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

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Here is another official video released by Abarth starring the new 500 for the American market. The futuristic footage shows us in a Matrix sort-of way what it is that Abarth does to the regular little Fiat city-car to turn it into a track-hungry mischievous kid.

The American version of Abarth 500 was unveiled just a few days ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show but Abarth has announced four new models that will soon be available for the European public: 595 Turismo, 595 Competizione, 695 Assetto Corse and Punto Scorpione. The whole lot will be introduced at the upcoming Bologna Motor Show.

View the full Fiat 500 Abarth USA photo gallery

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Abarth will introduce four new models at the upcoming 2011 Bologna Motor Show (December 3-11): 595 Turismo, 595 Competizione, 695 Assetto Corse and Punto Scorpione. The 595 model is inspired by the famous 595 that Karl Abarth himself presented in 1963 - based on the Fiat 500 of that period - and comes with the maximum power upgrade (that boosts the output up to 160 hp) as standard equipment. The “Competizione” version will be the more track-oriented of the two whereas the “Turismo”, although quite sporty, won’t be that extreme.

However, the real star at the Abarth’s stand in Bologna will be the new 695 “Assetto Corse”, the new small super-sports car designed for racing on the track, arguably the ultimate evolution of the whole Fiat 500 concept. This new car will pair up with the 500 “Assetto Corse”, the highly successful star of the track over the past three years. Another new model that Abarth will take to Bologna is the Punto Scorpione, an evil looking all-black limited edition of the Fiat Punto. By the way, Abarth will also introduce a special “winter kit” for this model, featuring among other things an actual Nitro snowboard “powered by Abarth”.

Abarth sold in excess of 9.000 units so far in 2011, with valuable contribution coming from Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari model (about 1,500 units sold since its debut in 2008). It is interesting to notice that since its re-launch in 2008, Abarth has been growing constantly in numbers, selling a total amount of 38,000 Abarth Punto and 500s as well as 9,500 kits for these two models.

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Fiat released the first promotional videoclip for the 500 Abarth, which has been introduced these days to the American public at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The footage begins with a nice lady trying to seduce a passer-by talking in Italian and then.. well, you will see it for yourself.

The American Abarth version of the 500 is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4 litre Mutiair engine delivering 160 hp and 230 Nm of torque, and is expeceted to become available in Fiat showrooms in the first quarter of 2012, although no official dates have been announced yet.

View the full Fiat Abarth 500 USA photo gallery

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The US version of Fiat 500 Abarth is about to get introduced to the North American markets at the imminent Los Angeles Auto Show. As previously reported, the model will be very similar to the European version, although it will use slightly modified braking system and suspension, a different exhaust and a different aerodynamic kit. The car on display in L.A. will be equipped with a turbocharged 1.4 litre Mutiair engine delivering 160 hp and 230 Nm of peak torque.

The MacPherson scheme of the front suspension has been optimized with 40% stiffer springs and a 15mm lower ride height, while on the rear there is the suspension of the 500 Sport model, just 20% stiffer. FSD Koni’s dual-valve frequency selective damping shocks allow for plenty of adjustability for improved comfort and smoothness as well as driving performance. red calipers are coupled with 282 mm front and 242 mm rear ventilated discs on the front . The Abarth version of the 500 comes with standard 16″ wheels, but 17″ rollers will also be available upon request.

In the cabin there are specifically designed performance seats with racing harness pass-throughs and accent stitching throughout, aluminum pedal covers, black leather steering wheel and shift knob with red accent stitching. Tech-lovers can opt for the TomTom navigation with Blue&Me hands-free, all bundled into a 4.3-inch touchscreen display.

View the full Abarth 500 USA photo gallery

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Fiat released a 23 seconds long video-teaser starring the 500 Abarth in view of its imminent unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 18-27). The main goal of this clip is obviously to build up the suspense just days ahead of the official presentation, but still it offers a few revealing glimpses of the upcoming model. However, we need to wait just another couple of weeks to see the final product with the due calm.

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Abarth will officially introduce their version of the Fiat 500 for the North American countries at the next Los Angeles Auto Show (November 18-27). The well-known Fiat’s subsidiary - whose badge graces the most sporty models from the Turin-based carmaker - will present its own standard and “esseesse” 500s, both powered by MultiAir 1.4-litre turbo engine. Just like in Europe, the main distinguishing features from the standard Fiat 500 will be upgraded braking system and suspension and the aerodynamic kit. Besides, the car will also use a bigger front bumper in order to abide by the local safety regulations.

Abarth’s standard 500 engine delivers 135 hp whereas the “esseesse” configuration produces up to 165hp. No further details have been released in regard to prices and availability, they will tell us about that in LA.

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Fiat and Mopar will launch two special editions of the 500 at the upcoming SEMA. Unlike many of the cars on display at the Las Vegas event, the two models - renamed ‘500 Titanum’ and ‘500 Carbon’ - will actually become available for the whole American market in the form of two Mopar aesthetic packages, that will have to be integrated to the standard model.

Fiat 500 Titanium (teaser above) boasts a brand new front end, with re-designed grille and bumper. Other distinguishing features are black livery, 16″ wheels, lowered ride height, side skirts, customized braking and exhaust systems and rear spoiler. Besides, it sports handles and wing-mirrors with matt titanium finishing. As for the interiors, the black theme continues with black leather seats, black carmats with Titanium Metallic “500″ logo and black finishing with Titanium Metallic inserts.

The 500 Carbon uses a blue livery, blackened windows, re-designed front bumper - with integrated satin carbon fiber fog-lamp bezels and lip spoiler - and 17″ aluminum rims. Its ride height has been lowered, while air intake and exhaust systems have been modified. Satin carbon fiber door handles and mirror caps complete the exterior look of the car. The passenger compartment is highlighted by Anodized Azzurro accents, and features black leather sport seats, black chrome finishing and an interesting carbon fiber instrument panel.

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What you’re looking in these pics is the craziest version of the Abarth 500 around. The Romeo Ferraris Cinquone model is inspired by the Fiat 500 “Cinquone” (meaning “big five”) which ran at the Vallelunga six-hour race in Italy. The Cinquone Stradale street going model has a brand style and hefty-looking body kit with bigger bumpers, new air intakes on the bonnet and twin exhaust pipes.

On the inside of the Romeo Ferraris tuning we get a roll bar, shell-style racing seats and Alcantara finishings. The model uses the 1.4 T-Jet with 300 hp and weighs just over 1,000 kg. According to Italy’s Repubblica paper, the Romeo Ferraris Cinquone price is about 80,000 euros. More info to come.

Source | Autoblog.it

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I drive a car that’s got less than 101 hp and while I don’t have the driving skills to pull this stuff off, I’m pretty sure the little (and old) car could cope. It might need to go to the wreckers after, but it would do the job. Just like this hooning Fiat 500 from the US with its 1.4 Multair engine (but which survives better than my little vehicle would).

It gets a few 180 turns in with plenty of tyre squealing and a little smoke. We didn’t see any of this sort of thing from the Italians when the new Fiat 500 first hit the market, so we’re relying on the Americans to show us what the pocket rocket can really do. Although we suspect that some of these shenanigans might well have occurred with the original Fiat 500 in more than one Italian piazza back in the days.

In any case, the title of “pocket rocket” is probably best reserved for the upcoming US Abarth 500 model soon to hit North America. The sportier version might really indicate whether the pint-sized European car is a success or not in the US and it’s set to have up to 220 hp, so we’re expecting more of these videos to come.

Source | Autovoce via Jalopnik

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Drumming up sales in the US car market for the Fiat 500 might turn out to be easier than first thought on presenting these kinds of European, Dolce Vita fashion models. The Fiat 500 by Gucci will get a New York Fashion Week debut as the trendy model struts into town complete with Gucci logos and stripes.

The 500C Gucci comes after the standard hard-top 500 Gucci version and is available in either black or white with the red and green classic Gucci stripe down the roof. The wheel hubs feature Gucci logos and on the inside we get additional Gucci logos featuring on the Frau leather seats and chrome trim. In Europe the Fiat 500 Gucci versions sell for about €17,100.

Source | Autoblog.com

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What do you say to an Abarth 500 getting fitted with all-wheel drive and some EsseEsse tech and becoming this Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato Elaborata model in bright orange Lamborghini paint? The original Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and has been confirmed for a limited production run, but this is a very different beast.

The Scagliarini Fiat 500 has been commissioned by a customer from the Arab Emirates and is equipped with a 1.4-litre engine with 180 hp. The difference from the original Zagato model is the replacement of the rear windows with body panels. A carbonfibre aerodynamic bodykit is on offer with splitter and rear spoiler and extractor.

The Arancio Lamborghini paintjob covers the lot but we’re particularly taken with the idea of this little Abarth 500 going 4×4. Other features include Alcantara seats and Brembo brakes.

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