Fiat Group Lowers 2012 Sales Estimate by Half a Million Units

A funny t-shirt slogan reads “aim low, achieve your targets, avoid disappointment”. But it would probably be best if you didn’t give it as a Christmas present to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

The reason is that the Italian group has lowered its 2012 sales forecast of 2.7 million units by a substantial amount; the new target for next year is 2.2 million, 500,000 units short of the original estimate presented in the group's 5-year plan.

The good news is that its partner, Chrysler, is expected to hit its 2.4-million sales target. Adding up the numbers brings the Fiat-Chrysler combined sales projection for 2012 to 4.6 million units.

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Fiat Group Signs Deal with Italian Union on Labor Pact

With Fiat shares losing 30% of their value in the first nine months of the year, the company's sales hitting a 20-year low point in Italy, its European market share shrinking from 8.2% to 7.3% and all of its domestic plants recording losses, CEO Sergio Marchionne has been pushing for an increase in productivity.

The workers’ unions, though, have been resisting changes, threatening with strikes and legal action against the Italian automotive group. This, along with the Italian crisis and the fact that Chrysler is the one keeping the group afloat, has led analysts to predict that Fiat may go as far as to partially abandon its home market.

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2012 Fiat Panda: New Mega Gallery with 171 Photos

We have already seen the 2012 Fiat Panda at its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September, but the Italian brand has just dropped a massive gallery comprising of more than 170 high-resolution photos, some of which are quite picturesque.

To refresh your memory, this is just the third iteration of the Panda in the model's 31-year history. It's predecessor were extremely successful and popular throughout Europe having sold some 6.5 million units over the past three decades.

Fiat hopes to build on the success of the Panda's predecessors with the new model, which is available exclusively with five doors and comes with a slightly larger body that measures 3,650 mm long, 1,640 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall for improved passenger space.

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Shocker: Crash Tests Reveal that Most Cars Sold in Latin America are Deathtraps on Wheels

Shocker: Crash Tests Reveal that Most Cars Sold in Latin America are Deathtraps on Wheels

The FIA Foundation announced the results of the first ever crash tests carried out by the Latin New Car Assessment Program (Latin NCAP), and the news isn’t good for consumers and automakers alike. Actually, the crash test results reveal a terrifying reality: most of the best selling cars in Latin America’s emerging markets offer minimal or no protection at all to their adult occupants let alone children...
Max Mosley, president of Global NCAP, said: “The latest results of the Latin NCAP reveal that South America’s most popular cars are still about 20 years behind the levels of safety enjoyed in Europe and North America. This cannot be acceptable.”
"We want to see the UN’s global crash test standards applied to all new cars across the world. And we want consumers to be aware of the life and death choices they make when buying a new car," Mosley added.
The 64 km/h (40 mph) frontal impact crash tests revealed that most of the cars that were tested suffered from poor structural rigidity which, along with the absence of airbags in most of them, “awarded” them an unheard-of, in the 21st century, one-star rating!
This kind of performance is indeed scary, especially when compared to models sold to the European and North American markets, where the top five-star rating for every new model, save for ultra compacts which usually score four stars, is the norm.
Whereas in North America and Europe safety agencies constantly upgrade their requirements, in most Latin American countries safety regulations are virtually non-existent.
A measure of the work that needs to be done is the fact that Argentina and Brazil will make airbags mandatory by 2014 – and that, sadly, is hailed as a sign of progress.

Published By: Carscoop

PHOTO GALLERY

Shocker: Crash Tests Reveal that Most Cars Sold in Latin America are Deathtraps on Wheels

The FIA Foundation announced the results of the first ever crash tests carried out by the Latin New Car Assessment Program (Latin NCAP), and the news isn’t good for consumers and automakers alike.

Actually, the crash test results reveal a terrifying reality: most of the best selling cars in Latin America’s emerging markets offer minimal or no protection at all to their adult occupants let alone children...

Max Mosley, president of Global NCAP, said: “The latest results of the Latin NCAP reveal that South America’s most popular cars are still about 20 years behind the levels of safety enjoyed in Europe and North America. This cannot be acceptable.”

"We want to see the UN’s global crash test standards applied to all new cars across the world. And we want consumers to be aware of the life and death choices they make when buying a new car," Mosley added.

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Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

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

Published By: Carscoop

Fiat Banks on Spicy Abarth 500 Spot, Gives it the Pop-Up Treatment

Why stop when you have a good thing going? And with some 2.2 million views on Fiat's official Youtube channel alone, we'd say the company's 500 Abarth Seduction clip starring Romanian hottie Catrinel Menghia, has been a very successful communication tool for the Italians.

Now, less than a month after the original digital spot made its internet debut, Fiat has released a so-called "pop-up" version by VH1 that incorporates some fun facts about the clip and the two protagonists that will run through the end of December.

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Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

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.

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Marchionne Says 2013 Dodge Dart will be Certified at 40mpg, will get 9-Speed Auto

The Chrysler Group gave us our first taste of its sporty looking all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan on Tuesday with the release of a teaser photo gallery and the initial data on the car's specifications.

The Dart may prove to be one of the most important models in Dodge's recent history not only because it is the first Chrysler product to be based upon a Fiat architecture and in particular, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but also because CEO Sergio Marchionne told Reuters that he believes its fuel efficiency will be certified at "40 mpg or more by the end of the month".

The reason why that matters is that, under the deal made with the U.S. government to allow Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy protection in 2009, the Italian company will receive the final 5 percent of stock if it develops a Fiat-based car that will be built in the U.S. and can get at least 40 miles per gallon.

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Report: Will the Italian Debt Crisis Force Fiat Out of the Country?

The Fiat Group used to enjoy a strong presence in Europe, and especially in its home market of Italy, where it has traditionally been very strong. But that’s not the case anymore. The debt crisis that is threatening Europe and especially the northern countries has decreased demand significantly, with the Italian car market hitting its lowest point in the last 15 years.

Analysts estimate that Fiat, which in 2011 recorded its worst sales performance in 20 years and is losing nearly 1 billion euros annually, may do the unthinkable: either stop or significantly reduce its 100-year old local operations.

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European Manufacturers Association Elects Sergio Marchionne as its New President

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat S.p.A., Chairman and CEO of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, as well as Chairman of Fiat Industrial S.p.A. and CNH Global N.V., has just added another title to his lengthy resume.

This past weekend it was announced that Marchionne has been elected 2012 President of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) by the organization's board of directors.

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Alfa Romeo Giulietta by Maserati to be Used as a Courtesy Car for the Trident Brand's Dealerships

Collaborations between two companies that belong in the same group is a common practice. However, platform or parts sharing, or even badge engineering, is not the only form of a partnership.

In 2008, Ferrari chose a limited edition of the Fiat 500 as a courtesy car for its customers. Now, two more brands of the Fiat group have emulated the Ferrari-Fiat move. Maserati has chosen Alfa Romeo's C-segment hatchback, the Giulietta, as a courtesy car for its clients in Europe.

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Marchionne: Maserati will Launch Three New Models Very Soon, Doesn’t Rule Out Alfa Sale if the Price is Right

The Fiat Group may have its share of problems, especially in Europe, yet CEO Sergio Marchionne recently announced that its second most prestigious brand, Maserati, will soon launch no less than three new models.

“Maserati will increase its volumes by having three cars”, said Marchionne after the CBI conference in London last week. According to British publication Car Magazine, Marchionne said that these would be the Kubang SUV, the Quattroporte replacement and a smaller four-door sedanthat will compete in the E-segment against the likes of the Jaguar XF and BMW 5-Series.

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2012 Dodge Journey, Fiat 500 recalled over contaminated brake fluid

Chrysler has issued a recall affecting a small number of 2012 Dodge Journey and 2012 Fiat 500 models built between October 24 and 26 of this year. These models – about 340 in total – are being recalled due to contaminated brake fluid that was put in during the vehicles' assembly. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these vehicles "may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system."

To solve the problem, Chrysler dealers will replace all of the vehicle's components that come in contact with the hydraulic braking fluid. Of course, this service will be done free of charge, and the official safety recall is expected to begin during the month of December. Follow the jump for NHTSA's official release.
 

News Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Image Credit: Copyright 2011 AOL

Fiat Abarth 500 Takes on Subaru Impreza WRX STI on Italian Track [Video]

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.

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Artists Tweet that J.Lo's Promotion of the Fiat 500 During the American Music Awards was "Shameless"

Jennifer Lopez has appeared in most of the TV spots regarding the Fiat 500. And that's not all as the 42-year old singer, actress, record producer, dancer, television persona, and fashion designer brought along the Italian city car to the stage during her recent performance at the American Music Awards.

The move, however, came under some heavy criticism. Lopez was attacked on Twitter with messages like “I know I just didn’t see that damb Fiat. I KNOW I didn’t see that friggin’ FIAT” from Roots drummer, Questlove. Singer and award presenter, John Legend, tweeted “that had to be the most shameless thing I’ve ever seen in a performance. I was genuinely shocked.”

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Ferrari Designer Called Upon by Fiat to Create a Common Styling for Chrysler and Lancia

Platform sharing is nothing new in the automotive world. Everyone does it as it enables companies to reduce development costs across the board. For example, if it weren’t for the VW Touareg, Porsche probably wouldn’t have the means to develop the model that effectively made it a cash cow: the Cayenne.

And truth to be said, most of the times, your average buyer doesn't know what's hiding under the sheetmetal nor if the vehicle in question is identical in many ways to a model bearing a different badge, because what he or she sees and feels are indeed different.

The trouble starts when carmakers engage in blatant badge engineering, simply placing a different grille and a new logo on the steering wheel and calling it something else.

And that's where the problem lies for Fiat and Chrysler. The automotive alliance recently revealed a trio of Lancia models in Europe: the Thema sedan, Flavia Cabrio and the Voyager MPV, which are nothing more than rebadged versions of the Chrysler 300, 200 Convertible and Town & Country respectively.

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Guangzhou Automobile Says New Fiat Joint Venture will Build Alfa Romeo Cars in China

The already crowded Chinese car market will soon welcome a new and ambitious competitor as local manufacturer Guangzhou Automobile Group has completed plans to set up a new joint venture with the Fiat Group named Guangqi Fiat.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of this week's Guangzhou Auto Show, the Chinese company's president, Zeng Qinghong, said that Guangqi Fiat will start production as early as July of 2012.

More interestingly, Qinghong revealed that the joint venture would also build Alfa Romeo cars for the domestic market.

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Mopar rolling in to SEMA with Challenger ACR

Mopar rolling in to SEMA with Challenger ACR

Since the Chrysler Group joined up with Fiat, its brand portfolio has grown to include Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat vehicles. And you know what that means: more stuff for Mopar to tinker with. That's just what Auburn Hills has got in store for the upcoming SEMA show in Vegas, with a whole slew of show cars to demonstrate just what the group's performance parts division can do.

The Chrysler brand itself will be represented by the 300 SF6, dedicated to the Spring Festival of Chrysler 300 owners in Southern California. It's distinguished by 22-inch alloys, a KW coil-over suspension and upgraded brakes, intake, headers and exhaust – all from the Mopar parts bin – plus special trim inside and out.

Over at Dodge, the Challenger SRT8 gets the ACR treatment with upgraded suspension, shifter, front splitter, exhaust and 20-inch wheels, capped by a paint job evocative of the much-loved Viper ACR. It's joined by the Durango Tow Hook, decked out in orange and black with 22-inch rolling stock on a dropped suspension.

Fiat continues to make the most of the 500 with two specials called Titanium and Carbon. The former takes its name from the matte-finish brightwork and 16-inch wheels that contrast with the black paint, with enlarged grilles feeding the upgraded intake and exhaust systems. The latter, meanwhile, decks out a 500 Sport in deep blue with carbon-fiber accents and blacked-out trim and 17-inch alloys, riding on a lowered suspension.

Finally, the Ram division is represented by the 392 Quick Silver, dropping a 470-horsepower Hemi V8 into the Ram R/T's engine bay. 22-inch wheels on a lowered suspension house 15-inch Brembo brakes to keep it under control, with a body glazed in silver with red accents and a black roof to do the talking.

These are just five of the 30 "Moparized" vehicles Chrysler will be displaying at the aftermarket expo, and while they've only released four renderings to keep us tantalized, you can scope out all the details in the press release after the jump.

News Source: Chrysler

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