The Fiat 500 is a relative newbie in the US market so Chrysler is trying to give the little Italian hatchback the proper introduction to American consumers. What better way to do that than to showcase a couple of modified 500s at the SEMA Auto Show?
The first of the two programs is called the Fiat 500 Titanium, one that comes with aggressive styling and premium sport-luxury details. The car was dressed up with a Matte Titanium finish that highlights the car’s sculpted front fascia. There’s also a satin black fascia insert that has integrated LED fog lamps while the circular projector headlamps are finished in gloss black to complement the titanium finish. Mopar also added lowering springs on the car, as well as new side skirts, a large liftgate spoiler that adds downforce for improved stability, a new diffuser, and a set of 16" Matte Titanium wheels with front-and rear-brake calipers. Other elements of the 500 Titanium that are worth noting are the Matte Titanium exterior door handles, mirror caps, a license plate brow, and to make sure the car packs improved performance, a Mopar cold-air intake and Mopar cat-back exhaust.
Meanwhile, the interior of the 500 Titanium speaks loudly of high-performance luxury that’s emphasized by Titanium Metallic accents. The lightweight and high-performance front seats come with massive side bolsters. Likewise, the seats have been wrapped in black leather and further accented with Titanium Metallic vinyl seat centers. The seats also feature a black leather center stripe with Metallic Gray accent stitching while the Titanium Metallic vinyl door bolsters go extremely well with the Matte Titanium instrument panel and gauge cluster brow.
Nothing speaks more to the American auto market than a well-dressed vehicle. On all corners, the Fiat 500 Titanium fits that bill.
UPDATE 11/03/11: This review has been updated with official photos from Fiat
You know the saying ’good things come in small packages?’ Well, in the case of this little mighty monster of an Abarth 500, the adage certainly fits to a tee.
Take one look at the Fiat Abarth 500 and you clearly won’t mistake it for a speeding bullet. But that’s not what this particular 500 is all about. Just ask Romeo Ferraris, the tuning company that took the liberty of transforming this little hatchback into a full-fledged pocket rocket.
The full details surrounding the tuning program for this special 500 - it’s been dubbed the "Cinquone Stradale" - has yet to be disclosed by Romeo Ferraris, although they have shed some light that this model will be an "extreme" street-legal version of its race-spec car. Knowing that the latter is already powered by a highly modified 1.4-liter turbo engine that delivers 360 horsepower, the rumored 300-pony output of the Cinquone Stradale is nothing to sneeze about.
Aesthetically speaking, the Cinquone Stradale has been dressed with an extensive widebody kit program that includes a pair of huge air vents on the hood, a new rear diffuser with centrally-mounted tail pipes, a rood spoiler, blistered wheel arches, and a new set of fancy-spoked wheels.
Inside the car, the dress up continues with plenty of leather and Alcantara surfaces with matching carbon fiber trim. A pair of bucket race seats are also part of the package, as is the race-spec roll cage.
Fiat has announced the 500 "Pink Ribbon" Edition that will be limited to only 250 units. For each unit sold, Fiat will donate $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to facilitate their mission of achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime.
The Fiat 500 Pink will be based on the 500 Lounge model and will be offered in Argento (silver) and Bianco (white) exterior paint colors. Joining the exterior paint will be a signature dark pink body side stripe with a "500" logo and an accenting "ribbon" in light pink.
The interior will get pink accents to contrast with the Nero leather for the front and rear seats, as well as a signature "500" logo embroidered on the front seatbacks. The same pink and black combination will be used for the steering wheel and the body-color instrument panel bezel. Each unit will also be offered with a pair of uniquely designed Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon key fobs.
This special edition is now on sale and is priced from $22,500 (including $500 destination).
The second special edition model Abarth will be unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show is called the 500 Cabrio Italia. No, this new model isn’t a tribute to the Ferrari 458 Italia, but it is a model that was specifically built to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unity. There will only be 150 units built, appropriately so, each will feature a special chrome "500 Cabrio Italia" plate with satin effect.
The 500Cabrio Italia is painted in a special Blu Abu Dhabi livery combined with an electrically operated black top and tinted rear windows. Adding a touch of class and sparkle are the 10-spoke 17" rims with diamond effect combined with yellow Brembo front calipers.
Along with the celebratory additions to the exterior of the vehicle, Abarth has also supplied the special edition with a number of components that set it apart from the rest. For starters, the "esseesse" brake system consisting of perforated self-ventilated front brake discs and fixed four-piston calipers has been added, as well as Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions.
Sliding into the vehicle, the driver will notice "Abarth Corsa by Sabelt" seats in natural leather with carbon fiber backrests. Once comfortably seated, the driver can wrap their hands around the black leather steering wheel with double stitching and take advantage of the Alutex aluminum glass fiber pedals and gear lever knob. There is also a carbon fiber running board with dedicated "Cabrio Italia" graphics finishing off the aesthetic improvements. On a technological note, the Abarth 500 Cabrio Italia boasts of an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation unit with a telemetric function developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli.
Running the 500C Italia is a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet engine that delivers an impressive - for this class - 160 HP. This power will allow the 500 Cabrio Italia to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, while top speed sticks at 131 mph.
Frankfurt Motor Show is usually a show of power and performance and this is exactly what Abarth has shown with their latest 695 Competizione - the first "street legal" Scorpion racing car.
The Abarth 695 Competizione was inspired by the Abarth 500 Assetto Corsa and is painted in an exclusive Grigio Competizione Opaco livery. Other exterior features include Xenon headlights, 17" rims borrowed from the "Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari," and stronger suspension and brake systems. This is all joined by "695" logos and "Competizione" graphics.
The interior of the special edition is a main attraction all on its own with "Abarth Corsa by Sabelt" seats in black leather with Alcantara red inserts, a carbon fiber shell, and a black leather steering wheel with a tricolor hub and red inserts, fitted with 5-speed "Abarth Competizione" gearshift paddles. The carbon fiber dashboard with the Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation unit and a telemetric function developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli is highlighted with the car’s Jaeger instrument panel. The Grigio Competizione Opaco color found on the exterior of the car also finds its way inside as the new roll bar - replacing the rear seats - is found donning the shade.
Power for the Abarth model has also been upgraded, so even though there’s a 1.4L Turbo T-Jet 16v engine found under the hood, it has been tuned to deliver more than 180 HP. This engine is mated to an "Abarth Competizione" gearbox with race-inspired steering wheel controls.
