Fiat Sells MORE 500s Than The MINI Cooper - Does This Spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S?

In a piece of copy published by that infamous New York paper, the story reads that the new 500 "...essentially matched the sales of its chief competition, the Mini Cooper..."

A couple of things, briefly:

1) MINI, not Mini

2) The 500 actually sold MORE than the Cooper if you discount the 600 or so Countryman pseudo sport-utility vehicles.

Some may say that this means that Fiat is ahead of the game but there's one thing that has to be considered. Is this merely a fashion trend?

If you haven't noticed, Fiat has been cozying up the 500 to just about anything related to fashion. Its dealerships are known as "studios" and it will be debuting the Fiat 500 Gucci Edition at New York's Fashion Week.

This could be a genius marketing move or a total fail because in fashion what's here today is gone tomorrow. In other words, the 500 flame could be extinguished in one fell swoop.

What say you, Spies? Has Fiat hit the nail on the head with the 500 and it's off to a great start, or is it merely a trend that will pass by as the next year or two go by?


Fiat, the Italian auto company, is getting a rare second chance to make a good first impression among American car buyers. And unlike the disastrous end to its first go-round decades ago, the carmaker has already managed to create a buzz...

...The company’s new “500” hatchback is being welcomed, in the words of one analyst, as a “fashion statement” among many new car buyers. Last month, the teeny car, whose trim lines include “Pop” and “Lounge,” essentially matched the sales of its chief competition, the Mini Cooper...

[Source: The New York Times]


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lv_vl - 9/5/2011 6:27:19 PM

+1 Boost

It is merely a trend, just like Smart fortwo was.

nguyenvuminh - 9/5/2011 9:28:59 PM

+1 Boost

Trend or not, this is still a success. It just kills you that the author was referencing MINI as a comparison basis isn't it? If 00R had used another car as a comparison, I'm pretty sure people would hail 500 as a success but heavens forbid, to imply anything is an alternative to a BMW or MINI and all hell breaks loose.

PLAY - 9/6/2011 8:13:43 AM

+2 Boost

American incomes have been stagnating since the 80's, and long term fuel prices are going to increase. This would suggest smaller,cheaper, more fuel efficient cars are going to do well.

mini22 - 9/6/2011 11:40:41 AM

+2 Boost

Well eldard you can call it a trend if you like. Thing is Fiat is hyping the 500 much like BMW hyped the Mini when it first came out.Another similarity. Fiat is starting to offer more model choices. Next yr the Abarth comes on line, then an electric car and then a larger 4dr(probably based on the newly designed Europe only Fiat Panda). It will have a longer wheelbase and will be a 5 door. Perhaps that might remind you of what Mini did when it came out with the Clubman.Fiat is not even close to Smart. In the 4 or 5 yrs Smart has been on these shores it has sold the same 2 seater car with a crappy automatic tranny,terrible brakes and very puny engine power. Fiat offers a 5 speed,a sport model and seating for 4. Yes it does have more rear room then my Mini Cooper S and it does have a tad more cargo room. Fiat is going after the current and potential Mini buyer by offering somthing just as unique and 4 grand cheaper.This is no trend.

MorePower - 9/7/2011 2:14:59 AM

+3 Boost

Not Success, but that the American car buying public is refusing to pay $30k - $40k for a tiny BMW. The Mini Cooper S should be sold at a competitive price to the VW GTi, not $40k because of a JCW pack and a few dealer installed options.

mini22 - 9/7/2011 10:49:53 AM

+1 Boost

Well that a point. The Fiat gives you 95% of the driving fun of the Mini for 4 grand less. The Abarth should be similar.The 5 door should compete with the Clubman. Fiat already has an AWD system in the works as well so look for a Countryman competator in the next couple of years.No Fiat is taking a similar playbook that BMW has done with Mini. That is taking a popular concept and diversifying it with additional nich products. The 500 is going to be the Italian Mini. True sales will at one point level off just as it has with Mini. However Fiat has got this down by observing how Mini has done it. Eldard-guess where the Fiat 500 is selling the most in the US. Would you beleive Texas the Lonestar "Redneck" state. So what does this tell you about those rednecks? They must be comprised of Hippies,Lesbo's and Homo's and more and more are coming out each day to buy a 500! It's an infestation!

CarCrazedinCali - 9/7/2011 1:41:56 PM

+2 Boost

MINI is a far superior product, thus the difference in price... Sorry Fiat, you will never see me signing a contract for one of your pos's even if it's cheaper