Chrysler to build 4 versions of Fiat 500

TexasBill · Jun 30, 2009 · Edited by Moderator Jul 1, 2009

Land vehicle Vehicle City car Car Fiat 500

Roberto Giolito, head of Fiat-brand styling and designer of the popular 500, says Chrysler will build four versions of the mini-car beginning in 2011. The lineup will include the standard 500 hatchback, a convertible, a station wagon and a sporty "tuner" hatch based on the Abarth version of the 500. According to Fiat, an all-wheel-drive CUV is a possibility. All the versions will be sold as Fiats. Production may be at a plant in the U.S. or at Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico assembly facility.

According to a report in Automotive News' European edition, the 500 will be the only Fiat-badged model to be sold by Chrysler Group in the U.S. market. Other Fiat-based vehicles will be produced and sold under one of the Chrysler brands.

Chrysler will sell Fiat's upscale Alfa Romeo brand, according to public relations chief Gualberto Ranieri. In his statements to Bloomberg News, Ranieri didn't specify which Alfa models might be coming to the United States but he did say Fiat SpA plans to build some of them here.

Grew up in Chrysler. My Dad graduated from Chrysler Institute and started in Road Test back when they really tested on the roads. In 1955, Dad was made General Works Superintendent for Dodge, a tough job with a lot of hours. Most of my father-son time was spent down on the floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck. In 1959, Dad moved over to Plymouth and, in 1960, he went to Highland Park as Director of Purchasing. He left Chrysler in 1962 and we moved to the East Coast but neither Dad nor I ever lost our love of cars.<br /> <br />While I haven't worked in the full-size auto industry, I did spend several years in the scale model manufacturing business and was responsible for several Chrysler replicas being produced. I have a rather nice collection of tiny Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps and Plymouths including a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Journey in 1/87 scale.<br /> <br />I've been writing about cars and the auto industry for a while. In addition to Allpar, I write for just-auto, an automotive industry publication based in London, England. I also write about miniature cars.<br /> <br />Over the years, I have owned a number of Chrysler vehicles, including the one-and-only 1962 Plymouth Texan. The Texan was supposed to be a special edition of the Belvedere for the Lone Star state but the idea got shot down by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, so only one was ever built.

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TexasBill

Grew up in Chrysler. My Dad graduated from Chrysler Institute and started in Road Test back when they really tested on the roads. In 1955, Dad was made General Works Superintendent for Dodge, a tough job with a lot of hours. Most of my father-son time was spent down on the floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck. In 1959, Dad moved over to Plymouth and, in 1960, he went to Highland Park as Director of Purchasing. He left Chrysler in 1962 and we moved to the East Coast but neither Dad nor I ever lost our love of cars.<br /> <br />While I haven't worked in the full-size auto industry, I did spend several years in the scale model manufacturing business and was responsible for several Chrysler replicas being produced. I have a rather nice collection of tiny Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps and Plymouths including a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Journey in 1/87 scale.<br /> <br />I've been writing about cars and the auto industry for a while. In addition to Allpar, I write for just-auto, an automotive industry publication based in London, England. I also write about miniature cars.<br /> <br />Over the years, I have owned a number of Chrysler vehicles, including the one-and-only 1962 Plymouth Texan. The Texan was supposed to be a special edition of the Belvedere for the Lone Star state but the idea got shot down by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, so only one was ever built.

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