Monday 10th January 2011

Mopar Fiat 500 Set For Detroit

Fiat 500 gets American makeover (sort of)

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With Fiat seemingly more keen than ever to take over the official reins at Chrysler, The US maker's tuning arm - Mopar - is doing its bit for American-Italian relations with this, a 'Moparized' version of the Fiat 500.

The Italo-Yankee is set to be unveiled at the Detroit motor show next week as part of Fiat's planned return to the US market - the 2012 model-year 500 will be the first fiat to once again officially set foot (or tyre) on US soil.

Unfortunately it's little more than a styling exercise, with the bkue-and-black theme repeated in the car's leather-covered interior, and a liberal smattering of carbon fibre fillets for good measure.

In fact, about the only thing truly 'performancey' about the Mopar 500 is a tower strut brace to add a bit of stiffness.

 

Oh, and here's a list of Mopar accessories that will be featured on the US-model 2012 Fiat 500:

Door-sill guards with 500 logo
Roof/hood decals feature a double-blue stripe
Katzkin leather interior, black with blue accents
Carbon fiber-style hand brake
Carbon fiber-style shift knob with leather boot
Rear window-mount rack
Snowboard carrier
Wheels, black gloss
Chromed exhaust tip
Chromed mirror covers
Chromed fuel door
Chromed grille surround, front and back
Wheel center caps
Key fob cover
Strut tower brace

[Fuelbrother DC]

A hemi didn't fit, I guess?

[cheesyblob]

Fuelbrother DC said:

A hemi didn't fit, I guess?

but a snowboard carrier did

[pbirkett]

Hideous, but then I never liked the normal 500 - tarts car.

[Draexin]

Hrm, too bad they couldn't fit a V8 in there..
After reading "Mopar 500" I was half expecting a Mercedes B55 / Clio V6 type exercise.. ah well, maybe in a few years.

On a slightly related note, has anyone attempted a V8 conversion for the current 500 yet?
I'm guessing the Atom 500's V8 would fit nicely in the Fiat's tiny nose

[MonteV]

Draexin said:

Hrm, too bad they couldn't fit a V8 in there..
After reading "Mopar 500" I was half expecting a Mercedes B55 / Clio V6 type exercise.. ah well, maybe in a few years.

On a slightly related note, has anyone attempted a V8 conversion for the current 500 yet?
I'm guessing the Atom 500's V8 would fit nicely in the Fiat's tiny nose

I'd like to have a small car like this with a tiny V8. Just for the feel of starting it up. Nice idea.

[FamilyDub]

Remove the blue stripes and the chrome addenda = WIN

[ktm301p]

MonteV said:

Draexin said:

Hrm, too bad they couldn't fit a V8 in there..
After reading "Mopar 500" I was half expecting a Mercedes B55 / Clio V6 type exercise.. ah well, maybe in a few years.

On a slightly related note, has anyone attempted a V8 conversion for the current 500 yet?
I'm guessing the Atom 500's V8 would fit nicely in the Fiat's tiny nose

I'd like to have a small car like this with a tiny V8. Just for the feel of starting it up. Nice idea.

In Devizes, Wiltshire - I've seen a supercharged mini whining around - I know it's not a V8 or a 500, but still the principle has been applied - Small car - Ludicrous power

[Burnham]

Nopar more like, what a waste of time.

[soad]

Looks almost chavved up, not a fan of this styling at all

[vz-r_dave]

I dont see why it looks chav?

[Matt Harper]

The words, 'Mopar' and 'Fiat', don't really go together very well.

[Collaudatore]

I sort of like these wee 500s, although it's probably a result of having been driving the '5 for too long.
I don't think it looks bad, but what's wrong with the Abarth name? Far more Fiat. I was also expecting a 7 litre beast. Call THAT a Mopar.

[doodles19]

Are they joking?!

[LuS1fer]

Matt black loos so unfinished. Daft idea anyway.

[Camaro91]

Jesus.

What next, the Saleen G-Wizz?

[crostonian]

What a stupid idea! Any American who is tempted to buy a Fiat 500 will be buying it for it's retro heritage and Italian iconism, the sort of person who probably hates Mopar Chryslers. What's wrong with the Abarth and Ferrari editions? What next a Dodge Avenger Abarth with a double bubble roof?

[turbo-ww]

Mmmmm, Key Fob Cover.....

[Nigel_O]

Why is Fiat trying to 'Americanise' its cars for the Yanks? Surely what we should be doing is 'Euro-educating' the American people to understand to the way of cars from this side of the pond

[oilit]

Having worked for americans for 20 years, many of them aren't bright enough to even know where Italy is - so the chances of any of them who are not sat in a major city on a coast (ie NY or LA etc) understanding Italian styling is slim to say the least (and thats another concept the burger scoffing sceptics don't understand (slim))

One american travel administrator asked me recently how long it would take to get from Brussels to Belgium .............

many of them have no concept of economy - so the attraction of a baby car like a 500 has to be limited on a grand scale.

Edited by oilit on Saturday 8th January 22:06

[iva cosworth]

How many americans can you fit in a FIAT 500 ?




this isnt a joke BTW



probably none ,the fat ********ers