Fiat introduces the new Viaggio at the ongoing 2012 Beijing Motor Show. The new sedan from the Italian manufacturer will be initially sold in China only with the ‘Fei Xiang’ moniker, but might soon become available in other markets as well. The car was designed at the Fiat Style Center in Turin and measures 4,679 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width and boasts a wheel base of a 2,708 mm. The model will be positioned in the C-segment and has been developed on the same CUSW platform (Compact US Wide) that generated the Dodge Dart and is an evolution of the Compact platform that spawned the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Viaggio will come with a supercharged 1.4-litre T-Jet engine available in two power steps (120 and 150 hp) that can be coupled to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed dual clutch gearbox. The Viaggio will be produced in Changsha, in the Chinese provence of Hunan.

View the full Fiat Viaggio live @ the 2012 Beijing Motor Show photo gallery
View the official Fiat Viaggio photo gallery

Fiat has released the first teasers of the Viaggio, which will be officially unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show (April 25 -May 2). The Fiat Viaggio is a 4-door 5-seat sedan developed on the CUSW platform (Compact US Wide platform) that generated the Dodge Dart, which was developed on the basis of the “Compact” platform that had spawned the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Viaggio (’travel’ in Italian) will measure 4679 mm in length, 1850 mm in width and will have a wheel-base of 2708 mm. Initially, its engine range will be made of only one unit: a supercharged 1.4-litre TJet petrol engine available in power steps of 120 and 150 hp, both of which can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or a DDTC ‘dual clutch’ automatic transmission developed by Fiat Powertrain.

The car has been designed in Turin by the Style Center of the Fiat Group and is meant to “revolutionize the compact-sedan segment of the Chinese market” by offering “high levels of luxury and comfort“. The model will be assembled at the new Gac-Fiat plant in Changsha, in the Hunan district: the production should start in July and its debut on the market should happen in the third quarter of the current year.

The site AutomotiveNews has unraveled the fate of the two compact SUV branded Fiat and Jeep that will compete in what is considered the most dynamic and exciting segment of the entire market. The article focuses in particular on the Fiat variant, which will replace the Sedici and will be produced at the Mirafiori’s plant in Turin, from December 2013. Autonews reports that the trade name of this crossover will be 500X (the X stands for “cross”) and will be the fifth variant of the 500 range, currently consisting of the 500 3-door hatchback, 500 convertible, Abarth and the 500L 4-door hatchback. It will be the 500L to provide the mechanical structure along with the 0.9 Twinair and 1.4 four-cylinder petrol engines and 1.3 Multijet diesel, and of course its underpinnings: the 500X should reach 4.20m in length, making it the longest model of the 500 family. It will be offered with front and all-wheel-drive.

The Jeep sister model, aka B-SUV, will be featuring the stylistic elements of the brand, so it is safe to think of a radiator grille with classic vertical bars and a boxy, masculine look. Jeep technicians will not bring any changes under the hood, with the exception of specific suspensions and setup calibration. The all American B-SUV will be launched only at the end of 2014 and will be also produced at Mirafiori.

Fiat releases the first official video starring the 500L, the longer version of the popular 500 city car which will be officially unveiled at the imminent Geneva Motor Show. The ‘L’ in its name in fact stands for ‘Large’, underlining the model most distinctive feature: measuring 4.14 meters in length, 1.78 meters in width and in 1.66 meters in height, the 500L is actually considerably bigger than the car it derives from, also boasting an outstanding 400 litres of trunk capacity. Fiat would like it to be a perfect combination of 500’s dynamic style with the benefits of a large car, and it is pretty obvious that the crown now held by the Mini Countryman is what they had in mind since the beginning.

Under the bonnet we will find Fiat’s usual engine line-up: initially the model will be available with the well known 1.4-litre and 0.9-litre TwinAir petrol units as well as the 1.3-litre MultiJet II diesel unit, although more option might become available at a later time. The 500L styling was designed at the Fiat’s Centro Stile (Style Center) according to their ‘Simply More’ philosophy, retrieving some elements that we had already seen in the past in models such as the Fiat 600 Multipla of the mid-50s.

One of the most interesting features of the 500L is its glazing, which goes all around the vehicle with as little ‘interruption’ from the pillars as possible. Fiat claims that this solution will help drivers when parking the car by providing an overall better visual around the car. The Fiat 500L will be available with a range of 30 different color choices for its livery.

View the full Fiat 500L gallery

Fiat is apparently about to launch a new Panda sport edition, a 105 hp TwinAir two-cylinder turbo engine version. The TwinAir engine is already available in the 65 hp and the 85 hp versions but, as a Fiat spokesman declared to Autocar, Fiat is developing a more powerful engine. The engine is flexible enough to have a broad range of power outputs, but 105 hp is the limit without significant re-engineering of the unit.

But let’s try to investigate why Fiat engineers are developing this model. If the new Panda is commercialized, it will be a direct competitor of Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 Turbo or Audi A1 1.6 TDi, just to give a couple of examples, and it could also be in direct competition with another model of the Fiat family, Fiat Punto 1.4 MultiAir. If a sport version of the notorious Panda enters the market, its price will be around € 14.000 euros (the TwinAir turbo da 85 hp starts from € 12.450 Euro) same price as Renault Twingo Gordini 1.2 102 hp. Other cars with the same features, like Mazda 2 1.5 and Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSi, under 4 meters in length, are priced no less than € 15.000 -15.500.

Can the new Panda be successful in a market where for the same price people can choose between a range of cars in a superior class (Lancia Ypsilon, Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 208, Hyundai i20 and Fiat Punto Evo) though less powerful?

View the full New Fiat Panda gallery

Fiat releases new official images, a video (after the jump) and more info about their new Punto, which is just about to debut on the market. The revamped 2012 version of the Fiat Punto is something more than a mere restyling: the term ‘restyling’ in fact wouldn’t do justice to the sort of heavy upgrade that the long-running Fiat hatchback has just endured, which affected the model in both shape and content. The new range comes with a new engine line-up too, making it even clearer that the new range represents a huge step forward in the comparison to the outgoing Punto Evo series. From an aesthetic point of view the new Punto for the year 2012 retrieves some elements of the more successful Grande Punto series, that debuted in 2005: the rear bumper in fact loses the contrasting insert, the indicators move closer to the air intake and the redesigned front bumper is now painted in the same color of the fairing. By the way, three new exterior colors have been added to the paint options: Blu Profondo (Deep Blue), Rosso Elegante (Elegant Red) and Grigio Affascinante (Fascinating Gray). Besides, the car now rolls on new 15″ alloy wheels.

As for the engine range, the 2012 Fiat Punto (which has no ‘Grande’ or ‘Evo’ tags attached to its name) will be made available with the following petrol options: a new 0.9-litre TwinAir unit delivering 85 hp at 5,500 rpm and 145 Nm from 2,000 giri/min; a 1.2-litre producing 69 hp; a 77 hp 1.4; a 1.4-litre MultiAir engine producing 105 hp and 1.4 MultiAir Turbo producing 135 hp. On the diesel side we have a brand new 1.3-litre Multijet II unit available in three power configurations - 75, 85 and 95 hp - while for the bi-fuel team we have petrol/LPG and petrol/methane powertrains combined with the aforementioned naturally aspirated 1.4-litre engine. All these engines will come with standard Start-Stop system and gear shift indicator.

The newly added 0.9-litre TwinAir unit boasts an average fuel consumption of 24 km/l, with CO2 emissions rated at 98 g/km only. The customer that will choose this engine will also be given an extra option for color of the livery, the exclusive Verde Energetico (Energetic Green), which can be mated to a black rooftop. The whole range will be available in three versions - Comfort, Sport and Fun to Drive - each one of which will be available in six different trims: the more traditional ‘Pop’, ‘Easy’ and ‘Lounge’, the dynamic ‘Racing’ and ‘Sport’ and, for those more focused on the ‘green’ side of things, the ‘TwinAir’.

Fiat has released the first official images of the new 500L, giving us the chance to check out the new compact MPV from the Italian manufacturer in its definitive form. The model is of crucial importance for Fiat as it is expected to make a significant impact on both home and foreign markets.

The Fiat 500L will be available in 2 version, a ‘regular’ and a ‘long-wheelbase’ one, capable of hosting up to seven people, driver included. The former will measure 4.15 meters in length while the latter will be only 4.25 meters long. As for the engine range, there will be 3 petrol and 2 diesel options: available gasoline units will be a 85 hp Twinair and a 1.4-litre in power steps of 77 and 105 hp, for the diesel side there will be a 1.3-litre Multijet in power steps of 75 and 95 hp.

Fiat introduces the new ‘Strada‘, an upgrade of its little pickup truck assembled at their plant in Betim, Brazil. The model will become available in Europe in a matter of days and is meant to be first and foremost a commercial vehicle, but nonetheless it can be used outside work too. The Fiat Strada measures 4.41 meters in length (4.46 for the Adventureversion), 1.66 in width (1.74 m) and wheelbase of 2.72 meters, whereas its loading area is 1,685 mm long and 1,300 mm wide in its ’standard’ configuration. The variant with the long cabin instead will have a cargo area measuring 1,332 x 1,070 millimeters.

The Strada weighs 1,915 kg, can tow up to a ton and - driver included - can carry between 630 and 705 kg. The range includes three trim variants (Working, Trekking and Adventure) and three body-types (with short, long and double cabin), all of which will come with a 1.3-litre Multijet engine producing 95 hp and 200 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm, with an average fuel consumption rated at about 5.3 l/100km. In its basic version, the Fiat Strada comes with a whole new instrumentation, ABS and (for Trekking and Adventure variants only) a steering wheel adjustable in height. The Adventure can be recognized by its black grille with chrome inserts and by its foglights integrated in the front fascia. Its standard features also include air conditioner, leather seats with special 205/65 R15 all-terrain tyres and E-Locker (Electronic Locking Differential), which improves the car’s performance on low-grip surfaces and includes compass and inclinometer.

All versions will also come with standard audio system and CD player, clima, sunroof, alloy wheels. Fiat has also released to official prices (before taxes) for the Italian market: the basic Fiat Strada with Working trim and single cabin will cost 12,900 €, while at the top of the range we have the Strada Advenure with double cabin, priced at 16,000 €.

View the full Fiat Strada photo gallery

Here are the latest spy shots of the next Fiat Panda 4×4, which allow us to make a first comparison with the ‘regular’ front-wheel drive version. Quite understandably, there are not going to be any radical change in respect to the current model as it just needs a little restyling to make it more appealing for the next couple of years. The new all-wheel drive version of the Panda can be recognized by the newly designed front and rear bumpers, the increased ride height and the several raw plastic inserts that have been added here and there on the exterior, most notably the bars on the sides.

The new Panda 4×4 should get a new suspension at the back and an AWD system with a viscous coupling unit. There should be three engine options: a 1.2-litre delivering 69 hp, a 0.9-litre Twinair producing 85 hp and a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel unit producing 95 hp. The model will be officially introduced to the world at the forthcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show, in March.

View the full New Fiat Panda 4×4 spy shots photo gallery

Fiat is set to launch a new small crossover called Ellezero (”L0″ in Italian), a car designed to compete with the likes of Citroen C3 Picasso, and Opel Meriva and Ford B-Max. Apparently, the model will be officially unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in view of its commercial debut in Europe in mid-2012 and then in North America in early 2013, possibly as a Chrysler model.

The new model will be assembled in a Fiat’s plant in Serbia, but apart from that there are not many details available about this model at the moment. The Ellezero is expected to come with the same 1.4-litre petrol unit used by the 500 - a model that also inspired the design of the new little MPV from Fiat - and be available in five and seven-passenger variants, but none of this information has been officially confirmed by the carmaker as for yet. More info on the subject will probably be released ahead of its unveiling in Geneva this March.

via | InsideLine

pictures | fiat500usa.com

31 years after the original was launched, the third generation of the Panda is finally here, and to celebrate the event Fiat has released an official photo gallery picturing the model in some of the most glamorous and evocative Italian cities: Rome, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Venice and so on (see below). The new Fiat Panda will be available for order starting December 20th in three different versions: Pop, Easy and Lounge. The ‘Pop’ is the entry level version, and comes with a standard equipment including ABS and EDB, front and side airbags, daytime running lights, Fix&Go puncture repair kit, radio dock, steering wheel adjustable in height, servo drive and (1.2-litre aside) Start-Stop system. The middle version is called ‘Easy’ and comes with also an audio system with 6 speakers, radio and CD/MP3 player as well as longitudinal roof bars. At the top of the range there is the ‘Lounge’ version, which also uses fog-lights, air conditioning with pollen filter, driver seat adjustable in height and color matching wing mirror shells.

In comparison to its predecessor, the new Panda is 110 mm longer, 50 mm wider and 10 mm taller, whereas the wheelbase remains 2,300 mm. The more rounded exterior styling makes it somewhat reminiscent of the Fiat 500, with which the new Panda shares the platform it has been built upon. The model now has blackened B and C-pillars while the LED day lights have been integrated below the head lamps.

Initially there will be three engine options: a 1.2-litre delivering 69 hp, a 0.9-litre TwinAir delivering 85 hp, a 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel unit delivering 75 hp. The 1.2-litre unit pushes the Panda from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 14.2 seconds, reaching 164 km/h (101 mph) of top speed, with an average fuel consumption rated at 5.2 l/100 km. The 0.9 TwinAir provides the car with a 0-100 km sprint time of 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 177 km/h (110 mph) with 4.2 l/100 km of average fuel consumption. The 1.3-litre MultiJet needs 12.8 seconds to take the Panda from standstill to 100 km/h, with a top speed of 168 km/h (104 mph) and 3.9 l/100km of fuel consumption. In the course of 2012, Dualogic transmission as well as hybrid powertrains (petrol-LPG for the 1.2 engine and petrol-methane for the 0.9 Twin Air) will be introduced. Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below to find out more about the new Panda.

View the full Fiat Panda photo gallery

Amongst the accessories available for the new Panda, we would like to highlight a few that we deem worth mentioning: the Low Speed Collision Mitigation system, which reduces the power of the engine and even pulls the brakes whenever the danger of an imminent impact is detected, but only if the car is cruising at 30 km/h (19 mph) or less; the Blue&Me TomTom2 Live system, that comes with a 4.3″ screen, Bluetooth connectivity and sat-nav; the Smart Fuel System, a new system with no fuel cap that does not allow the wrong gas-pump pistol to get in. Other optional extras include ESP, and the longitudinal sliding (by 160 mm) rear seat, which would increase the load capacity of the trunk from 225 to 260 litres. However, with the seats folded flat, the new Panda offers an overall capacity of 870 hp.

Fiat is at the Bologna Motor Show with a few interesting models. The Italian carmaker anticipates the 2012 version of the Fiat Punto with the Punto Born This Way Concept, sporting a matt yellow paint job in contrast with the glossy black roof, door handles, wing mirror covers and 17″ rims. Besides, all four brake disc calipers are also painted in matt yellow. Under the bonnet there is a supercharged 1.4-litre MultiAir engine with start-stop system delivering 135 hp and 206 Nm of peak torque. The Punto Born This Way Concept can reach 205 km/h top speed (127 mph) with just 129 g/km of CO2 emissions.

The other star at the Fiat’s stand is the 500 Nation Limited Edition, adopting a mostly pearl-white color scheme called Blu America also featuring an American Flag theme for the wing-mirror covers, customized decals and 16″ alloys with a thin red outline. Then there is the even more exclusive 500C National Limited Edition, with red foldable roof top, American Flag graphics and 16″ alloys with thin blue outline. Last but not least there is the new Panda, which is likely to become the more sought-after model at the booth once the fair will open its doors to the general public. We will have a more in-depth look at this model soon.

View the full Fiat line up at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show full gallery