NF500 / 2007 / December

In a broad ranging interview with Automotive News, Fiat Group Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne reaffirmed Fiat’s projected annual sales for the new 500 to be 190,000 vehicles by 2009, up from original forecasts of 120,000.

I will stick with 190,000 units a year. Let us first see what this car does after the initial euphoria.

Later in the piece Marchionne is questioned on the planned micro-car based on the platform currently shared between the Fiat Panda, 500 and forthcoming Ford Ka.

…in late 2009 we will probably launch a car that is much smaller than the 500 and built on a shortened A-platform. The only other thing I can say is that the styling model that I saw of this car is a true beauty.

Interesting. Subscription is required to read the full piece.

The Warsaw Business Journal has a report on the launch of the new Fiat 500 in Poland. That’s right, Fiat’s new baby has finally been released in the country where it is produced.

Despite being the country to produce the 500 Fiat are placing modest expectations on the uptake of the new car in Poland, with a spokesperson quoted as expecting sales of around 3,000 vehicles a year. Considering orders had reached around 105,000 cars by the end of November 2007 following launch the same summer, you can see just how conservative that estimate is.

The new Fiat 500 will be the first of Fiat’s premium models to go on sale in Poland, but with prices starting at less than the equivalent of £7,000 (or €9,700) Fiat in Poland are hopeful of making inroads in the lower end of the luxury market.

For those in the UK, set your alarms for 9pm this evening when leading TV car show “Top Gear” will be featuring the new Fiat 500 tackling the streets of Budapest. James May, AKA Captain Slow (and apparent fan of the Fiat Panda) will be the team member taking the new baby Fiat to task.

Generally speaking Top Gear hasn’t been much of a car review show in recent times, more a bunch of lads messing about with cars and other diverse forms of transport, while banding about petrol head banter. But it’s always worth a watch and it will be interesting to see their take on the Fiat 500, not least as it’s the most watched, and therefore most influential car show on British TV.

The orange Fiat 500 you see here has taken on quite a journey, after traveling through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and finally Italy to appear at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show.

But that was just the return leg of an incredible adventure which saw the 1.3 multijet turbo diesel Fiat 500 cover over 16,000 km to reach Beijing in the first place, and the return leg was completed in less than a month! The Overland Challenge saw the Fiat 500 accompany a vintage 1907 Itala, recreating (in reverse) the 100th anniversary of its victory in the 1907 Beijing to Paris race. Then Rocco Errico and Beppe Tenti decided that wasn’t enough, and drove all the way back to Italy again.

You can read more about the big adventure on this very website, the Parigi-Pechino website and the official blog of the Fiat 500 team on the Fiat 500 website.

The Fiat 500 1.4 Sport Fiat 500 shown here is a special edition created by the Fiat Style Centre in Turin, paying homage to both Valentino Rossi and 1957, the year the original Fiat 500 was born. The car will be displayed at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show which takes place from the 7th to the 16th December.

The hand painted livery celebrates 1957, the year of birth of the first Fiat 500 by taking inspiration from the twist of rock’n'roll, electric guitars, Elvis and Rita Pavone. Mixed with the retro inspired tones and shapes are pastel shades of blue and pink, mixed with the Tricolor to represent “Made in Italy”.

Probably too many “news” in that headline, but we’re excited so please excuse us.

Today we go live with our new look at NF500, we hope you like it! We have tried to keep things simple and uncluttered, adding a splash of colour here and there and, of course, more complete integration with our recently upgraded forum software.

The change is quite big, perhaps a little scary, but we have a habit of tinkering so please let us know if you find any bugs or annoyances and we will do our best to improve things further.

Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd has shown its support for Save The Children by donating a new Fiat 500 for the aid organisation’s gala charity auction this week.

The car will be one of a staggering list of prizes due to be bid for at Save the Children’s Festival of Trees Gala Dinner in London’s Natural History Museum tomorrow (Tuesday 4 December) in the presence of charity President, HRH The Princess Royal.

The special auction will help raise money for Save the Children’s on-going work around the world. And when the charity heads decided to find a new car to put under the hammer, they knew exactly which one they wanted - the 2008 Car of the Year.

With its stylish good looks, exceptional choice of standard and optional equipment, five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating and incredible value for money, the new Fiat 500 has been set aside as a star attraction at the auction event. The car will also be on display at the gala dinner.

The idea is that guests bid for one of the bespoke designer ‘Christmas Trees’ which come with special prizes attached,

said Save the Children spokeswoman Susannah Parker.

They might be a luxury safari, tickets to a Premiership football match or a garden re-design, and guests can also bid for a sensational prize - the new Fiat 500.

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