NF500 / automotive news

Automotive News and AutoBlog have been talking about Fiat’s planned Multiair engine technology this week, generating more good PR for Fiat brand and the new 500 in particular.

The Multiair electronic inlet valve control system, as recently displayed in the Fiat Panda Aria concept car, has hit the press again due to Valeo announcing it is developing a new cam-less engine technology, which much like Fiat’s offering will reduce emissions by around 20 percent as well as offering improved performance.

The Valeo system, which is also being developed by both Jacobs Vehicle Systems of Connecticut and Lotus Engineering, has had its share of fits and starts. Packaging issues have caused problems for all involved, particularly on engines with three or four valves per cylinder.

The system doesn’t appear to have anything to do with Fiat’s offering, but it shows the current buzz around the brand that the 500 is making the automotive headlines, even when it’s not strictly the subject matter of the piece.

You can learn more about Fiat’s future engine plans in this previous NF500 article.

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.

Automotive News have reported Today that the new Fiat 500, in Abarth form in particular, could well be sold in the USA.

This isn’t a new rumour, but when it’s Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne who’s the one doing the gossiping, it surely adds some rather juicy fruits to the grape vine!

Apparently Marcionne has said he would like to sell an Abarth 500 in the US in competition with BMW’s MINI Cooper and Volvo’s C30.

The bad news is that if this happens at all, it wont be until at least 2010. Before Fiat can even begin to make this dream a reality they will have to get themselves back on track in the USA with the Alfa Romeo badge (who’s design team is now headed up by Frank Stephenson, who also lead the design team on the new 500).

Could the new 500 AND the new MINI Cooper prove cult smashes in the USA? Who knows, but we’d care to bet there’d be a lot of people excited by the prospect.