2009 Fiat 500

In Japan, Fiat 500 is the best 'compact car'

The Fiat 500 is still the talk of the town, asserting itself as a real 'Made in Italy' icon, capable of winning over the public and international critical acclaim. The best proof of its success is the over 270 thousand orders received to date and the 29 prizes awarded around the world. And now, to this collection of prizes will be added the prestigious title of 'Best Compact Car', a recognition coming from Japan where the super compact Fiat was presented last spring.

It was chosen as the 'Best Compact Car' by Internet users who, in an online competition for the 'Consumer choice car of the year', preferred it to the Toyota IQand Peugeot 308. Over 80,000 users took part in the competition (available on the website http://www.yearcar.jp/) organised by the famous publishing company, Neko Publishing, which publishes the main Japanese motor magazines, both specialised and in other sectors.

This prestigious recognition is matched by extraordinary commercial success in Japan, as proved by the 1,800 Fiat 500 delivered so far. This is an important fact which has certainly contributed to Fiat Automobiles' excellent performance in 2008: at the end of the year, the turnover is expected to be double that of 2007. This result is all the more significant if it is considered that it has been achieved in a constantly declining Japanese market (-19% in sales of national models, and -14% of imported cars).

Again true to Italian style, on 28 November the Brand will open the Fiat Café in Aoyama (Tokyo), where the public will be able to appreciate the concept of a Café as a perfect meeting place, pleasant and cosmopolitan. Of course the new café will display, on the first floor, the multiple prize winning Fiat 500, as a symbol to the world of the 'Made in Italy' motor car.

Source - Fiat

The 'ecoDrive' system presented in Paris for 'eco-responsible' driving

Today, at the inauguration of the Paris Motor Show 2008, the Managing Director of Fiat Automobiles, Lorenzo Sistino, presented 'ecoDrive' to the international press; it is an innovative system that allows drivers to gain better insight into how their driving style influences their consumption and emission of pollutants.

'ecoDrive' is a software application that can be installed on your computer and is available from today on www.fiat.com/ecodrive (there is also a video dedicated to the product on this site).

As you are driving your car, 'ecoDrive' processes in detail all the information relating to the vehicle's efficiency and your driving characteristics. Thanks to the versatile Blue&Me's ÚSB port, all the data is transmitted via a normal ÚSB key and can, therefore, be 'read' on a computer at a later date.

In fact, the user can carefully analyse consumption and emission on each journey they make (ecoIndex) and receive advise on how to drive in order to create less impact on the environment. In fact, thanks to a series of progressive tutorials, you can improve your score: just think that drivers who are more conscious of their 'eco-responsible' driving can expect to improve their driving style by 15%, and that means: reduce CO2 emissions by 15% and see an annual saving in fuel of between 120 and 200 Euro. Furthermore, 'ecoVille' has been created specifically for Fiat's 'ecoDrivers', an on-line community where everyone can share interests and their commitment to an eco-responsible way of driving by accessing the site www.fiat.com/ecodrive where there is also a video dedicated to the 'ecoDrive' system.

Fiat 500 and Grande Punto are the first Fiat Group vehicles to make use of 'ecoDrive' and, as of today, will be available for downloading from the site and installed at no extra cost. In 2009, the system will be extended to the rest of the range equipped with Blue&Me. Lastly, thanks to a contribution from users, the 'ecoDrive' application will be updated to make it even more useful.

'ecoDrive' is a Blue&Me evolution, the platform developed by the Fiat Group Automobiles in conjunction with Microsoft that has already earned a great deal of recognition and reached a quota of 500,000 pieces installed in the various Group's models in about the last two years.

Source - Fiat

Two hundred exclusive Fiat 500 for the Ferrari sales network

Fiat 500 and Ferrari: two universal motoring icons which represent 'Made in Italy', one cute and the other exclusive. This is why the Maranello House has chosen the Fiat model as its 'courtesy car' for its customers, who appreciate Italian style and like unique products. In actual fact, two hundred Fiat 500 have been manufactured exclusively for the Ferrari sales network and will be driving on all of Europe's roads.

Based on the Sport version and distinguished by the traditional red colour, the two hundred Fiat 500 specials are fitted with the lively 1.4 6v 100 bhp engine and offer specific tuning and exhaust in perfect harmony with the sporty spirit of the 'prancing horse': these two features are designed and made by Magneti Marelli, a leading components company in the Fiat Group which has supplied high-tech parts to Fiat and Ferrari for years. The same sporty theme can also be found in some aesthetic details such as the red calipers, sporty pedal set, special black steering wheel with red stitching and 16' alloy wheels with 195/45 tyres.

Compared to the already richly equipped Sport version, the Fiat 500 customised for Ferrari also has automatic climate control, electric sunroof, prestigious Frau leather interior, hi-fi, fog lights, numbered plate on the dashboard and 'Limited Edition' wording on the kick plate. The Ferrari network will thus be able to offer its customers a special car where the choice of every detail is the result of meticulous care and craftsmanship.

With this original initiative, the Fiat 500 model is confirmed both as a real 'platform' on which Fiat is creating exclusive limited editions and as a successful car capable of winning over the general public, as demonstrated by the 222 thousand orders so far received.

Source - Fiat

The Fiat 500 speaks out in Berlin

The Fiat 500 continues to get itself talked about and once again in innovative and spectacular style. In the heart of Berlin at the legendary Checkpoint Charlie, on the corner of Friedrichstraße, the new Italian cult car calls out to passers-by from the top of a huge advertising cube with videos, messages in lights and giant hoardings.

From two hoardings, each measuring 288 square metres, the Fiat 500 invites passers-by to send a text (password 'Fiat 500', number 84000). The result is a 20 metre message strip with scrolling messages and greetings that also appear live on the homepage of the new Fiat 500 via Rss-Feed.

This original campaign fits perfectly into a marketing strategy that sets out to involve fans from around the world with the slogan '500 people's car, created by the people' Suffice it to say that 3,000,000 people have contributed ideas to the Fiat 500 project by visiting the website http://www.500wantsyou.com/.

This sensational outdoor campaign in the very heart of Berlin was created by Fiat together with the communication experts Carat Wiesbaden and the agency Magic Touch of Hamburg.

Incidentally, the Fiat 500 has already caused great interest in the German capital: the prestigious 'Car of the Year 2008' prize won by the Fiat 500 what was handed over at a ceremony in Berlin on 28 January. To mark the occasion a ground-breaking initiative has been organised in the German capital, which involved a car manufacturer using part of its underground rail network for the very first time. From the beginning of 2008 until 27 January, two Fiat 500s painted in the exclusive pearl white body shade, were seen on a flatbed railtruck being drawn by a train. As the train went through each of the 170 stations, Ú-Bahn travellers were able to admire the tiny Fiat.

Source - Fiat

The Fiat 500 elected ''Auto Europa 2008''

The Fiat has been voted 'Auto Europa 2008' by the Italian Únion of Automotive Journalists (Úiga). This is the most important accolade awarded by the Italian specialised press.

Established in 1987, the prize is awarded to the car built and sold in Europe that offers the best combination of technology, pricing and style for the final consumer. The vote, which took place last weekend in Riccione, attributed 640 points to the new super-compact from Fiat, placing it ahead of the Kia Ceèd (408) and the Peugeot 308 (325).
The official prize-giving ceremony will be held next Spring during the annual Úiga meeting. This is the tenth car from Fiat Group Automobiles to receive the title of 'Auto Europa'. Previous winners have been the Alfa 164 (1988), Fiat Tipo (1989), Fiat Cinquecento (1993), Fiat Punto (1995), Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), Alfa Romeo 156 (1998), Alfa Romeo 166 (1999), Fiat Panda (2004) and the Fiat Grande Punto (2007).

This award adds to the already impressive array of prizes under the Fiat 500's belt, namely: 'Car of the Year 2008', 'EuroCarBody 2007' and 'World's Most Beautiful Car'. The COTY award was secured with a total of 385 points attributed by a panel of 58 specialist journalists representing 22 European countries. This is only the second time that an A-segment model has won this award – the first being the Fiat Panda in 2004. The title of 'EuroCarBody 2007', the most important prize worldwide for car bodies, is attributed by a total of approximately 600 specialists from 15 international carmakers, all of them experts in bodywork engineering, materials, processes and production. Lastly, the 'World's most Beautiful Car' award was given to the Fiat 500 by an international panel of design and visual arts experts. With the maximum score possible of 18 points, the Fiat 500 won the 'City cars and small cars' category for expressing 'a return to the sculptural values of the golden age of car design'. The same prize was also awarded to the Fiat Bravo, in the 'medium saloon' category.

These prestigious accolades for the Fiat 500 join two other important prizes recently awarded by the international press to the Fiat Grande Punto and Scudo. Just a few months after its Latin American launch, the Grande Punto was voted 'Auto Interamericana 2008' by the Interamerican Federation of Automotive Periodicals (FIPA), consisting of 63 journalists from 19 American nations, including Brazil and the ÚS. Similarly, the Scudo has also been enjoying an extraordinary success, and has been voted 'International Van of the Year 2008' – with 108 out of a possible 140 points – by a panel of journalists from 20 European nations specialised in light commercial vehicles.

Source - Fiat

The Fiat 500 enters the Guinness Book of Records

On Sunday 9 July, at the Dei Fiori racecourse at Villanova d'Albenga, 750 cinquecentisti participating in the XXIII International Meeting at Garlenda set off on an exciting adventure. A number of other initiatives was also organised alongside the meeting, starting with an animated choreography of banners with the logo '500 wants you, www.fiat500.com', publicising Fiat's forthcoming new model, which will inherit the legacy of Italy's legendary utility car. Additionally, a light aircraft towed a banner promoting the website for the new 500 along the entire coast line from San Remo to Genoa.

Approximately 5000 spectators and team members started the record breaking day by filling the grandstands of the racecourse to watch the cars as they formed the '500 logo' of the Fiat 500 Club Italia. A helicopter took off from nearby Clemente Panero airport to photograph the over 500 multicoloured cars in formation on the track. Among those taking part was the manager of Fiat brand public relations, Giovanni Perosino. In honour of the original utility car designed by Dante Giacosa, Perosino stated: 'The 500 was and will be made by the people for the people. It is the essence of optimism, passion, style and fun.' Domenico Romano, honorary president and founder of the club, commented on this marvellous adventure by saying: 'This is an extraordinary success! A great event and the crowning moment of a dream. The 500 is loved by everyone who enjoys simple things. It is a car that unites the world. It is planetary.'

After the aerial photograph, the cars left the track, forming a snaking train of cars over three kilometres in length, and headed off towards Casanova Lerrone. As it passed Castello Costa Del Carretto in Garlenda, the convoy exceeded the two miles in length needed to make it into the Guinness book of records. This XXIII edition, which ended with a new record, paves the way to the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the 500 in 2007.

Source - Fiat