NF500 / fiat

According to a report published today in the Guardian, Fiat is being widely tipped to struggle to reach its own performance targets as the global economy slows. This news comes in spite of the success of the Fiat 500 in both terms of sales, and national and international awards.

The article makes interesting reading, with most analyst sources citing Fiat Group’s heavy reliance on two markets, those in Italy and Brazil, as their main achilles heal. It is of note though that
Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne is thus far sticking to Fiat’s original, strong forecasts, stating that

I’m 56 and I’ve never had to change a forecast so far

Read the full report on the Guardian website.

The “perky” Fiat 500. Of course.

Evecars.com has just added to the Fiat 500s trophy cabinet by naming the small Italian car winner in both their Supermini and City Car categories in the Evecars.com Car of the Year awards 2008. Clearly making no attempt to destroy any “girls and cars” stereotypes, the Fiat 500 was noted for its style, optional extras and light steering when parking.

Commenting on the award, Alex Jenner-Fust, editor of evecars.com says:

The Fiat 500 stole our judges’ hearts with its retro-inspired style and deceptively roomy interior. It’s perky to drive around town, and has clever features such as the ‘City’ parking button, which lightens the steering to help you park. Better still, there are thousands of optional extras to help you personalise the car to suit your style.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles had this to say about the Fiat 500s latest accolade

We are delighted with this latest award which makes an exciting addition to 500’s already impressive honours list.

Customers continue to demonstrate how much they love the 500 and it’s good to see the experts showing us they are also big fans.

Worldcarfans have some exclusive photos of a heavily disguised Fiat 500 Abarth SS, which were apparently snapped very recently.

The Abarth SS is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Motorshow later this year, and these most recent “spy” photographs will no doubt lead to increased speculation about exact body modifications and power improvements ahead of any official news from Fiat themselves.

72 all-black Fiat 500s have been acquired on contract hire by well known phone manufacturers Nokia, in a fleet deal that will see the garishly decorated Fiats help kick-start a new high profile promotion.

The press release we’ve received from Fiat focuses on the “youthful brand image” that Nokia wishes to nurture with the 500 becoming a “lifestyle must have”. We’re not sure on the marketing speak, or how much of an impact the student brand ambassadors who will be driving the 500s over the next three to six months will have on the company’s sales figures, but the chosen livery, apparently inspired by early 90s shell-suits, is nothing if not eye catching!

As well as the 500 being viewed as a funky, youthful, lifestyle statement that will help excite and entice people to Nokia’s new 6220 phone, we’re certain that the financial side of hiring the 500s will certainly have encouraged Nokia to chose the Fiat 500 over its rivals. Current estimates rate the entry level 500 1.2 Pop as having a retained value at 47 per cent after three years.

This business win is typical of the fleet interest being shown in the Fiat 500 right now by companies large and small,

David Joyce, Fiat Auto Financial Services’ Business Finance Manager is quoted as saying;

The retro-styling of the new 500, which has already captured the public’s imagination, is now filtering through to fleet users.

CarScoop have done it again, and released details (and over 40 high res images) of the forthcoming limited edition Opening Edition Fiat 500 Abarth.

The strictly limited (100 examples) 500 Abarth Opening Edition is fitted with a revised version of the stock 1.4-liter turbo engine that produces 160Hp at 5750 rpm and a maximum torque of 230 Nm at 3000 rpm. Combined with a 5-speed gearbox the Opening Edition can go from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in just 7.4 sec and on to a top speed of 211 km/h (131mph). That compares very favourably to the standard 500 Abarth’s 7.9 sec & 205 km/h.

Other mechanical upgrades include the adoption of front and rear perforated disc brakes, high performance front brake pads, a special ‘powered by BMC’ air filter, special low springs and 17″ alloys painted white or titanium complete with 205/40 R16 ZR 17 Pirelli Pzero Nero tires.

Buyers can choose between two colours (Campovolo grey or pearlised White) while there’s also the option of special stickers including a red chequered flag on the roof (exclusive to the Campovolo Grey shade) that pays homage to the numerous sporting victories of the Abarth brand. Finally, just to make it a tad more special, Fiat delivers the car with a cover bearing a period Abarth 595 design.

Official full details will likely follow very soon, so keep ‘em peeled.

Those clever bods with calculators (or crystal balls, or both) who predict future used car prices for the motor trade have altered and improved their estimations on the value of the Fiat 500 in three years.

The predicted residual values on some 500 models have increased from 42 per cent to 46 per cent of original list price. That equates to a positive adjustment of more than £350 on the car’s value on a typical three year/30,000 mile contract. For buyers funding the car through contract hire or personal contract purchase (PCP) that should reduce rentals by more than £20 per month.

As is often the case in the motor trade, the entry level model, the Fiat 500 1.2 Pop is rated as having the best residual value at 47 per cent after three years.

The residual value guides have reacted positively to the success of the 500 and have increased their used predictions accordingly. This is good news for those who have already bought one and it should help reduce monthly costs,

says Adam Pumfrey, fleet and remarketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

The 500 has also generated a great deal of interest from small and medium sized companies for test drives as it offers drivers a high profile company car that is low on fuel use and CO2 emissions.

You may remember a while back a Tracey Emin Fiat 500 went under the hammer for charity and sold for £42,000.

Well, despite recent tales of doom and gloom surrounding the economy in the media recently, her latest Fiat 500 to go up for auction, this time a little number titled “Dark, Dark, Dark”, sold for an incredible £200,000.

Absolute Return for Kids charity (ARK) raised £25 million for children at a gala reception in the Royal Naval College, Greenwich last week, with an auction in which this one off Fiat 500 was included.

Thanks (once again) to top news spotter KevinB for finding out the sale details.