Fiat (Page 8)

Maybe you've heard the old cliché that good things come in small packages? Unfortunately, in the case of the 2012 Fiat 500c cabriolet that's not the case. It's a small package, but it's underpowered and overpriced, which just don't cut it no matter how cute you are.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced that the subcompact 2012 Fiat 500 has received a Top Safety Pick – making it just the second option in the American minicar segment to receive the major safety certification after the Ford Fiesta became the first to earn these honors.

Chrysler Group / Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne gave a talk in Montreal this weekend on the future of the global auto industry to the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Canada. Meantime, in Detroit, UAW negotiators said they were "up and working" as of 4:23 a.m. today. Here is Marchionne's take on being a "man of industry."

If Chrysler Group / Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and UAW President Bob King get past their differences, they will be putting their egos aside for the 26,000 Chrysler auto workers who will benefit from their next four-year contract. Negotiators said they were "up and working" on the deal at 4:23 a.m. today, the UAW confirmed on a Facebook page for its membership.

Leaders of union locals at Chrysler met with UAW President Bob King and his deputies for less than a half hour this morning at the UAW's Region 1 office in Warren, Mich. King told them his bargaining team hopes to have a four-year deal in place with the Detroit Three's smallest carmaker by Wednesday.

Sales numbers for September 2011 are in and once again, the Chrysler Group is the top dog among major automakers in terms of growth while their total sales volume allows them to claim the third spot on the sales chart, besting Toyota by almost 6,000 units.

After one week of serious face-to-face conversation, bargainers for the UAW and Ford Motor Co. are on the brink of consensus on a four-year deal for the automaker's 41,000 unionized rank and file that might include a $7,500 signing bonus and union-won promises of new and retained jobs at Ford.

The FIAT Brand is very excited to be teaming up with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to produce 250 "Pink Ribbon" limited-edition Fiat 500 model cars. The vehicles will be available at FIAT Studios in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

UAW retirees from General Motors Co. of Detroit and Chrysler Group LLC of Auburn Hills, Mich., will get enhanced health and dental benefits in 2012 via the UAW Retired Medical Benefits Trust, the union announced on its Facebook page.

People who go to the auto show in Orange County, Calif., through the end of this weekend will be able to test drive dozens of 2012 cars, trucks and vans -- everything from the new Volkswagen Beetle to the Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Sonic.

Just a few days after Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne sent an angry letter to UAW President Bob King when King failed to show up at a contract negotiation meeting with the auto boss, workers at Chrysler’s Dundee Engine Plant in Dundee Michigan have voted heavily in favor of striking.

Fiat dealerships in the United States feel that Alfa Rome's delayed return is a seatback for these dealers, although they have not contract to receive Alfa Romeo cars.

Last night the current contract between the UAW and the Chrysler Group expired and to prevent the workers from being forced to work without a valid contract, Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne flew from the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany to Detroit to finalize the new contract with UAW President Bob King – the only problem is that King didn’t show up.

The current labor contract between the UAW and the Detroit Big 3 automakers was set to expire last night at 11:59pm but all parties have agreed to an extension on the current contract as the union negotiates with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

The newest joint venture between the American Chrysler Group and Fiat was introduced at this week’s 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show as the Chrysler 200 Convertible turned Lancia Flavia Cabriolet was introduced in production form as expected – although the sedan version of the 200 will not be making the trip across the pond as a Lancia model.

Not only will the 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio be featured in the new Jennifer Lopez video, Papi, but a 30-second trailer for the video will highlight the Fiat 500 Cabrio this evening during Monday Night Football on ESPN.

Fiat is doing an emergency styling revamp before the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show on the Punto subcompact to give it a more conservative look, hoping to reverse a slowing sales trend.

The Ram brand will get a version of Fiat's Turkish-built Doblo panel van for 2013, to compete with Ford's increasingly popular Transit Connect.

Fiat will be breaking the tradition mold of car advertising and bringing their cars directly to customers at local shopping malls across the United States. Potential customers will be able to see the 2012 Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio up close and personally.

After an absence of nearly three decades the Fiat 500 is winning hearts and minds as Consumer Reports calls it a "fun to drive" fuel-efficient car, even though they fall short of putting it on their "recommended" list.

Sales figures from around the American automotive industry are in and once again, the Chrysler Group was the strongest automaker in the industry in terms of growth with the smallest of the American Big 3 improving by 31%.

Fiat SpA announced earlier this year that they were planning on building somewhere in the area of 280,000 Jeep models in their Turin, Italy plant along with a new Alfa Romeo small SUV based on those Jeeps but now rumors suggest that those vehicles will be built at existing Jeep production facilities in the US – including the Alfa models.

We have known since late last year that Maserati would soon be offering a high end performance sport utility vehicles based on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and thanks to inside information from Automotive News, we now know that this new Maserati SUV will be built in Detroit with the official concept debut planned for the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new Fiat 500 by Gucci limited-edition models will make their debut on Fashion’s Night Out (Sept. 8) during New York’s Fashion Week, Sept. 8-15, combining the best of Italian style and craftsmanship.

The Dodge Ram Van was a major player in the full size van market until Daimler replaced it with the Mercedes-sourced Dodge Sprinter but based on some news from around the rumor mill, the Ram Truck brand could reintroduce a line of Ram Vans with help from parent company Fiat.

While speaking at the 2011 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan, Chrysler and Fiat Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne hinted that he could be relinquishing his position atop the Chrysler Group as soon as 2015 or 2016.

The Chrysler Group has seen strong numbers since introducing their lineup of new and refreshed vehicles – allowing them to once again lead the American auto industry in terms of growth as they beat out all other automotive groups last month.

Fiat had moved one step closer to their official merger with the Chrysler Group as CEO Sergio Marchionne has unveiled his new managerial plan with includes a group of 22 management members who will form the "group executive council" – including 4 individuals who will head up the company’s efforts in the various geographic regions.