Fiat 500 may come to the US

Alfa Romeo plans to make its return to the US market in the first half of 2009 with three models, one of them being the much-anticipated Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Now, Alfa’s parent, Fiat, is also hinting that they may bring the Fiat 500 to the US sometime after 2010.

“We cannot exclude that our new 500 would go, in some forms, to the US market, but not in the short term,” said Fiat CO Sergio Marchionne at a recent press event for the Fiat Linea sedan.

If the Fiat 500 does make it to our shores to scare BMW’s MINI, it will be in its sporty Abrath 500 version pushing...
Read Article

PPower - 6/11/2007 1:17:45 PM

+2 Boost

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume they mean "Abarth". Personally, I think it is a cool looking car, but an Alfa Romeo 500 just doesn't sound right.

EnnNorak - 6/11/2007 2:45:39 PM

+1 Boost

I recall back in the fifties that the Abarth version of the Fiat was a highly tuned and highly desired model preferred by sports car enthusiasts. The current generation would not remember that but I'm sure they will be attracted by the unusual (and cute) character of this vehicle. If it has enough performance, it will not be just another chick car.

XYZZ - 6/12/2007 6:19:40 AM

0 Boost

the fiat 500, aka CincoCento (?) was i believe, the inspiration for Stan Motts' brilliant fictional CYCLOPS cars.

these appeared in Road & Track magazine in the 1960s or '70s, and were a brilliant series of satire "racing" stories of both Fiat and Ferrari. anyone else out there remember the Cyclops?

Htay7500 - 6/16/2007 8:56:52 PM

+1 Boost

the old on is pretty nice, new one is ok, but im not sure about having it in the US. lots of buyers here wont feel tht appeal like those with taste in Europe.

XYZZ - 6/19/2007 6:25:10 AM

+1 Boost

EnnNorak:

"I recall back in the fifties that the Abarth version of the Fiat was a highly tuned and highly desired model preferred by sports car enthusiasts."


stan motts' Cyclops was a caricature of those hotrodded 500cc "topolinos" (little mousies). standard Cyclopses could barely get out of their own way. but the race-prepped ones would blow all competitors, including ferraris(!) into the weeds.