It’s official, folks. Motor Village LA, the posh dealership in downtown Los Angeles that Chrysler opened in California to serve as a showcase buying experience and test bed for innovative new Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat stores, has been sold.

New Century Automotive Group reportedly purchased the dealership from Chrysler in late October, 2011. Automotive News reports that two new dealer franchises licenses were awarded in the process, one for Motor Village LA and one for Fiat of LA.

Apparently, despite the fact that the 189,000-square foot building and showcase glass tower is now in the hands of a separate entity, Chrysler still has to negotiate a settlement with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California New Car Dealers Association for opening a store within 10 miles of three other Chrysler dealerships, which is in violation of franchise laws.

Original Source: Automotive News

There was undoubtedly some freaking out at the annual Fiat Freakout held at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC this year. The Freakout is more respectably referred to as the annual gathering of Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited, where owners and fans show their vintage love. This year, Fiat North America CEO Laura Soave personally rewarded the assembly with news that they would get first dibs on the first five hundred Fiat 500s to come to America, called the “Prima Edizione.”

The special allotment will come in White, Red and Gray, get manual transmissions and special badging, and buyers will be able to choose their build number. Assuming the club members don’t sponge up every one of Prima Edizione models, Fiat says it will give others a chance to get hold of one at “a later date” at www.ciaofiat.com. More details in the press release and in the video after the jump.

* Fiat North America rewards its long-time U.S. enthusiasts with an opportunity to reserve a special-edition vehicle, the Fiat Cinquecento ‘Prima Edizione’

* Designed as a collector vehicle, each Fiat Cinquecento Prima Edizione will feature a sequentially numbered vehicle identification number (VIN) and unique numbered matching badge

* Fiat fans will be able to select their model build number

* A total of 500 Prima Edizione vehicles will be sold in the United States

July 11, 2010 , Asheville, NC — Fiat fans attending the annual convention of the Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited were given a special surprise when the head of Fiat North America arrived at their closing dinner and made them an exclusive offer. These long-time enthusiasts of the Fiat brand and vehicles, some for almost 27 years, were given the first opportunity to place reservations and select their vehicle build number for the unique Fiat Cinquecento ‘Prima Edizione’ (First Edition) model. A total of 500 of these collector-edition Fiat 500 models will be sold in the United States.

“The Fiat Cinquecento Prima Edizione was developed especially with the Fiat fans in mind,” said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat North America, who personally presented the opportunity to the Fiat aficionados. “For over a quarter of a century, the members of this Club have kept the spirit of the Fiat and Lancia brands alive in North America through their unique and passionate support for true Italian design. We really value their loyalty, and the Prima Edizione is our gift of appreciation to these fans on behalf of Fiat North America.”

The Fiat 500 Prima Edizione will be exclusively available in three colors: Bianco (White), Rosso (Red) and Grigio (Gray). These limited-edition Fiat 500 models will be equipped with a manual transmission and will feature an exclusive Prima Edizione badge. Each of the 500 Prima Edizione vehicles will feature a sequential VIN and badge according to production order.

The modern generation of the Fiat 500 will be introduced in North America at the end of 2010 and will offer customers uncompromising safety, fuel efficiency from its 1.4-liter MultiAir™ four-cylinder engine, individualization options, quality and advanced technology, all wrapped in iconic Italian style. The Fiat MultiAir technology was recognized as the “single most innovative engine technology” of the year by the International Engine of the Year Awards panel.

Fiat North America will also offer other Fiat fans the opportunity to reserve their Prima Edizione model, up to a limit of 500, via a special website that will be made available at a later date through www.ciaofiat.com.

Fiat Mobile Experience

The Fiat Cinquecento ‘Prima Edizione’ announcement was made during the national annual convention organized by Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited, North America’s largest enthusiast club for owners of Fiat Group Automobile vehicles. This year, the convention – commonly known as the “Fiat Freakout” – was held in Asheville, NC.

Fiat North America was the title sponsor of the annual convention, which featured displays of more than 100 well-preserved Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo vehicles.

During the event, Fiat North America debuted the ‘Fiat Mobile Experience’ – a unique display that hosts both a café station and a Fiat brand merchandise store.

Fiat fans attending the convention were able to enjoy complimentary gelato, espresso and cappuccino served by baristas. Visitors were also able to browse through and purchase various Fiat-branded merchandise items in a unique store area, finished in Fiat red and white colors and staffed by Fiat merchandizing specialists.

The Fiat Mobile Experience display is constructed from a repurposed auto-shipping container and will be seen at other future Fiat shows and exhibitions in North America.

About Fiat

One of the pioneer companies in the automobile industry, Fiat has produced around 90 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, including more than 400 models since 1899, when the company was founded in Turin, Italy. Some of Fiat’s vehicles have represented milestones in automotive history. The Automobiles business area of Fiat Group encompasses Fiat Group Automobiles (Fiat Automobiles SpA, Alfa Romeo Automobiles SpA, Lancia Automobiles SpA, Abarth SpA and Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles SpA), Ferrari SpA and Maserati SpA. In 2009, Fiat Group formed a global strategic alliance with Chrysler Group LLC.

Source Autoblog

Fiat’s Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari” is confirmed:

Still waiting for that baby Ferrari to come along? This may be as close as you’ll get. Confirming earlier reports, Fiat’s Abarth and Ferrari subsidiaries have gotten together to collaborate on a special 500 to honor Maranello. We first heard about a special Ferrari edition 500 last year when we were in Italy test driving the new Alfa MiTo. But while the previous 500 created for Ferrari was used solely as a courtesy car for Ferrari owners bringing in their cars for service, this new Frankfurt-bound special edition will actually be available for purchase by the general public.

Called the 695 Tributo Ferrari, the special Cinquecento packs a 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four tuned by Abarth and Ferrari engineers to produce over 180 horsepower, snorting through a variable exhaust system and mated to a paddle-shift automated manual transmission. 17-inch rims crowd the little wheel wells, mounted to a sport-tuned suspension and packing 284mm Brembo brake discs.

The most attention-getting detail, of course, is the paint scheme, decked out in Scuderia Red with Racing Grey stripes to mimick the outgoing 430 Scuderia. All we’ve got on the interior so far is that Jaeger has been commissioned to make the special instruments and Sabelt provides the bucket seats (probably similar to the ones we reported on recently.

This isn’t the first time the Prancing Horse and the Scorpion marques have come together, Fiat pointing to the 1953 Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth for reference. And whether this proves to be more of a marketing ploy or a serious set of wheels remains to be seen, but it’s got to be better than the Michael Schumacher edition Fiat Stilo from a few years ago. For our part, we wouldn’t mind pitting this against the upcoming Toyota iQ-based Aston Martin Cygnet to determine who’ll be king of the exotic-branded superminis. Check it out in the press release after the jump and images in the hi-res gallery below.

Source Autoblog

With the Fiat 500 still selling like hotcakes, the Italian automaker’s performance division is reportedly working on a new combination to further bolster interest in the retro hatch. Melding the best elements of the 500 Abarth and the new 500C convertible, Fiat is said to be preparing a 500C Abarth for launch overseas in time for the next sunny season.

Porting over the engines from the fixed-roof 500 Abarth, the cabrio would be offered with the 133hp 1.4-liter turbo four, upgradable to 157hp with the optional Esse-esse kit. But while most convertibles loose their rigidity and gain weight when the top is lopped off, the 500C’s unique roof rail structure keeps torsional twist at bay – to say nothing of the Cinquecento’s iconic profile. Pricing would be competitive with the new Mini Cooper Cabrio, and with both the Abarth and convertible variants expected to appear Stateside by 2011, there’s a good chance Fiat will throw this one into the mix, too.

Source Autoblog

Celebrating Abarth’s return to the Dutch market, Fiat and Abarth have released this limited edition 500 Competizione.

Power comes from the same 1.4L 4-cylinder turbo used in the standard Fiat 500 Abarth that produces 135-hp with a peak torque of 152 lb-ft. To make it special, the Abarth Fiat 500 Competizione features a black-roof, 17-inch black alloy wheels and Abarth graphics on the side. Inside, the special-edition model gets Competizione logos with navigation, an upgraded audio system and climate control as standard.

Only 10 units of the Abarth Fiat 500 Competizione will be made with prices starting at €24,995 ($35,214 USD).

Source Egmcartech

Finally, an automaker giving something back to their fans.

Like Volkswagen, for example, which shows up every year to its enthusiast gathering in Wörthersee, Austria with a new surprise (like the Golf GTI W12 650 concept). Well Volkswagen may have snagged Alfa Romeo’s CEO, but Alfa is taking something back from Volkswagen in launching the MiTo RIAR edition.

Made to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo, an international Alfa owners club with over 1,000 members, the RIAR edition MiTo takes on a decidedly sinister and low-key appearance. It’s painted black, with black satin finish details instead of chrome and 17-inch anthracite-finish 8C-style rims hiding red brake calipers. Buyers can choose between black or burgundy leather, but the RIAR edition comes packed with all the options inside and out. Under the hood is a 170-hp version of the turbocharged four, and in honor of RIAR’s 46th year of brand loyalty, Alfa will only offer 46 individually-numbered and personalized examples exclusively to RIAR members. This special edition proves that membership has its privileges; we wonder what they’ll cook up for the club’s 50th.

Source Autoblog

The baby supersports car from Abarth, the new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, is due to in a Limited Edition production of 49 cars.

The new vehicle, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers and Designers will be the star of track races from next year and its creation confirms Abarth’s racing vocation.

The Assetto Corse version of the petite 500 Abarth takes up the baton from its forerunner, the ‘595′ that notched up numerous successes and great victories from 1963 and led to the coining of the description ’small but deadly’.

The cars sports a full racing outfit: wide track, white 17′ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides. Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ reveals an assertive front end that houses a badge bearing the Abarth logo and, below this, wide bumpers complete with an aerodynamic spoiler and screen-printed grilles to replace the plastic louvres on the standard production version. In addition to the classic bonnet clips, the bonnet houses two carbon air intakes bearing the Abarth scorpion logo.

The rear part of the car features a white winged spoiler, a badge bearing the Abarth logo and a twin exhaust pipe.

The Abarth identity is expressed to the full with a thunderbolt logo on the side representing the brand’s racing image and a red band and four white chequers on the roof, just as on the winning Abarth 850TC version of the 1960s.

Inside, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ is equipped with a roll-bar type-approved for racing that is completely hollow to make the car lighter and faster. The car weighs approximately 180 kg less than the road version. The anatomical seats, the steering wheel (special for racing) and the carbon door panels make the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse a real baby sports car with a indomitable character all of its own .

Abarth has also thoughtfully provided a clothing set for the driver, that will be delivered in an original Abarth-branded leather bag. Owners of the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ will therefore be resplendent in overalls, helmets, gloves and shoes, all meticulously branded with the ultra-new ‘Assetto Corse’ logo produced for the limited edition of the car.

The petite Fiat 500 with the dexterous next-gen Ford Ka platform is advertised as the Italian MINI Cooper (although made in Poland). But this Fiat has something the MINI doesn’t: Microsoft’s Blue&Me system. Blue&Me packs most of the technology that’s on Ford and Microsoft’s SYNC, but with an added hands-free navigation system. Blue&Me uses the radio to connected iPods and phones so, like with SYNC, the costs should be kept down.

Reviewers were impressed with SYNC at a recent Ford event, and Blue&Me takes car digital asets to another level. It appears that the Europeans have gotten the better version of auto technology yet again.

[Source: Engadget]

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