Abarth, terkenal dengan kenderaan prestasi tinggi, telah memperkenalkan versi dipertingkatkan daripada Fiat 600e elektrik, memaparkan peningkatan kuasa yang ketara dan estetik yang lebih agresif.
Ditampilkan dalam penampilannya yang menarik sebagai edisi pelancaran Scorpionissima, Fiat 600e yang mengagumkan telah menarik perhatian selepas dikesan semasa sesi penggambaran komersial, dengan hanya 1949 unit yang dijadualkan untuk pengeluaran.
Walaupun butiran teknikal seperti konfigurasi pemanduan dan spesifikasi bateri masih dirahsiakan, Fiat 600e elektrik berjanji untuk memberikan keseronokan dengan differential terhad mekanikal dan output kuasa yang menakjubkan sebanyak 240hp.
Peningkatan kuasa ini menetapkan 600e sebagai Abarth yang paling berkuasa yang pernah dicipta, mempunyai peningkatan 84hp yang hebat berbanding rakan sejawatannya dari Fiat.
Sementara mengekalkan potensi untuk prestasi elektrik yang memukau, 600e mungkin mewarisi baterinya dari kereta asal Fiat, dilengkapi dengan unit ion litium kobalt mangan nikel 54 kWh. Namun, disebabkan motor yang mengeluarkan lebih banyak kuasa, pengurangan sedikit dalam julat dijangka berbanding dengan julat 400km Fiat 600e pada kitaran WLTP.
Abarth, renowned for its high-performance vehicles, has unleashed a tuned-up version of the electric Fiat 600e, showcasing a significant boost in power and a more aggressive aesthetic.
Displayed in its striking Scorpionissima launch edition guise, the electrifying Fiat 600e has captured attention after being spotted during a commercial shoot, with just 1949 units slated for production.
Although technical details such as drive configuration and battery specifications remain under wraps, the electric 600e promises to deliver thrills with a mechanical limited-slip differential and an impressive power output of 240hp.
This power surge establishes the 600e as the most potent Abarth ever crafted, boasting a formidable 84hp increase over its Fiat counterpart.
Fiat 600e
While maintaining the potential for electrifying performance, the 600e may inherit its battery from the Fiat donor car, equipped with a 54kWh nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion unit. However, due to the higher-output motors, a slight reduction in range is anticipated compared to the Fiat 600e’s 400km range on the WLTP cycle.
Fiat is getting ready to expand its lineup with a second all-electric car, and a recent video has given us our first clear look at it. The Fiat 600, which will be based on the Stellantis Group’s e-CMP2 platform and go on sale in 2024, will be an SUV alternative to the well-liked new 500 city car. The 600 has been teased for a while in a number of spy images, but the video uploaded to Fiat’s YouTube page allows us to finally get a more detailed view.
It showcases a compact, 5-door SUV with the newest Fiat design language, as seen on the 500, including, especially in the front and rear lights, that is about the size and shape of the old 500X. The Fiat 600 will gain from a customised electric platform, which could allow the new 600 to rival the 500L MPV in terms of interior capacity and functionality. The new Fiat will also be closely related to the brand-sister Jeep Avenger from the Stellantis Group.
Shopping online is commonplace these days and during the lockdown periods of the past two years, many companies stepped up their online business activities as their physical retail outlets were forced to close. While there was already a trend starting towards increased online stores selling by car companies, the pandemic accelerated things in order for brands to remain accessible to customers.
Today, virtually every brand has an online showroom which mainly provides information on the latest models and if a customer is ready to make a purchase, the process can be started online as well. However, in some countries, physical presence is still required to complete the transaction as documents need to be officially signed.
Now Fiat has come out with what it says is the world’s first metaverse-powered store, taking the digital experience to a more advanced level. Starting off in Italy, the Fiat Metaverse Store provides a more sophisticated ‘shopping experience’ and there’s a real FIAT expert – called a FIAT Product Genius – on hand to answer questions.
During the second half of the 1970s, one Fiat model stood out in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and other international rallies. It was the 131 Rally, a specially-built sedan for competition jointly produced by Fiat, Abarth and Bertone. 400 units were built to meet homologation requirements and Abarth mechanicals were installed in them.
The 131 Abarth Rally debuted in 1976 as a Group 4 entry and its track record up till the early 1980s has put it in history books as one of the legends of rallying. It ran for 6 years in the WRC, with victories at 18 international events, and captured 3 World Constructors Championship titles. Legendary drivers Markku Alen and Walter Rohrl also won their championship titles driving the car.
This year, on the 40th anniversary of its last race, special tribute is paid to the 131 Abarth Rally with the Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally special series. This is a limited edition with a production run of 695 units which will be available worldwide.
225 km/h top speed
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally has a 1.4-litre T-jet engine which develops 180 bhp/250 Nm to rocket the car from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds, after which it can continue on to a top speed of 225 km/h.
For this special edition, Abarth has installed Koni FSD shock absorbers on both axles and a dedicated braking system which includes aluminium Brembo calipers and 4 pistons on the front and 305 mm and 240 mm ventilated discs on the rear.
Record Monza sound system
The special equipment list includes black 17-inch alloy wheels with a diamond-cut finish and the ‘Record Monza Sovrapposto’ exhaust system – an evolution on the Record Monza system, now with four vertically overlaid terminals. The Record Monza exhaust system is named after the famous Italian circuit where Carlo Abarth achieved one of the many speed records of his racing career. The exhaust system features dual-mode technology and tailpipes that together create the unique and unmistakable Abarth sound.
The variable rear spoiler
The Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally naturally comes with the Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile, an aerodynamic feature which Abarth engineers developed. Just like in a race, where it is not unusual to see technicians manually fine-tune the spoiler angle so the driver can set the car’s behaviour to suit the conditions and driving style, the spoiler fitted to the car is adjustable to 12 positions. These positions range from 0° to 60°, influencing airflow in such a way that cornering stability can be improved. At the maximum a 60° angle and at a speed of 200 km/h, the aerodynamic downforce load increases by up to 42 kgs.
The 131 Abarth Rally in the colours of Italy’s Alitalia airlines which was a major sponsor of Fiat’s competition teams.
While the 131 Abarth Rally cars are often remembered for their green, red and white colours – which were from Alitalia, one of the main partners of Fiat’s motorsport teams – the Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally has a bicolour 3-layer ‘Blue Rally’ glossy livery, which reinterprets another its original colour on some of the rallycars in a contemporary manner.
‘Easter Eggs’ around the car
This is the first Scorpion vehicle which contains ‘Easter Eggs’ – tiny stylistic ‘gems’ which the designers hide to surprise customers. Some examples: the silhouette of the 131 Rally engraved on the lower part of the car door, on the Alcantara dashboard and on the headrests of the new seats.
Specifically for the 695 cars, the livery is embellished with a roof and uprights in black Scorpion Black. The same blue can be found on the mirror caps and some details in the interiors. The sporty image is further emphasised by the Sabelt fabric seats with blue inserts and stitching inspired by those of the historic car but reinterpreted in a modern way.
Whether young or old, LEGO has a special appeal and the things that can be created from just those small bricks range from homes to aircraft to Star Wars machines and of course, cars. And where cars are concerned, there are different series with varying levels of complexity.
Recently, Fiat and LEGO gave birth to the new ‘Fiat 500 LEGO Creator Expert’ set which was unveiled at the Spazio MRF-Mirafiori in Turin, Italy.
“In its long history, the Fiat 500 has passed the original material event to enter the collective imagination, becoming an international icon. This is also demonstrated by a recent exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York,” said Cristiano Fiorio, Head of Brand Marketing Communication for FCA EMEA Region.
He added that LEGO only chooses iconic products and the Fiat 500 is not only a car but an artistic and cultural phenomenon with a strong symbolic value, as well as a playful and colourful expression of Italianness in the world.
At the presentation of the new set, there was also full-sized model of the Fiat 500 – made with 189,032 LEGO bricks. It took 830 hours to build the LEGO model, according to a Fiat source.
The partnership between Fiat and LEGO is part of a larger project which sees the FCA group having exclusive collaborations in the licensing field. The aim is to extend the visibility of its brands outside the automotive world, conveying the values of each brand.
The new Fiat 500 LEGO Creator Expert set is the first example and celebrates one of the most famous Made-in-Italy symbols in the world, as well as paying tribute to the legendary ‘Dolce Vita’.
Inspired by the legendary Fiat 500F of the late 1960s, the new set offers a model of 960 pieces, complete with a working sunroof, detailed interiors, luggage racks with spare wheel, luggage rack on the back and an opening hood to inspect the engine once finished construction. In addition, the set includes a folding easel, a palette and a painting of the car against the backdrop of the Colosseum in Rome.
The new Fiat 500 LEGO Creator Expert is available from today at the LEGO Store.
Some manufacturers believe that when a car has a small engine, say below 1.2 litres, fuel efficiency is already very good and there is no need for the added cost of a hybrid powertrain, not to mention extra weight. However, if fuel consumption can be improved further by adding an electric motor, why not?
This is how engineers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) see it and part of the reason why they developed FCA’s first city cars with new petrol Mild Hybrid technology. The technology combines the latest 3-cylinder FireFly 1-litre 70 bhp/92 Nm engine family with a 12-volt BSG (Belt-integrated Starter Generator) electric motor and a lithium battery pack.
Compared to the 1.2-litre 69 bhp Fire, the 77-kg Mild Hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30% on average, without sacrificing performance. The BSG system, allows for quiet, vibration-free restarting of the petrol engine in Stop&Start mode.
The BSG system is mounted directly on the engine and is operated by the belt that also drives the auxiliaries. The system recovers energy during braking and deceleration, stores it in the battery pack which has a capacity of 11 Ah. It can then use this energy, at a peak power of 3.6 kW, to restart the engine in Stop&Start mode and to assist it during acceleration.
Customers also benefit from all the advantages of going hybrid (the car is Euro 6D Final-compliant, for instance), which, depending on local regulations, include freedom of access and movement in European city centres, cheaper parking in town centres and tax breaks.
The first models to get the Mild Hybrid technology are the Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda, the two ‘souls’ of the Fiat brand for decades. The first, the more emotional one, is the pop, fashion and design icon. The second, the more functional, trendy one, with 5 doors. Sales will commence from February and March 2020, respectively.
Launch Editions for the first time
Furthermore, for the first time in the history of the two iconic and complementary Fiat brand models, the 500 and the Panda will be available in a special unique series: the exclusive ‘Launch Edition’. The special series can be recognized by the ‘Hybrid’ badge on the rear and the exclusive ‘H’ logo, formed by two dew drops, on the centre panel.
Dew – the symbol of the light of dawn and therefore of the beginning of a new era – has been used as inspiration for the new and exclusive ‘Dewdrop Green’ exterior finish that fits both cars like a bespoke suit, in perfect harmony with the themes of nature and innovation.
Pursuing a sustainable philosophy
On the inside, the seat upholstery is faithful to the sustainable philosophy of the entire project. The Launch Edition seats are the first in the automotive sector to be partly made with SEAQUAL YARN, the weaving of which produces a special material derived from recycled plastic. SEAQUAL YARN is produced by transforming plastics collected from the sea into flakes of polyethylene terephthalate. These flakes are then used in the yarn from which the fabrics are made.
Fiat is collaborating with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE to support ocean clean-ups to act against marine litter. The two Launch Edition models will therefore satisfy the customer who is just as attentive to aesthetics as to environmental issues, in terms of consumption and emissions.
Electrification of the brand
2020 also marks the new milestone in the history of the Fiat brand. With the launch of the new hybrid versions of the 500 and Panda, the electrification of the brand will begin, and will continue with the start of production in Turin of the new 500. This model will be 100% electric and therefore play a key role in the e-Mobility by FCA strategy.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles or FCA, has invested some serious dough into the future of robotics. The FCA Foundation, its charitable arm has announced more than $228,000 (RM925,999) in grants to 51 US-based FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams.
This will ease the burden on teams competing in the upcoming 2018 FIRST® POWER UP challenge. FIRST or (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international non-profit organisation founded to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
“We are proud to partner with an organization that is committed to inspiring the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals,” said Phil Jansen, Head of Product Development, FCA – North America.
This year alone, FCA has awarded more than $400,000 (RM1,624,560) to student robotics programmes, including FIRST Tech Challenge, First in Michigan and 2018 FIRST Championship. The automaker is banking on these young minds to create and innovate at an early age, in order to make a much bigger impact later in their professional lives.
One of the oldest Fiat cars in existence will make its way from Hyde Park in London down to Madeira Drive in Brighton, as part of the notorious heritage trial on 5th November, 2017. This 1899 Fiat 3½hp is owned by FCA UK Ltd, and is on permanent display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
The car can seat two adults and two small children facing the driver – not very comfortable but it works. Powering this vehicle is a horizontal two-cylinder engine of 697cc that is mated to a three-speed (no reverse) gearbox. This Fiat can reach a top speed of 34km/h and return a fuel consumption figure of 14.9km/L.
FIAT or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, was founded by Turin investors in July 1899. It initially operated out of a temporary factory but moved into a purpose-built one in March 1900. The company benefited greatly from the acquisition of two businesses, one of them being a bicycle manufacturer.
This company had a prototype car called the Welleyes, which Fiat used to derive its own car. From there, Fiat grew to an industrial giant and is now, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.
The automobile has come along way since its humble beginnings, and this 1899 Fiat 3½hp is a testament to that. Many of the creature comforts and technology that we take for granted today came about out of necessity as a result of attempts of modernizing early vehicles to suit customers’ needs.
The legendary Fiat 500, the same vehicle that helped mobilise Italy, has been honored by the Italian State Mint with the introduction of a limited edition silver coin. It has been introduced to commemorate the car’s 60th anniversary and the impact it has left on the lives of many Italians.
Unveiled by the Italian Ministry of Economics and Finance, the Fiat 500 coin has a monetary value of €5 or RM 24.62 and was designed by master engraver Claudia Momoni. Only 4,000 of these coins will ever be minted, which should make it a collector’s item very soon.
One side of the coin depicts the 1957 Fiat 500 and the current model, with the words ‘Repubblica Italiana’. The other side shows the profile of the classic 500 with the dates 1957 and 2017. The former symbolizes the year that the 500 was first produced. The later signifies the year of which the coin will be produced, which is this year.
Apart from this, the coin also bears the initial ‘R’ which stands for Rome, the place where it was minted, and the name of the engraver alongside a Fiat 500 logo in the original style. Collectors can buy it from Istituto del Poligrafico e della Zecca for €40 or RM197.
Besides the coin, the Fiat 500’s 60th birthday was also celebrated by the launching of a commemorative stamp that was launched by the Italian Post Office earlier this year. Adding to that, the car will become a a permanent addition to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
During the its history, the 500 has touched many lives and not only served as a mode of transportation but a fashion icon as well. It mobilized post-war Italy and become a popular car all over the world.
