Autoblog

Many of the biggest teams in Formula One extract enormous budgets from the automakers that own them: BMW, Renault, Toyota, Honda, even Mercedes-Benz, which is part owner of McLaren. Not Ferrari, though. The team, part of the Maranello-based sportscar maker, is owned by the Fiat auto group. However, Fiat does not contribute even one centesimo (er... euro-cent) to the team's budget.

This according to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. And he should know, being both president of Ferrari and chairman of Fiat (in the mid-'70s, Montezemolo directly headed up the Scuderia before being promoted up the Fiat ladder). The marquis insists that the entirety of the Ferrari F1 team's budget is generated from within Ferrari, through the sales of its road cars (all of which go for six digits) and the team's sponsors, to say nothing of the company's considerable merchandising efforts.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph via F1-Live, Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty]

We see a lot of rendered speculation on upcoming models, but they're seldom penned by renowned designers. However as Fiat prepares to revive the classic Topolino, Italian magazine Ruoteclassiche commissioned designer Paolo Martin – former of Bertone, Pininfarina and Ghia – to render his interpretation of how the tiny retro runabout could (or should) look.

Martin says he strove to "maintain the original spirit" of the Topolino, "with similar proportions, protruding front end and fenders, a nearly-identical grille, circular headlamps, short rear overhang and spare tire covered and integrated in the rear tailgate." The Topolino will be built at Fiat's newly-acquired Zastava plant in Serbia as a budget city-car, positioned below the 500, and despite Panda/500 underpinnings could get a rear-engine layout for the 0.9-liter two cylinder engine with DSG and start-stop technology.

[Source: Car Body Design]

Any day in which we bring you news of a new Italian sports car is a good day by any account. Today we bring you news of three new sports cars under development under the Fiat group umbrella, which we needn't point out controls most of the Italian automotive industry, including Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari.

First up to bat is the unique sports car which, as we reported back in March, Fiat is developing for its recently revived Abarth performance brand. Reports now suggest that the Abarth roadster would take an Elise-style approach, and could even borrow underpinnings from Lotus. Power could come from the turbo four in the Punto and 500 Abarth, mounted amidships, but unburdened by a lightweight two-seater chassis.

While we wait for more news on that front, there are parallel reports of a new Lancia coupe-cabrio on the horizon. (This in addition to the rumored Aurelia flagship, anticipated for unveiling in Geneva next March.) Previewed by the Fulvia concept from Frankfurt 2003 (pictured above), the Lancia convertible could also spawn an Alfa Romeo variant. The stage is set, and we'll be keeping a sharp eye out for more news as it emerges.

[Source: 4Car]

According to Olivier Francois, Chief Executive Officer of Lancia, Richard Gere was chosen for a recent ad for the Lancia Delta because he "is not merely a fine actor; not merely one of the most famous men in the world. He is a man with a great difference: the ability to combine talent, fame and style with great character. I'm talking about his commitment to peace." That affinity for peace stretches especially towards the people of Tibet, a people who's autonomy from China Gere supports.

This commercial, which you can watch after the break, features Gere driving a new Lancia Delta from Hollywood to Tibet in just 30 seconds and aired in Italy. After reports of the commercial appeared in Chinese newspapers, China was apparently none too happy about it. Fiat has decided to apologize, with a company spokesman saying, "Fiat Group extends its apologies to the Government of the People's Republic of China and to the Chinese people."

Our opinion? Gere's alright in Pretty Woman, but not much else after that. Apologies are usually pretty lame, but we'd appreciate one for Gere's horrible singing in Chicago as long as they are being handed out so freely. And how 'bout one for that Lancia's front end?

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

The 2003 Lancia Fulvia Coupe concept that tantalized showgoers at the Frankfurt Motor Show with its crisp lines that strongly evoked its namesake predecessor was presumed dead after Fiat canned the idea due to financial woes and want of a modern platform. It seems that plans for a new coupe carrying the Lancia badge is resurgent inside Fiat, though the clearly retro styling of the 2003 concept will likely fall by the wayside instead of getting mired in a retro rut.

It's rumored that we'll see a Fulvia riding atop the MiTo's chassis at this year's Paris Motor Show. Rather than relying on the work of 40 years past, the new Fulvia will share nothing but a name with its predecessor. The car may follow the current trend of other Euro coupes and incorporate a folding hardtop, but there are conflicting reports that it may also be a conventional fixed-head-coupe. We certainly wouldn't complain about giving the MiTo an appropriate coupe roofline, so please send some our way.


[Source: Autocar, Photos: ultimatecarpage]

Click to view the Fiat Punto Turbo in our gallery

The European market is replete with sporty Fiats we can't get over here, but the latest doesn't even come from Italy. Fiat Automóveis is the automaker's Brazilian subsidiary, and builds its own vehicles domestically, including some exclusive homegrown models. The South American division is now in the midst of presenting its latest sport model, the Fiat Punto Turbo.

Essentially what we're looking at is the Punto Abarth, only it's not called an Abarth. This model will carry the Fiat badge and differ from its Scorpion marque counterpart in one more significant way. Give up? Try counting the doors. While the Abarth version is available only in the three-door version, the Brazilian turbo model will come exclusively with five doors. The Portuguese-speaking hot hatch will carry the 155hp T-Jet from the Abarth, along with a tightened suspension, 17-inch wheels and upgraded brakes, along with all manner of aero and trim upgrades inside and out. Although the specific launch date and sticker price have not yet been revealed, Fiat Automóveis' Punto Turbo is anticipated to hit the market in Brazil and Argentina before the end of the year. Check out the images in the gallery below to see all the angles.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

It was only in December that we mention Alfa Romeo was planning to open a factory in the United States. We followed that story with another in March when Fiat also mentioned a possibility of Iveco truck production coming to the States. It was in that same month that Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne told the Financial Times that his company was in talks with major U.S. automakers about sharing production. On Saturday, Alfa Romeo brand chief Luca de Meo told a German magazine that talks were under way with Chrysler. With Chrysler cutting domestic production, a move like this by Fiat would help both companies. The Italian carmaker, withdrawn from the U.S. market since 1995, would avoid the effects of the strong Euro on exports, and Chrysler would be able to ramp production back up on an idled plant.

[Source: Reuters]

Earlier this month we brought you news of Fiat's acquisition of Zastava and the Italian automaker's plans to use the retooled Serbian plant to produce a new city car reviving the old Topolino nameplate. Auto Express has brought its resources to bear and cooked up a pair of renderings of what form it thinks the new micro-car could take.

Looking something like a cross between a 500 and a new Renault Twingo, the Topolino rendering suggests a melding of the 500's retro touches with more modern lines. Although the car is expected to be based on the Panda platform, Auto Express suggests the Topolino will have a rear-engine/rear-drive layout, along the lines of the Smart ForTwo, Volkswagen up! and Toyota iQ, three models which the little Fiat would go up against in the marketplace. Innovative seating is tipped to help maximize its compact interior dimensions. Fiat has a wide array of compact engines that could appear in the Topolino, including the upcoming 0.9-liter two-cylinder gasoline engine previewed by the Panda Aria concept. With a DSG and start-stop system, the Topolino would help Fiat lower its range-wide carbon footprint.

[Source: Auto Express]

With Fiat preparing to bring some of its products to the American market, local government leaders have been hard at work courting CEO Sergio Marchionne to produce vehicles in their state or province. Marchionne declared in March that with the weak American dollar, his company would have to strongly consider local production for sales in North America.

Among those politicians who have reached out to Fiat, congressional representatives from the states of Kentucky and Georgia have met with executives from the Italian auto giant to discuss the possibility of opening plants in their districts. However the premier of Ontario seemed to take it one step further by flying to Italy to meet with Marchionne, who himself was raised in the same Canadian province. After General Motors announced the closure of two plants in the past couple of months, Ontario is keen to find tenants for the abandoned facilities. Marchionne, meanwhile, has expressed interest in producing in Mexico, allowing Fiat to extend its operations in Latin America northward to support its foray into the North American market.

As for distribution, while Fiat already networks established for its Case New Holland agricultural equipment division, as well as for its top-end brands Ferrari and Maserati. However Fiat is likely to set up separate distribution channels for Alfa Romeo and, if and when the day comes, the Fiat 500.

[Sources: Reuters and the Toronto Star via Italiaspeed]

Click to view the Grande Punto Abarth SS at Frankfurt '07

Fiat's tuning workshop Abarth has released details for two new performance kits for the Grande Punto Abarth: the Assetto and esseesse (read: SS, for Super Sport) kits.

Starting with the standard 155-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged Grande Punto Abarth, both kits can be ordered after the fact and installed by specialized Abarth centers being established in markets around the world. The Assetto package includes an upgraded brake kit with cross-drilled discs front and rear and beefier brake pads, plus high-performance coil springs that drop the suspension an additional 15+ mm and special 18" white alloys with 215/40-ZR18 Pirelli PZero rubber. Customers who opt for the esseesse kit also get a bigger Garrett turbocharger, a BMC Carbon Dynamic induction kit, twin exhaust with chrome-tipped tail pipes, and a remapped ECU, boosting power up to 180 hp.

The kits are hitting the market in Italy this weekend for €2,500 and €4,500 respectively, and coincide with a concerted new Abarth marketing campaign and the opening of the Abarth performance driving school.

[Source: Italiaspeed]