Talks with Fiat management have not been concluded on the part of Mercedes, and while no specific projects are underway, programs for the next Mercedes Class A and B have not terminated either. Daimler president Dieter Zetsche, in occasion of the Glk debut event, has reinforced ties with the Italian company, given as finished some months ago.

“I have a lot of respect for Sergio Marchionne”, said Zetsche, “We often catch up. We have discussed a possible base for a Fiat and Mitsubishi-Fuso partnership.” Zetsche also discussed the importance of the Chinese market for their own brand (”a place where we need to be present”), and praised Mercedes growth at 30,700 units, up 44% on 2007, in a market capable of exceeding 10 million units for the first time.

With thanks to Fulvio.

Via | Il Sole 24 Ore

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Abarth’s invitation to the Rimini MySpecialCar 2008 is pleasing as the show can only underline the spirit and hard work of this re-born Italian brand, and the debut of the Grande Punto EsseEsse. With details finally revealed to the public, the SS has been displayed and has undergone test drives by Abarth drivers on an external windy track.

The Punto SS is the height of expression of the little Fiat from which it derives, and represents a full-bodied evolutionary step compared to the Punto Abarth 155 hp. The kit, delivered in a fantastic wooden dismountable box (the lid with badge is perfect to hang in the garage), includes a number of changes: injections, turbines, tubing, base and brake kits, and accessories.

Once assembled by official installers it is then trialled to comply with road rules, has 180 hp and official guarantee. The 20,000km placed as a limit on kit assembly results from a Fiat study, which indicates that within this mileage, even an engine exploited at 100% capacity can still guarantee the trustworthiness to include the modifications. Even if you wanted to buy a new SS it is necessary to purchase and register an Abarth 155 hp, to then convert it with the kit and proceed with updating the documentation.

Continue reading: MySpecialCar 2008: emozione Abarth

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The agreement seemed ready, such to transform Sergio Marchionne’s denial into a real cold shower: the large relaunch plan for the Sicilian plant of Termini Imerese will not take place.

The managing director of the Fiat group then calmed everyone, underlining that 500 million euro will, however, be invested to acquire the assembly chain required for a new car, substituting the current Lancia Ypsilon with a relative hiring plan of 500 employees. Moreover the colossal 1.1 million euro renewal plan (opening of a second line of production which will increase manufacturing levels to 200,000 cars annually) would have been abandoned in the face of conditions judged “unfavourable”, such as to not reach an agreement on the 430 million euro of public assistance.

With thanks to bibo

Via | ccfa

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Jeremy Clarkson’s second job, after his work with Top Gear, is the editorial of the automobile column of the Times: a hilarious space in the authoritative British daily. We’ve already looked at various articles from this said column (Jaguar XF, Fiat Bravo), but today’s article is a little special, because firstly it shows Jeremy at the wheel of a 500 and secondly because before now, no such test has previously been seen (if we can call it such).

St. Moritz: in front of Clarkson’s eyes run images of the Drophead Coupè, Maybach, Phantom and Audi R8 parked here and there in front of hotels and boutiques. Together with the ML 63 AMG they do nothing but contribute to the supercar panorama which people who come to stay here are used to seeing. A panorama in which to stand out, to show off, you don’t need the series listed above, but something with a little extra touch. “Something more appropriate to the place than Princess Carolina,” to use the words of the Top Gear driver.

And that something is the new Fiat 500, which attracted the attention of stars, magnates and the nobility alike, who can be seen walking on the streets of the Swiss city more frequently these days. “The 500 is the best revival job of recent years, from the new Beetle until now. There’s no comparison to the Mini, as this is more beautiful. The 500 is fantastic.”

Continue reading: At some stage they had to meet: Jeremy Clarkson and the Fiat 500

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The engines of the new Ford Ka are heating up in preparation for its Paris debut. Cologne’s citycar, which will be made in Tychy together with its cousin the Fiat 500, will encounter a competitve sector, where various choices (including that of Turin) expanding throughout Europe will be giving it a run for its money.

Either for the cold or to avoid curious photographers stealing important first details, the new Ka continues to go around all wrapped up, leaving a difficult job to the imagination. The stylistic direction will follow that of the new Ford Fiesta which we saw in Geneva (and which left us with a good impression): Kinetic Design had a spy as seen by photos published almost exactly a week ago.

And under the wrap? Many aspects will be shared with the 500, including the Euro 5 1.4 petrol engine, 100 bhp and 1.3 Multijet bhp. But that’s not all: given the clamour provoked by the Abarth 500, it looks as if Ford could be taking seriously the idea of a sporty range, composed of Ka ST and Ka RS, which would give a new expression to “Abarth” of “Abarth esseesse”.

Continue reading: New Ford Ka: cold spy photos

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As Maserati waits for 2011 to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so the Fiat group is also waiting impatiently for 2010/2011 to exploit the developments undertaken by FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies).

The first fruit of the wave of new engines will be the 1.8 GDI Turbo petrol, expected to have debuted on the Lancia Delta and the Alfa Romeo Mito/Junior with a vast array of power (between 150 and 250PS) and torque (between 240 and 310 Nm). Next in turn will be the 0.9 SGE twin-cylinder, also off petrol, capable of reaching 120 PS/litre.

Continue reading: Petrol, diesel and hybrids: by 2010 the new range of Fiat engines

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A few hours ago with the words “Fiat reconfirms its objectives for 2008″, the Torino based company announced that it will resume production of its 1.3 M-jet diesel engine, only three days after they announced the production halt due to anomalies in a few externally sourced components.

The Polish plant at Bielsko Biala will return to normal service, with Fiat Powertrain claiming to have fully resolved the quality problems and confirming that it will resume production of the cars that have the unit fitted by February the 26th.

The 1.3 Multijet engine is used in all the mainstays of the Fiat Group: the Panda, Punto, Grande Punto, Ciquecento, Idea, Doblo, Lancia Y, Lancia Musa. Moreover, that unit is also used on the Opel Agila and the Opel Corsa.

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Little motor, big problems: Fiat Powertrain has stopped production of the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine while looking into a number of anomalies regarding an externally supplied component.

At a rough estimate, this sudden suspension will result in the loss in production of around 1,000
engines a day. According to a statement from Fiat, it has been necessary to halt production of the engines and of the relevant cars that contain them in order to carry out relevant tests. This necessity has included the suspension of production activity at the Bielsko Biala plant in Poland
(where the Multijets are assembled) as well as at a few production lines of the Mirafiori, Termini Imerese, Melfi, Tychy and Bursa plants.

The problems with the engine (that is currently offered in the Fiat Panda, Punto, Grande Punto, Cinquecento, Idea, Doblo, Lancia Y, Lancia Musa, Opel Agila and Opel Corsa) will not affect the models that have been already sold and no recall has been suggested.

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From racing to our everyday roads, but always with a sporty approach. This is the goal behind the debut of the long-awaited Abarth 500, announced for the coming Geneva International Motor Show. The new car was developed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth of the 1960s, and will be marketed from July through the exclusive Abarth network.

With a strong sporty personality, the new car will be powered by a Fire 1.4 16v petrol Turbo engine, which delivers a maximum of 135 bhp (99 kW) at 5500 rpm and peak torque of 206 Nm at 3000 rpm in Sport mode (in Normal mode, torque is reduced to 180 Nm at 2500 rpm). This brilliant, smooth new engine is also a friend of the environment: like the regular Fiat model it is derived from, the new Abarth will respect future Euro 5 legislation.

Another interesting feature of the 500 Abarth is the fact that it adopts the new TTC (Torque Transfer Control) system, which improves the transfer of drive torque to the wheels, but, above all, ensures that the car behaves impeccably on bends, making it safer and more entertaining even with a sporty driving style. In other words, it is faithful to the phrase coined for the Abarths of the 1960s ‘small but wicked’.

Continue reading: Abarth 500 unveiled

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Monday, january 18th, we’ll be in Turin for the unveiling of the new Abarth headquarters. A funny coincidence: the Abarth newsletter sent out friday evening promises that “Monday 18th and tuesday 19th Abarth owns. And you’ll be there”. Attached to the newsletter was the sketch you find above. Enough to hope in the long awaited debut of the 500 Abarth ?

Stay tuned: we’ll be there!

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