Shocker! Chrysler Bringing Home More Bacon than Fiat...

Two years ago, Chrysler was saved from oblivion when the federal government provided a $15 billion bailout and orchestrated a rescue plan that gave the Fiat Group the management control of the company.

Last week, the Italian automaker raised its share in Chrysler beyond 50% for the first time, to 53.5%.So Fiat saved Chrysler in 2009, right? Well, yes, but 2011 is another story altogether.

You see, Chrysler’s US sales increased by 21% in the first six months of the year, whereas Fiat’s European deliveries dropped 12.7% in the same period. But that's only half the story. With the exception of the Maserati and Ferrari brands, the Chrysler Group will contribute to the alliance €155 million for June alone, while Fiat €175 million for the past three months.

Read more »

Fiat Completes Purchase of Chrysler from U.S. and Canadian Governments, US Taxpayers Lose $1.3 Billion

The Fiat Group today purchased the remaining Chrysler LLC shares held by the U.S. and Canadian governments. The Italian company acquired a 1.5% fully diluted stake in Chrysler Group LLC from Canada for US$125 million, and a 6% stake from the United States Department of the Treasury for a price of US$ 500 million.

After acquiring the shares in the two separate deals, the Fiat Group now controls a 53.5% fully diluted equity interest in Chrysler LLC.

Upon the completion of the deal, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Tim Massad released this statement:

“With today's closing, the US government has exited its investment in Chrysler at least six years earlier than expected. This is a major accomplishment and further evidence of the success of the Administration’s actions to assist the US auto industry, which helped save a million jobs during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”

Read more »

Fiat Panda Gets Euro 5 Engines in the UK

Last February Fiat recorded Europe’s lowest average CO2 emissions for the fourth year in a row. And now it reinforces its eco-friendly character by introducing an all-Euro 5 engine line-up across the Panda range in Britain. Read more »

SPIED: All-New 2012 Fiat Panda Caught Stretching out in the Sun

The car that helped Fiat get back on its feet at the turn of the century, the nuova Panda, will soon give its place to an all-new model that was snagged by Carscoop’s photographers during hot weather testing in Europe.

It's hard to picture the styling details with the heavy cladding and camouflage on the prototype, but it’s evident that new model will retain the shape of the tall-bodied, second generation Panda.

Read more »

Naughty Fiat 500 with a Very, Very Suggestive License Plate

We’ve seen some pretty weird license plates over the years, some funny, some meaningful, some witty and others just plain nasty. No need to explain why you’d be better off staying very far away from the one pictured above.

The…suggestive license plate belongs to a Fiat 500 city car that was spotted at a South African showroom by Carscoop reader Jeff G.

Read more »

Oops! They Did it Again: Alfa Romeo’s Return to the US Delayed Until 2013

It’s 2003, 2004, 2006 – you get the idea- happening all over again; Alfa Romeo’s return to the US market has been delayed and will not happen in 2012 as was the most recent plan. Instead, Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has pushed the Italian brand’s arrival back for another year, or so until he announces another delay. Read more »

2012 Vauxhall Opel Combo

The new 2012 Combo van might look rather familiar, as it’s essentially a rebadged Fiat Doblò.



Not that that’s a bad choice of vehicle to use as a basis, though. The Turkish-built Doblò won the 2011 International Van of the Year award, and two wheelbases and two roof heights mean it’ll offer more versatility than the previous generation Combo.

Vauxhall is only going to be offering UK buyers the panel van, which has up to either 3,800 or 4,600 litres of cargo space, depending on body size.



Opel customers across the rest of Europe will also be able to choose a passenger carrying version, with a glazed body and five or seven seats. Available in Essentia, Enjoy or Cosmo specification, its spec sheet will include a few extra luxuries such as rear electric windows, remote central locking and front side airbags.

Unsurprisingly, the engine line-up is pretty much the same as that found in the Fiat Doblò. The Vauxhall Combo will be exclusively diesel-powered, with a pick of 1.3 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (103 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS) or 2.0 litre (133 bhp / 99 kW / 135 PS) capacities.



Additionally, Opel is to offer a 93 bhp (70 kW / 95 PS) 1.4 litre petrol, plus a 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS) motor that runs on compressed natural gas.



Sales of the new Combo are due to start in February 2012. Prices have yet to be announced.



Images © GM Corp.



Related post:

Doblò is Van of the Year

2012 Vauxhall Opel Combo

The new 2012 Combo van might look rather familiar, as it’s essentially a rebadged Fiat Doblò.



Not that that’s a bad choice of vehicle to use as a basis, though. The Turkish-built Doblò won the 2011 International Van of the Year award, and two wheelbases and two roof heights mean it’ll offer more versatility than the previous generation Combo.

Vauxhall is only going to be offering UK buyers the panel van, which has up to either 3,800 or 4,600 litres of cargo space, depending on body size.



Opel customers across the rest of Europe will also be able to choose a passenger carrying version, with a glazed body and five or seven seats. Available in Essentia, Enjoy or Cosmo specification, its spec sheet will include a few extra luxuries such as rear electric windows, remote central locking and front side airbags.

Unsurprisingly, the engine line-up is pretty much the same as that found in the Fiat Doblò. The Vauxhall Combo will be exclusively diesel-powered, with a pick of 1.3 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (103 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS) or 2.0 litre (133 bhp / 99 kW / 135 PS) capacities.



Additionally, Opel is to offer a 93 bhp (70 kW / 95 PS) 1.4 litre petrol, plus a 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS) motor that runs on compressed natural gas.



Sales of the new Combo are due to start in February 2012. Prices have yet to be announced.



Images © GM Corp.



Related post:

Doblò is Van of the Year

Fiat Marks 500 Launch in China with 100 “First Edition” Models

The first Fiat 500 to make its way into China was presented today in Shanghai by Fiat Group Executive Vice President for International Operations, Lorenzo Sistino.

To celebrate the launch, Fiat crafted a special version named 500 “First Edition” featuring bodywork graphics by five young Chinese designers. The special edition will be available in a limited run of just 100 numbered units ahead of the city car’s regular launch in China on September 15.

Read more »

Congratulations, it’s a Doblo: New Opel Combo in Passenger Car and Panel Van Trims Breaks Cover

Meet the new Opel Combo, GM Europe’s latest offer in the light commercial vehicle segment that will also be available in a passenger car version.

In case you didn’t notice, Opel’s newcomer is based on the Fiat Doblo van with the exterior styling changes over the Italian model limited to the design of the front bumper that somewhat awkwardly incorporates the German firm’s family grille.

Read more »

Fiat and Chrysler to get a Single Management Team

Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC will soon have a single management structure according to the CEO of both companies, Sergio Marchionne. The Bloomberg financial news agency reports that Marchionne told to journalists in Zurich that he intends to implement his unified management team “pretty quickly”, though he declined to specify a date. Read more »

Marchionne Threatens to Leave Industry Body over Fiat-Union Brawl

Fiat S.p.A.’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, threatened to pull out of the Italian industry federation from January 1, 2012, unless there is some progress with the union talks.

This is only the last episode between Fiat's boss and Italy’s largest industrial group’s labor unions over the new contracts that he has imposed at three of Fiat’s factories in order to reduce the number of absent workers and increase productivity.

Read more »

Fiat 500 TwinAir models

Fiat has decided to make the 500 TwinAir a model in its own right. The eponymous award winning two-cylinder engine continues to be available in other versions of the 500, but this latest move should help to raise the profile of this technologically advanced powertrain.



Although the TwinAir motor only has a capacity of 875 cc, MultiAir valve gear plus a turbocharger result in a power output of 83 bhp (62 kW / 85 PS). That’s good enough for a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 11 seconds and a top speed of 108 mph (173 km/h).



Very respectable performance, but the TwinAir’s real forte is efficiency. Combined fuel consumption is an impressive 68.9 mpg (4.1 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are just 95 g/km.

The new 500 TwinAir model is distinguished by matt black 15” alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, sports seats, a chrome exhaust and a burnished metal finish for the dashboard. Its price in the UK has been confirmed at £11,600 on the road.



Alternatively, for an extra £1,100, Fiat is offering the TwinAir Plus. Its additional specification comprises an increase in wheel size to 16”, the Blue&Me system (which includes Bluetooth, USB connectivity and an aux-in socket), body-coloured door mirror housings, automatic climate control, dark tinted windows and a leather-covered gear knob and sports steering wheel.



Related posts:

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Top 10: Efficient petrol cars

Zero Congestion Charge

American spec Fiat 500

Fiat 500 TwinAir arrives

Fiat 500 TwinAir models

Fiat has decided to make the 500 TwinAir a model in its own right. The eponymous award winning two-cylinder engine continues to be available in other versions of the 500, but this latest move should help to raise the profile of this technologically advanced powertrain.



Although the TwinAir motor only has a capacity of 875 cc, MultiAir valve gear plus a turbocharger result in a power output of 83 bhp (62 kW / 85 PS). That’s good enough for a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 11 seconds and a top speed of 108 mph (173 km/h).



Very respectable performance, but the TwinAir’s real forte is efficiency. Combined fuel consumption is an impressive 68.9 mpg (4.1 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are just 95 g/km.

The new 500 TwinAir model is distinguished by matt black 15” alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, sports seats, a chrome exhaust and a burnished metal finish for the dashboard. Its price in the UK has been confirmed at £11,600 on the road.



Alternatively, for an extra £1,100, Fiat is offering the TwinAir Plus. Its additional specification comprises an increase in wheel size to 16”, the Blue&Me system (which includes Bluetooth, USB connectivity and an aux-in socket), body-coloured door mirror housings, automatic climate control, dark tinted windows and a leather-covered gear knob and sports steering wheel.



Related posts:

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Top 10: Efficient petrol cars

Zero Congestion Charge

American spec Fiat 500

Fiat 500 TwinAir arrives

Fiat to Display 21.7-liter Mefistofele and 500 by Gucci at Goodwood Festival

Fiat’s major attraction in this year’s Goodwood Speed of Festival, which begins tomorrow, will be the famous Mefistofele. The record-breaking classic, which is based on a 1908 Fiat SB4 Corsa, returns after a decade to Goodwood and will be displayed in the “Cathedral Paddock” area. Read more »

695 Tributo Ferrari Headlines Abarth’s Line-Up in Goodwood

Abarth is marking its return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the second year in a row with the 500-based 695 Tributo Ferrari. A 1.388 cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivering 180 PS at 5,500 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm powers the spirited city car with the Ferrari badges. Read more »

Camal’s Retro Sexy Fiat 500 Marcia Corta

What happens when two people who share their passion for sports cars and motorbikes meet under the right circumstances? It depends, but if we ‘re talking about two Italians, Alessio Minchella (designer) and Alessandro Camorali (surface and product development) who met in 2010 while working at Pininfarina, the result is a new company, Camal, and a new product. Read more »

Report: New Alfa Romeo-Derived / U.S. Made Dodge Compact Sedan to Debut at 2012 Detroit Show

A new U.S. market compact sedan to be developed by Fiat and built by Chrysler is set to make its debut appearance at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in the beginning of next year, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The as-of-yet unnamed model will be badged as Dodge and powered by a Fiat-derived 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It’ll also do 40 mpg combined, or at least it will if Fiat wants to net itself a further 5% of Chrysler from Mr. Monopoly Uncle Sam.

Read more »

Chrysler Seeks Fiat Synergies to Produce Cars in China

China is the world’s largest car market: last year alone, more than 18 million vehicles were sold there, of which 13.76 million were passenger cars. Furthermore, analysts McKinsey & Company predict that it will grow tenfold between 2005 and 2030.

Do you want to know Chrysler’s share in this massive car market? A measly 31,000 in 2010 and a projection for just 40,000 in 2011. Therefore, it is only natural that the American carmaker is looking for ways to increase its share in this rapidly expanding market.

Read more »

photos I meant to post when I still knew where I'd found them

1938 Alfa 8C 2900B Le Mans
Those are incredibly good looking Jaguars
On of the most remarkable and well designed instrument gauge clusters I've ever seen
Fiat 1400b junior Ghia
Awesome use of a hoodscoop to make an ugly car better looking
Sorry, I don't know where these came from anymore, but I bet they were from websites that I've posted from in the past month