Fiat overhauls plans for US return as car sales fizzle

Efforts to bring the Fiat auto brand back to the United States after a 27-year absence are being overhauled amid faltering sales of its Fiat 500 subcompact vehicle.

Chrysler Group Fiat's US partner had hoped to sell up to 50,000 Mexican-built Fiat 500s in North America annually. So far, sales since March have barely topped 16,000, and were less than 2,000 in October.

The Fiat 500 also was expected to help pave the way for Chrysler to introduce other Fiat and Alfa Romeo models in the United States, according to Chrysler/Fiat chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne.

Disappointing sales for the 500 prompted Marchionne to replace Laura Soave, the North American head of Fiat for nearly two years, with Timothy Kuniskis, who served as marketing director for the Chrysler and Fiat brands.

http://www.france24.com/en/20111124-fiat-overhauls-plans-us-return-car-sales-fizzle

Only, fix the electrical system this time.

Other than that, a fun car.

My brother has one, and I've owned two in the past (and one Spider).

is about 50 miles away. And we're doing good-- there are only 130 dealers around the country.

50,000/130=384 a year per dealer. Not out of reach, but I guess they hoped it would generate buzz like the Mini did. And it didn't.

Everything I've heard about it is good so far, but they don't make it easy to buy one.

something to us old farts.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6rllgyN_rs&feature=related

and even without the whole package I buried the 130mph speedometer on level ground. Handled great, too, with some very sticky Pirellis.

(Great fun until I cracked the head.)

Pocket rocket.

BTW, that was in the late sixties.

Well, look how small it is. I know gas is expensive, but you can barely get a week's worth of groceries in there.

And that other car, the Smart "un-car" from Mercedes? While I give them credit for also offering a four-passenger model, I'd be worried about a strong gust of wind coming up, never mind being on the wrong end of a fender-bender.



x(
rocktivity

But for some reason, it's not going over very well -- which might explain the "99 per cent revolution," not to mention why these cars are getting such a poor reception.

:headbang:
rocktivity

They fare well in crashes. They tend to bounce off objects.

Where the Cooper looks kind of crouching and muscular, the Fiat looked like inflated balloon metal. The back seat looked like they probably feel bigger inside than from looking in on them. The big wide door may improve back seat access. Not too sure about storage in back, but it's probably adequate for a trip to the grocery store or something. From the inside, it could actually have a nice interior environment.

It was a bit high. It looked like a viable urban car that could possibly make it onto the highway if it was geared & powered properly. Definitely something you'd want to drive as a manual shift. It looked "Fiat," with whatever connotations you want to attach to that label.

If you owned one, it could be a car that would grow on you. I don't think it would be my first small car choice, but I could probably warm up to it. It looked solid.

Anyway, that's what I figured from looking it over. I live in San Francisco, so I'm pro-Urban Tiny Car.

They should have made them available thru the Chrysler dealerships as well.
Fiat owns them, it makes no sense not to use them. Hang another sign on the door is all they needed to do.

I do wonder if the New Fiat is any better than the old Fiat...

but its hard to see a new import getting any traction in the current market - which is good for US models and known-reliable imports, but not so adventurous otherwise.

Pretty little car.

http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/modelpicture.php?id=5161

When I went to high school for a year in Europe back in the 60s, my teacher had an original Fiat 500. One day, she gave me a ride in it. That thing was very peppy, but very small. She had to double clutch through every gear, even first, as none of the gears had synchros.

And especially the Abarth conversion which is the really sporty one.

Might trade in my Saab for one.