Shhh... Fiat Brings 500 BEV Electric Concept Car to Detroit

As you've probably already guessed by the title of this post, neither Fiat nor Chrysler published any details on the Fiat 500 BEV concept model that was showcased alongside the 500 Abarth at the American automaker's Detroit Motor Show stand. Nothing new here as we're in the dark about the "Chrysler Delta" also.

The car's name stands for Battery-Electric Vehicle and from what we've heard, it's pure study as Fiat has no plans to introduce a production version of the concept - at least not in this form.

To make a short story longer, the 500 BEV features a similar bodykit to the Abarth model minus the tail pipes at the rear as well as new alloy wheels.

Inside, the concept model gets sumptuous leather seats finished in red and a sport steering wheel accented by red stitching while the traditional gear lever has been replaced with push-button controls.

Chrysler Said to Show All-Electric Fiat 500 as well at Detroit Auto Show

Following yesterday's rumors about a new Chrysler model based on a Lancia vehicle, a news report today claims that the Chrysler Group will also reveal an all-electric version of the Fiat 500 at the Detroit auto show in January, without however giving out any specific details. In addition to the 500 EV, it is said that Chrysler will also display the entire Fiat 500 lineup at its Detroit booth, including the standard model, the 500C Moon Roof err.. Convertible and the sporty 500 Abarth.

The North American version of the Fiat 500 will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico, with sales set to begin in fall 2010. The base version of the city car will be powered by Fiat's new 1.4-liter Multiair 4-cylinder gasoline engine.

The tin-top model will be followed in 2011 by the 500C Convertible which gets an electronically retractable canvas roof as opposed to a full convertible top, while Fiat will complete the range in 2012 with the presentation of the sporty 500 Abarth powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

In North America, the Fiat 500 will be sold at select Chrysler dealerships.

Via: Autonews

PS: All photos are of the Fiat 500 Aria

Fiat Sentiero: Concept Study for a Compact Pick Up Truck

No, Fiat's marriage with the Chrysler Group has not spawned its first offspring. What you see pictured here is the work of Dragos Prodan, a 2009 industrial design graduate of George Enescu University in Iasi, Romania. The Fiat Sentiero, which was created as part of Prodan's final year project, is a conceptual proposal for a compact-sized pickup truck for the European market. The designer states that the vehicle's styling is based on Fiat's current design language and Italian design in general - whatever that means.

We also see a "tee-bit" of the 2006 Dodge Rampage pickup truck concept in the overall shape of the Sentiero, but then again, we could be wrong.

The concept study features several storage compartments that include those behind the doors, the rear bed and even once incorporated in the tailgate. The Romanian designer says that the proposed engine for the Sentiero is a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with an output of around 250 HP driving all-four wheels.

Photos: Dragos Prodan , Via: Disenoart

2006 Dodge Rampage Concept Study

Fiat Sapor Roadster: Concept Study for a RWD Two-Seater Sports Car

Fiat's link with the Chrysler LLC Group has spurred a wave of speculative reports, product plan forecasts and even design proposals like the Fiat Sapor roadster that was conceived by the crew over at Diseno-Art as an entry-level sports. We see two basic problems with this idea: A. the 500 mini is the only Fiat badged-car set to make it to the States (unless it comes with a Chrysler - Dodge logo) and B. the design itself is very rough, meaning that there's something there, but it definitely needs more work to show its full potential.

According to the designers, the Fiat Sapor's exterior styling is influenced by various Fiat models such as the 124 Spider up front and the X1/9 at the rear. The two-seater features a removable canvas rooftop that stows away into a special compartment behind the rear seats.

As for the roadster's mechanical hardware, the Sapor was designed to feature a front-mounted engine that sends power to the rear wheels. The designers claim that one possible option could be Fiat's 1.4-liter turbocharged four that makes 180HP in the Abarth Grande Punto Esseesse hatch.

Via: Diseno-art

Rinspeed's Fiat 500 Abarth E2 with Dual Power Mode

For this year's Geneva Motor Show, Swiss tuner and concept car specialist Rinspeed has developed a modified Fiat 500 Abarth study badged "E2" featuring a dual power mode system that affects the engine electronics. What this system does is, with the touch of a button, it reduces the output of the 500 Abarth's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, from 160HP to 60HP. The 60-horsepower 'Commuting' mode, which is more suitable for city traffic, helps the 500 Abarth achieve an average consumption of around 4.0 lt / 100 km or 58.8mpg U.S.

Outside the city, the 'Highway' mode frees the 1.4 Turbo engine' 160HP. Fuel consumption in this mode is in the neighborhood of seven liters per 100 kilometers or 33.6mpg US.

"Just like the auto industry has to adjust to the demands of a new era, tuners have to look for new ways to do business as well," said Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht.

"I don't believe too much in eco tuning. Many drivers are not willing to miss out on driving fun and don't want to drive a something that announces to the world that they do without. But the number of people who want to use our energy supply responsibly not in the least because they want to protect our environment will grow quickly," he added.

Fiat Bugster Concept to Break Cover at Sao Paulo Motorshow

This greenish two-seater concept that looks like a crossover variant of the KTM X-Bow (check it out by clicking here) is the Fiat Bugster and it will make its world debut at the bi-annual Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil which takes place this year between 30 October and 10 November. The concept vehicle that has been developed by the Italian firm's automotive engineering division in Brazil features a zero-emissions electric engine while its outer body is made completely out of renewable natural fibers thus reducing the environmental impact of the vehicle. Follow the jump for one more picture of Fiat's Bugster concept. -Continued

Update: Castagna Fiat 500 Tender Two High-Res Photos

Carozzeria Castagna has released a full set of high-resolution images of its newest concept study, the all-electric Fiat 500 Tender Two that’s inspired from the nautical themed late 1950s / early 1960s Ghia Fiat 500 Jolly. If you manage to see through the ‘tender obstacle’ in the opening picture above (if you're having a hard time, don’t worry, we had the same problem), you may notice that like the Jolly, the 500 Tender Two (details here) has no doors and that its roof has been replaced with a removable canvas top. -Continued














Via: Autoblog.it