CAR News

Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato

The “500 Coupe Zagato” – the concept created by one of the most famous automotive design names in the world, with the collaboration of the Fiat Group Automobiles’ Centro Stile – makes its debut at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show.

Presented at the Fiat stand, the prototype stands out for its sinuous yet decidedly sporty and contemporary contours, inspired by the namesake predecessor built in the 1950 by the famous Italian bodyworker on the chassis of the 500. Yet while Zagato had then completely revamped the exterior style of the basic model, today the designers emphasised the silhouette of the Fiat 500, already similar to a coup?, giving it an even more aggressive appeal. In addition, the unique shape of the roof features the characteristic “double hump”, the true emblem of Zagato, teaming the lowering of the car with retaining excellent interior comfort.

Like many historic custom-built cars, the concept car affords the classic “2+2 seater” formula, retaining the compact dimensions of the basic model: indeed, it is 355 centimetres long, 163 cm wide and 149 cm high, with a 230 centimetre wheelbase. So it is a compact car which “conceals” under the bonnet the revolutionary TwinAir 105 HP engine which maximizes the “fun to drive” of this car, while ensuring, consistently with the downsizing philosophy, excellent performance levels against a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and emission levels. To achieve this objective, the engine features a specific “turbomatching” (engine-turbocharger coupling).

The 105 HP TwinAir engine, which has never been used on any of the Group’s models yet, is therefore the ideal engine to be installed in compact sized sporty cars, as demonstrated by the high torque delivered (155 Nm at 2,500 rpm) and the absolute world record in terms of absolute power (105 HP at 5,500 rpm). In addition, at 124 HP/litre, this engine is also one of the world leaders in specific power. All while ensuring reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions unrivalled in this category: 95 g/km.

Designed mainly for a young and dynamic male target, the “500 Coupe Zagato” also accommodates the needs of a female target owing to the painstaking pursuit of stylistic solutions resulting from the most interesting trends on colours and materials. For instance, the prototype livery is Pop Yellow, a specific three-layer bodypaint colour tending towards white which emphasises the vehicle contour while giving it a pop image, full of energy and brimming with personality.

The same styling effect can be found in the interiors, specifically the seats, inspired by the traditional sporty “diamond” seats and high-tech fabric teamed with yellow chamois leather and the black natural leather of the surrounds which give it a young, contemporary look. The decidedly sporty appearance can also be found on the steering wheel – also covered in leather with contrasting stitching the same colour as the yellow chamois leather grips – and on the dashboard surround, matching the exterior colour, which was treated in burnished “eco-chrome” to give it a more aggressive appeal. Lastly, another typical feature of coup? vehicles is the lining of the roof panel with dark high-tech fabric embellished by a transparent single-filament yarn that gives it a delicate shine.

In perfect synch with its sporty personality, the “500 Coup? Zagato” features burnished chrome exterior elements, 17? “chrome shadow” wheels with a brand new double spoked shape and synthetic inserts (made of APP-TECH), 205/40 R17 tyres and 4 perforated brake discs.

A car of enormous appeal, this prototype is consistent with Fiat’s history and mission: to make cars distinguished by an original style, advanced technology made accessible to all and intelligent solutions that simplify and improve life on-board. An example? Just like the basic model, the “500 Coup? Zagato” also features “my-port”, the practical multimedia port installed on the dashboard allowing the driver to link up to the world via a latest generation smartphone enabled to access the Internet and satellite navigation.

Gucci Fiat 500

Fiat and Gucci announce the “500 by Gucci”: a new italian design icon is born!

In the year that sees the celebration of both the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci’s 90th anniversary, Gucci and Fiat are proud to unveil the 500 by Gucci, a special edition of the iconic Fiat 500 customized by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat’s Centro Stile. This unique collaboration between two of Italy’s most respected brands represents the perfect – combination of craftsmanship and style. Launched on the opening day of Milan Fashion Week, the 500 by Gucci will also be on presented at the Geneva International Auto Show from March 3rd to13th, in a dedicated Gucci pop-up store within the Fiat stand.

Frida Giannini said, “In the 50s the Fiat 500 created a style revolution when it first hit the road. It quickly become the must-have car of its time. Travelling in style has also been at the heart of Gucci ever since Guccio Gucci founded his company as a producer of leather trunks, suitcases and handbags in 1921. So, when Lapo Elkann suggested the idea of this collaboration it struck me as a perfect opportunity to create a new modern travel statement in this Gucci’s 90th anniversary year”.

The black and white colours of the 500 by Gucci, in unique eye-catching glossy pearl glass paint, set the stage for a neo-classic black and white film. These two distinct colors complement one another: black, with detailing in shiny chrome paired with interiors that contrast sharp black and white, for a contemporary and racy attitude. White, with satin chrome detailing and ivory and black interiors for a softer, sophisticated look.

The exterior is further personalized by rims for 195/45 R16 wheels, including the unmistakable retro design of the rays, harmonizing with the surrounding exterior colors and representing a novelty for this category of car. The hubcaps feature the interlocking GG in the same color of the body of the car and the cursive Gucci signature appears on the hatchback as well on the doorpost. The version equipped with 1.4 of 100 horsepower comes with rear break callipers in Gucci green. The car’s silhouette is outlined by Gucci’s signature green-red-green stripe, which runs along the entire perimeter and links the exterior to the interior. The stripe also appears inside on the seats, on the gear shift, the key-cover, the carpets, and in an innovative finish on the seatbelts. The interior space of the 500 by Gucci is stylish yet functional down to every last detail: chic embroidery, exclusive materials, glossy and satin chromes, the velvety varnish on the “radioboard,” the two-toned seats in Frau leather with the Guccissima print.

The communications activity behind the worldwide launch of the 500 by Gucci is being developed with the support of Lapo Elkann and his agency, Independent Ideas, and will include a fully integrated above and below-the-line campaign. Commenting on the collaboration, Lapo Elkann said: «I am honored that I was able to connect Fiat and Gucci, especially in such an important anniversary year for Italy. Being Italian, it makes me proud to have contributed to this 500 by Gucci, which brings together the spirit of two brands that so perfectly symbolize our country’s savoir faire in the world. It has indeed been very gratifying to work again on the car I love most with Fiat’s Centro Stile and with Frida Giannini».

The 500 by Gucci will initially be available from April 1st to June 30th exclusively by pre-order online at www.500bygucci.com, with a list price in Italy that starts from 17,000 euro all inclusive. The car will also be displayed in exclusive locations in metropolitan cities such as Paris, London and Tokyo, followed by the European commercial launch in July. It will then become available in the rest of the world at the end of the year.

Completing the customization is the exclusive 500 by Gucci collection, including travel accessories, small leather goods, drivers, tracksuits, bombers, driver gloves, sunglasses and a watch, which will be available in select Gucci stores and online at www.gucci.com from April 2011.

Fiat 500C Abarth with 203ps by Romeo Ferraris

Romeo Ferraris has released the new Fiat 500C Abarth program. The Romeo Ferraris Fiat 500C Abarth features a chrome plaited two-tone exterior paint job, with chromed side mirrors. At the interior, the 500C features black leather seats with diamond stitching and various chrome accents.

DESIGN
- Chrome-plated two-tone paint
- Mirrors Chrome

INTERIOR
- Painted in red chrome bridge
- Coating black leather seats with diamond stitching

MECHANICS
- Competition Engine Kit (+63 hp), including:
electronic
Air Filters
increased turbine
turbo accessories
downpipe with catalytic metal
Central Sports
Sports Terminal
high-performance engine oil
racing engine oil additive

ALIGNMENT AND BRAKES
- Competition trim kit consists of:
adjustable sport shocks and springs
wheel spacers
- Replacement axle shock absorbers with uniball
- Mechanical limited slip differential
- Competition brake kit includes:
front brakes. Plus Brembo discs and calipers with 280 mm 4
pistons
Cross-drilled rear discs

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari

Abarth will be present at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show with a stunning stand where major world débuts mingle with tried and tested models to underscore – yet again – the brand’s unique position on the international motoring stage.

The Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari” is in the spotlight – on display for the first time with Abu Dhabi Blue and Titanium Grey livery – the fastest and highest performing road-going 500 ever, arising out of joint venture between Abarth and Ferrari, based on shared values that include a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style. Over the last two years, both brands have worked even more closely together, which has led to the development of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, an exclusive car that on the one hand allows Abarth to expand its range, thus entering the luxury sports car segment, and on the other offers Ferrari customers a small, lively car for all mobility requirements, including practical and urban mobility. This numbered and limited special series has been marketed from July and has already notched up more than 1000 orders; more than half of which are from countries such as United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.

Bolstered by the success of the recent conversion kits (one Abarth 500 in three is converted using the official kit), Abarth is presenting the “esseesse” kits for the Abarth 500C again at Geneva. These are designed to improve their performance, handling and safety without having to renounce the car’s low emission and fuel consumption level. Visitors to the stand can admire an Abarth 500C “esseesse” that perfectly illustrates the spirit of Abarth tuning, encapsulating substance and unassuming good looks: in accordance with brand tradition and market requirements, Abarth cars are a mix of sporty yet elegant looks and safe driving experience yet always with sporty performance levels.

The Abarth 500C “esseesse” on the other hand, comes with an elegant Campovolo grey and Pista grey two-tone livery with a white chromatic liner, an element that divides and at the same time combines the two souls of the car: the elegance of a cabriolet above and the out-and-out sporty performance of the “esseesse” kit below. The 500C “esseesse” is exhibited with an original “Record Monza” exhaust silencer (dual mode with variable counterpressure) that enhances the engine sound above 4000 rpm and, as on the Punto Evo, with an Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation system with telemetrics. The prestigious setting of the Geneva International motor show also presents the occasion to make an advance announcement to the general public of the commercial launch, expected during the second quarter of 2011, of the manual five-speed gearbox on the Abarth 500C, combined with the 135 HP 1.4 T-Jet engine. This novelty permits an expansion of the Abarth 500C range, teaming the “competition” robotised gearbox with steering wheel paddle as standard with a manual gearbox which is specifically designed to appeal to those customers looking for a more direct relationship with the car and deem this solution to be the most suitable for their driving style.

There is also space for a Formula Aci-Csai-Abarth model that this year took part in a championship reserved for this single-seater made by Tatuus on a carbon fibre body, an FPT Racing 1.4 Fire Turbo engine developing 180 HP based on the engine used in the Abarth 500 Trophy and Sadev transmission with a sequential six-speed gearbox. This Aci Csai and Abarth single seater trainer is destined to hone the skills of talented young drivers until 2014, serving as their career launch pad towards the higher formulas. It is the heir to the Formula Azzurra car that introduced the Csai “Young Drivers Project” in 2005. In this sector too, Abarth boasts a long tradition, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, with the Italia and Fiat Abarth formulas that made it possible for drivers of the calibre of Michele Alboreto, Riccardo Patrese and Alessandro Nannini to make their names.

The Geneva Motor Show is also an opportunity to take a look at the two pillars of the Abarth business model: roadgoing cars and the world of racing. To date, approximately 1800 Abarth 500C and nearly 1400 Abarth Punto Evo cars have been sold from the launch in July 2010: these numbers bear witness to the warm welcome extended to these two cars and will certainly contribute to the already excellent results recorded since the brand was relaunched. Suffice it to say that since 2007 the brand has enjoyed continual growth, as evidenced by sales of more than 28,000 for the Abarth Grande Punto and Abarth 500 models in addition to approximately 6000 performance kits designed for the two models. These sales successes have been partly made possible by the extraordinary network of dealers and official tuning shops, an organisation that is unique in its field and is extending to other international markets such as Israel, Rumania, Cyprus, Lebanon, Finland and Australia.

In addition to its sales successes, in 2010 Abarth achieved important results in sports activities as well, in both rallies and on the track in Italy and Europe, as the victory of Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi aboard an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 in the 2010 European Rally Championship exemplifies. Rossetti also took the place of honour in the Italian Championship Drivers classification, in which his team-mate Giandomenico Basso, paired with Mitia Dotta, came in fourth. Again speaking of rallies, the first edition of the Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy was raced with the Abarth 500 in the R3T version in the limelight. The absolute winner was the expert Roberto Vescovi, but a large group of Under 25 drivers fought it out behind him, and they took the most prestigious awards. Not counting the large number of foreign drivers who raced in their national championships behind the wheel of the Abarth 500 R3T personally prepared by Abarth for the competitions.

Track activities have also met with great success. The tried and tested single-make Abarth 500 Selenia Italia and Abarth 500 Selenia Europe trophies, both won by Nicola Baldan, and Abarth 500 Selenia GB, won by Ben Winrow, have been joined this year by a championship reserved for single-seater Formula Aci-Csai-Abarth cars with the intention of allowing young drivers to show their mettle at the wheel of a experience-building single-seater car at an accessible price. Divided into 7 events consisting of 2 races each on Italy’s leading race tracks, more than 40 drivers competed in this championship. Many arriving from abroad and all very young, they made the competitions highly spectacular and hard-fought. For the record, the victory went to Frenchman Brandon Maisano, 17, member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Ferrari’s breeding ground.

The stand at Geneva

The scene-stealing stand provides an ideal setting for the world debuts and current production cars.
The design idea that inspired the space is simplification: the architecture does not use a language to interpret the brand but acts as a substrate to enhance its values. Abarth and its world take centre stage and the brand exhibits itself to the public in all its pureness and simplicity, in its maximum essence.

The result is a great space with four areas of light under which the car is positioned: this is the stage, which plays out and narrates the world of Abarth.

A sheet of glass standing in the centre of the space supports the recognisable Abarth icon; a large LED display acting as the central element of the scenery forms an ideal backdrop for the cars.
The lines of the entire stand are symmetrical, straight and right-angled. The materials are similarly neutral and intangible: white structural elements and extensive use of transparency helps remove all the visual “noise” to focus attention on the content.

Technical drawings of Abarth engineering are ideally exhibited under a glass floor, visible to all, as used to happen with cars when their rear bonnet lids were partially raised.
Intangible elements such as light, sound and digital content are not accessories in this case but work in a holistic and synchronised manner, acting out different scenes to create an impression that the stand is always in movement. The neutral and minimal physical space is coloured and filled by scenes that recount the Abarth values in sequence: challenge, passion, ingenuity, Italian flair, participation, determination and authenticity.