a New J.Lo Spot Out

Not that we mind one bit, but remember the scorching hot brunette starring in Fiat's 500 Abarth commercial? Whom are we kidding, of course you do.

Well as one of our commentators, Vlad Ewan, pointed out, even though Fiat's ad would like us to believe that she is Italian, the bodacious, long-legged model is in fact Romanian and her name for those of you familiar with "Google Image Search" is Catrinel Menghia.

But then again, isn't that the case with the Fiat 500 in the sense that it's not built in Italy but in Tychy, Poland and Toluca, Mexico?

And since we're on the topic of Fiat 500 ads, the Italian company just released nother commercial with Jeniffer Lopez, this time for the limited production 500 by Gucci Edition, which you can watch with or without your palm facing your head in the video after the jump.

Read more »

That's More Like it: Naughty 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Ad [Video]

After seeing the lukewarm response to its U.S. market commercials on the 500C starring Jennifer Lopez (…or was that the other way around?), Fiat's marketing division put its act together and presented a more appropriate ad for its 2012 500 Abarth, which was unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new advertisement conveys the message that the 160-horsepower 500 Abarth is a naughty little Italian city car in a cheeky but tasteful way. The 1-minute long commercial concludes with the female voiceover, "The Fiat 500 Abarth. You'll never forget the first time you see one".

You can take a look at the clip for yourself in the video after break.

Read more »

Fiat Video Teases 500 Abarth “Bad Boy's” Arrival in the States

The American division of the Fiat Group is trying to create some buzz around the arrival of the most potent version of its retro-styled city car to date, the 500 Abarth, with a new video teaser.

Fiat's 23-second spot starts out by asking viewers "Does this country need another outcast?" and "Does this country need another rebel and another bad boy?", with the actual 500 Abarth only making a quick appearance towards the end.

Well, look at this way; at least it's not another minute-long video tribute to Jennifer Lopez…

Read more »

New 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Reaches U.S. Shores, will Debut at L.A. Show

The Fiat Group may be constantly delaying Alfa Romeo's return to the U.S. market but at least it's keeping its word with the 500 range.

After the regular three-door hatchback and the rolling soft top 500C, Fiat is now introducing the most stimulating (from a driver's perspective) version of the series, the sporty Abarth model, which will be making its debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 18.

Read more »

Italian Sushi: Fiat Coupé Conversion with a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 1,000HP V6 and AWD

Let's just imagine you're faced with this problem: You love the Fiat Coupe's punk rock styling but don't feel the same for its front-wheel drive layout. On the other hand, you're crazy about the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4's potent and technologically advanced powertrain but can't stand its notoriously bland looks.

We'll assume that any logical person would try to find an answer by looking into another vehicle, but not these guys. Welcome to insane tuning world of Russia's Totalcar that decided to create a vehicle that promises to deliver the best of both worlds.

We're still short on the full details as this is an ongoing project, but here's the skinny: the Russian tuner took the Mitsubishi's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine and all-wheel drivetrain and somehow managed to fit it all under the beautiful body of the Chris Bangle-designed (yes, the same person who styled the BMW E65 7-Series) 1990's Fiat Coupé.

Read more »

Fiat Debuts New Jennifer Lopez Ad Featuring…the 500 Cabrio

The North American division of Fiat has launched its second commercial about Jennifer Lopez featuring the new 500 Cabrio. And no, we're not the ones to get it wrong here but Fiat's advertising agency which seems to have got its priorities confused.

While we get to see more of the Fiat 500 Cabrio than the first online ad with J. Lo, the commercial, title "My World" continues to focus on the "actress, entertainer, philanthropist and entrepreneur" with her song "Until it beats no more" playing on the background.

Read more »