Fiat's 500L Wagon that will Debut in Geneva and go on Sale in the U.S. in 2013

We had heard earlier this month that Fiat was preparing a new five-door variant of its 500 city car but we didn't know much else about the Italian firm's plans.
Today, Autonews has the inside scoop on the new model reporting that it will allegedly be called 500L with its world premiere to take place at the Geneva Salon in March.
We also learn that while it will keep the 500s familiar face and styling cues, it will be based on the same architecture as the larger Punto to improve passenger and luggage space.
The 500L is said to measure around 4,150mm long (163.4-inches) or about 60mm (2.5-inches) more than the three-door 500 hatchback, while it will also be taller and wider than the original.
In Geneva, we'll see a five-seater version but the report goes on to say that in the following months, Fiat will launch a seven-seater variant with an additional 10mm (0.4-inches) in length (though we reckon this is probably a typo with the author meaning to say 100mm).
The 500L will effectively replace Fiat's aging Idea in the small MPV segment targeting the likes of the Opel Meriva and the upcoming Ford B-Max.
European sales of the 500L are expected to start as early as July while the five-seater model will be offered in the States from 2013. The report indicates that Fiat has no plans to sell the 7-seater variant in the U.S., as it believes American consumers won't buy such a small seven-seater model.
The 500L will be manufactured at the former Zastava site in Kragujevac, Serbia, that Fiat acquired back in 2008.

New Fiat 500 Abarth Priced from $22,000* in the U.S., or about as Much as a 305HP Ford Mustang

Just because it's tiny and made from Europe's equivalent of Chevrolet, doesn't mean that the new 160-horsepower 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth comes in cheap. In fact, it's US$22,000 price tag (*not including destination and handling charges) is sure to raise some eyebrows.
And this not only because it costs $6,500 more than the standard 101-horsepower 500, but also because it brings it in the same price range as sports cars like the 210HP 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe ($22,250) and even the 305HP 2012 Ford Mustang V6 ($22,310)!
Naturally, Fiat's American representatives believe otherwise and point towards 500 Abarth's Italian heritage, though someone should tell them that while Fiat and Ferrari belong to the same group, they are not the same…
"The Fiat 500 Abarth feels like a double shot of espresso straight to your veins," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC. "With its wicked attitude, it will reward adrenaline fans who no longer need to pay six figures to feel the rush of true Italian performance."
On the other hand, the 181HP MINI Cooper S has an MSRP of $23,800, so Fiat may have a chance of snagging some buyers that are into small GTIs.
The fastest 500 in the States is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine pushing out 160-horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 170 lb-ft (230Nm) of peak torque between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. A five speed manual gearbox along with an Abarth-tuned Torque Transfer Control (TTC) system drive the front wheels.
Fiat has not yet published performance numbers f or the U.S. model.

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Chevy Volt and Fiat 500 Amongst Worst Product Flops of 2011

A report on the seven worst product flops in the U.S. from 24/7 Wall Street that was re-posted on Yahoo Finance includes two vehicle introductions, the Chevrolet Volt and the Fiat 500. According to the author of the report, Chevrolet's extended range electric vehicle made it on the list because it underperformed in sales while the fact that it is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for fires related to the car's lithium-ion batteries is also mentioned.
As for the 500, the article says that while the Italians expected to sell some 50,000 cars during its first year in the States, Fiat sold fewer than 12,000 from January through July, and that the company ousted its chief Laura Soave this past November. For the record, Fiat sold 15,826 examples of the coupe and the 500C through October.
The other products mentioned in the list include Abercrombie & Fitch's “Ashley” Push-Up Triangle, a bikini top with padding for kids; Netflix's DVD-by-mail only Qwikster service; the HTC Status smartphone; Blackberry's PlayBook Tablet, and the Mars Needs Moms 3D film from Disney.

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With government agencies enforcing stricter emission regulations every year and auto manufacturers doing their best to prove that their cars are as eco-friendly as possible, hyperbole is part of the game.

A common saying is that the modern cars are cleaner than lawn equipment and that the carbon dioxide emissions they release are actually lower than that present in the air that comes into the combustion chamber.
Edmund's Insideline decided to put the theories to the test. Since cars come in all shapes and sizes, they chose two examples from the opposite side of the spectrum: a Fiat 500 mini and a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Crew Cab pickup.
The diminutive Fiat is powered by a 1.4-liter four with 100HP, while the big and menacing-looking Raptor sports a 411HP 6.2-liter V8.
They also bought along two leaf blowers: one with a single-cylinder 50.8 cc two-stroke engine and the other with a 30cc four-stroke engine.
The contest took place at the Automotive Research Center of the American Automobile Association Auto Club of Southern California, which runs the FTP 75 emissions cycles test that is one of the primary standards in U.S. light-car emissions and fuel economy certification.
So what do you think? Are modern cars and trucks as clean as their makers claim them to be, beating even a common lawn blower? No spoilers here: just watch the video to find out the answer.

VIDEO

Fiat Abarth 500 Takes on Subaru Impreza WRX STI on Italian Track

The Abarth 500, especially when fitted with the 'essesse' performance package that lifts the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine's output to 160-horses, is a capable little beast for its size and price, but is that enough to challenge a previous generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI on the racetrack?

Well, as any driver with some experience on the circuit will tell you, it’s as much about the car as it is about the person sitting behind the wheel. That said, the Abarth 500 shouldn't come close to an STI in the right hands but it's plausible under certain circumstances.
Youtube poster Marchettino says that he was able to chase the Impreza WRX STI –even though it was modded, which could potentially mean that it packed close to 300-ponies under its hood, with his Abarth 500.
"While driving at Franciacorta racetrack I played with a modified Subaru Impreza WRX Sti," said Marchettino. "I was also very surprised to keep up with such a fast car with my Abarth. Unfortunately, my GoPro HD [video camera] stopped to record the action for no reason!"

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