The next generation, seven seater Fiat Doblo has been released, and here is a look at the Punto-inspired interior. The Fiat Doblo has always been known as a large, multipurpose people mover-come-trade van in Italy, and now Fiat says that it is larger than ever with more passenger and baggage space. The first Fiat Doblo was presented back in 2000, and since, Fiat has sold about one million models.

The 2010 Doblo update is not just about size, but also style and a new set of engines. It won’t feature the new Fiat Multiair engine, at least initially, but will have a petrol motor with 94 hp, and a Multijet diesel range with 89, 104 and 133 hp. A “Natural Power” petrol-methane version will be available in the future, and a diesel Dualogic, and Fiat is guaranteeing low emissions and fuel consumption figures. The 1.3 Multijet, for example, will produce 129 g/km of CO2 and an average fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per 100 km.

The Cargo van version will be available from launch, which has a rear capacity of 3.4 to 4.2 cubic metres and a weight capacity of 750 to 1000 kg. The van version comes in various kits, including combined seating and van space, or just the front cabin and rear van space. The standard, people carrier version has plenty of comfort features with air conditioning, cruise control, Blue&Me multimedia technology and parking sensors.

Continue reading: Fiat Doblo interior pics

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According to reports, Daimler head Dieter Zetsche has been advising Sergio Marchionne on what to do with the Chrysler brand and how to handle the Fiat-Chrysler merger. Known also as having destroyed the Chrysler brand, at least to Americans, the guys at Autoblog.com are telling Marchionne to do exactly the opposite of whatever Zetsche is telling him.

We think Marchionne is probably safe, as we don’t see him as the kind of guy up for advice from someone who was the head of a company that went disastrously bankrupt. We’ve reported on some of the reservations regarding the new Fiat-Chrysler relationship, but frankly, things are looking better than what they did when it was Daimler-Chrysler “merger of equals” time.

Zetsche has apparently happened upon the fact that the US market likes big cars, and that Fiat has only promised smaller cars and fuel efficient technology. We had thought of this too, along with many others in the business (it doesn’t take a former CEO to figure that out, after all) but we’re feeling quite positive about future Lancia-Chrysler sedan designs, as the Lancia Thesis renderings indicate.

Continue reading: Dieter Zetsche gives advice to Sergio Marchionne

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Another sexy rendering, this time of the Lancia Thesis, comes from Theophilus Chin, and Chrysler 300 C or not, a model like this could definitely make an impact on the US market. It’s basically a merging of the Chrysler 200C hybrid concept car, and the Lancia Thesis. In fact, the suggestion is to replace the Thesis with the 200C, and this is what you get.

I was at first quite skeptical about how Fiat-Chrsyler style would go together, particularly on some of the larger Chrsyler models that haven’t been crash hot on the European market. In addition, with some concern about how succesful a hatch like the Alfa Milano might be in the US, you’re starting to get a mine field of possible design downfalls for the new venture. It will all be up to the guys at Fiat-Chrysler, but with a design like this Chrysler-Lancia Thesis, they don’t have to go far to look for inspiration.

Source | Theophilus Chin

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In what could bode well for the fortunes of the Fiat 500 in the US, the cute little city car is continuing its sales success in the UK. While still a European market, the 2,989 Fiat 500’s sold in the month of October prove that the retro style model has appeal outside of its local Italian market.

The sales results mean that the Fiat 500 could enter the top ten most sold cars in the UK. Fiat has also had good results with its other models, with a total of 6,570 Fiat models sold in October this year. That’s an increase of 117.5 percent on the same period last year (with 3,020 models sold). While still very small, Fiat’s market share in the UK has increased from 2.58 to 2.9 percent.

Source | Autoblog.it

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In a funny article for Automotive News, Edward Lapham examines the catering choices and body language of Fiat and Chrysler execs to see what they might reveal of the future of the company. Forget Fiat-Chrysler product plans and the Abarth 500, this is all about the coffee breaks and wine (or lack of it).

Lapham says:

It’s interesting to come to a multinational, multidiscipline event like this one and watch how the nearly 500 attendees interact … especially the Chrysler and Fiat execs, since this is supposed to be an alliance.

I didn’t notice a lot of intermingling during the coffee break. But so far they seem to be getting along. The Chrysler execs I know say nice things about Sergio Marchionne and the way the other Fiat execs have acted when they got here.

That’s a heckuva lot better than what the Chrysler guys used to say about the Daimler execs when they came to town as part of that old, so-called merger of equals.

I think the espresso, “authentic food from Italy” and ashtrays are not to be underestimated in the cultural bridging of gaps and learning curves both these companies will have to undertake. Read for yourself at Automotive News.

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The new Fiat Punto Evo is turning into a success on the local Italian market, with more than 35,000 sales since it first came on the scene on October 10th. While some Italians have reservations about the style of the Punto Evo, it is a winner in terms of its technology and performance, at competitive prices.

The Punto Evo shows off some great Fiat Powertrain technology at low prices. Prices for the Punto Evo start at 11,800 euros, ranging to 17,200 euros for the Multijet II 1.3-litre with 95 hp. The original 1.3-litre Multijet with 75 hp sits in the middle at 13,650 euros.

While the Fiat Punto Evo might not glow on other markets, its importance to the Italian market looks assured, particularly with these competitive prices. The new 1.4-litre aspirated Multiair engine, and the turbo T-Jet model, will both debut in the course of 2010.

Source | Autoblog.it

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The presentation from Fiat-Chrysler on future plans for the Chrysler brand and models has been comprehensive, if a little confusing, and confirms much of what was already thought. The Fiat 500 will be the first Fiat group model to reach American shores, late next year, with dedicated sales teams and “salons” in Chrysler showroooms.

The hope is that the cute little Fiat 500 will hold much of the same fascination for the Americans as the Mini, with its retro style winning hearts. It will be followed by the Fiat 500 cabrio in 2011 and the Abarth 500 in 2012, in a logical progression which will be the first introduction to the US market and distribution channels for Fiat.

As for Chrysler models, there will be a number of “special editions” launched to get the last few models off the production line. The 300, Town and Country, Sebring and PT Cruiser will transform into a sports edition, fashion edition, ocean edition and final edition respectively, to tie the models over before new production, style and models kick off later next year and into 2011.

Continue reading: Fiat-Chrysler plan: Fiat 500 confirmed to US

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As the car world waits for the plan of the Fiat-Chrysler deal to be revealed, it looks as though a new Chrysler logo could be revealed. You might wonder why, if the brand is going to disappear from Europe, but it could be a show of faith from Fiat that Chrysler will get a revival in its own market of North America.

The new logo is quite sexy, definitely modern and hopefully marks the dawn of a new era for America’s beloved Chrysler. So far the Fiat-Chrysler plans have been sketchy and mostly include the arrival of the Fiat 500 or Abarth 500 on the US market, the appearance of the Alfa Giulia in the US, but perhaps not the Milano or MiTo, and the retaining of the Jeep brand on the European market. It looks as though Dodge will go niche, including an electric car in its line-up, and that we will see Lancia-badged Chryslers, particularly the new 300c already spied, in Europe. All will soon be revealed. Stay tuned.

Source | Autoblog

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We already knew that the Fiat 500 would be the first Fiat to hit the US market, and had reckoned that the retro chic model would meet likely success in North America. It seems that Fiat is not quite convinced that the 500 has what it takes, in its current form, and so has decided to pull out the big guns on this model, and take the Abarth 500 instead.

It’s unclear though, whether the Abarth 500 will be a kind of teaser, limited edition model to raise interest for the following standard Fiat 500 version, which could turn up in showrooms next year as a 2011 model.

According to reports, Fiat expects to sell about 25,000 models of the Abarth 500, with pricing at between 18,000 and 19,000 US dollars. Whether this will actually kill off any chance the standard 500 has is anyone’s guess, but the Abarth model should certainly prove successful in itself. Fiat should be releasing more details in the coming week as to its US plans, which should hopefully put an end to the speculation.

Source | LeftLaneNews

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With talk of Fiat-Chrysler plans and the return of Alfa Romeo to the US with the new models Alfa MiTo, Alfa Milano and Alfa Giulia, here’s another rendering to keep our interest going. This design of a hypothetical Alfa Giulia shows a sporty, agressive front, while keeping the smooth lines of the sedan intact.

The Fiat group will first make its appearance on US shores with the Fiat 500, and it is expected to be every bit as successful as in Europe, having become an icon of Italian style. It will appear in 2011 and will be followed by the Alfa models later, with the Milano debuting next year in Europe, and the Giulia not until 2012.

Source | Alvolante.it

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