The launch of the Fiat 500 in the U.S. market has whetted the Italian company’s appetite, as according to reports, Fiat is now considering the addition of a second model to its North-American range, the successor to the Bravo. As we wrote last month, the next-generation Bravo will take the shape of a small crossover with Fiat looking to emulate the success of Nissan's Qashqai.

The 500's early sales figures have exceeded the firm’s expectations despite initial concerns about relaunching the Fiat brand in the U.S. with such a small car. The partially open-top 500C was added to the range recently, with more powerful Abarth versions to follow in the very near future.

According to Laura Soave, head of Fiat brand North America, the company is now planning a larger model but it will make sure not to compete with Chrysler models.

“Fiat will be the small car brand. It will never have anything larger than a C-segment,” Soave told UK’s Autocar magazine. In other words, Fiat won't sell cars bigger than the Bravo, so it's safe to say that the larger car will be the replacement for Fiat's current C-segment model. One thing is for sure: the future model “will not be a traditional offering,” as pointed out by Fiat Group boss Sergio Marchionne who also promised a radical approach for the car.

Soave added that the Alfa Romeo brand will return to the U.S. (again…) with the 4C sports car, as the Giulia's launch has been delayed because Marchionne rejected the car's styling.

By Dan Mihalascu

* Current Fiat Bravo pictured in the photo above and the gallery bellow

After the axing of the Fiat Coupe in 2000, the Italian brand's range was left without a coupe. And that's where British designer Peter Norris steps in with a new study that envisions a future sports car model for Fiat. However, this concept would not necessarily make a successor to the affordable Fiat Coupe, as the car carries a Pininfarina badge, thus hinting to a more luxurious model.

The study is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports car that aims to embody the essence of the Italian thoroughbred. Judging from the drivetrain layout, this concept would be more of a successor to the 1960's RWD Fiat Dino rather than to the late 1990s FWD Fiat Coupe designed by Chris Bangle.

The coupe sports a sleek profile and a very low roofline, which make the wheels seem colossal. It also has an aggressive stance thanks to the massive wheelarches, while the front end brings to mind modern-day Aston Martins, especially the shape of the headlights and the upright bumper. The rear features C-shaped LED light units and central exhaust pipes that give the coupe an elegant look.

The designer explained that the project started as “a reboot of the Fiat Coupe”, representing a vision of a present day model. An ex-Fiat Coupe owner, Peter Norris changed his mind halfway through the project and switched to a luxury coupe, hence the Pininfarina badges on the car.

“I used to own a Fiat Coupe 16v Turbo, and whilst it frequently broke down and cost me a fortune in repair bills, I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of it. I still turn my head every time one drives past me,” Norris told Carbodydesign.

“The Pininfarina styling inside as much as outside just oozes with Italian flair and really was, and still is different to anything else on the road. Some people have referred to it as a 'baby Ferrari'. So I began sketching out ideas for a Fiat Coupe for 2012. After roughing out the body in 3d I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to build something that was more of a luxury rather than a budget sports car and wondered what a car designed by Pininfarina under its own badge might look like, and so it evolved from there,” Norris concluded.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: CBD

Along with Peugeot’s award winning 205 (remember the Rallye and the GTi?), the Fiat Uno is considered one of the finest superminis to come out of Europe in the 1980s. And the fact that both models remained in the market with small changes for more than a decade is a testament to that. The Uno’s clean and modern lines were the work of Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign, which has now passed into the hands of the ever-growing Volkswagen Group.

The Uno Turbo with its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 105HP at launch and 118HP in the refreshed model was the flagship version of the range. And as with any other hot hatch, the Uno Turbo was subjected to numerous modifications, be that in design or performance. That said, we’re accustomed to seeing the Uno Turbo in strange outfits, but what we have here is beyond words…

Found for sale on a online car dealer in Poland, the 1986 Fiat Uno Turbo three-door hatch has been converted into something that is supposed to resemble an Audi, but not in the classy way that another owner turned his Seat Alhambra MPV into an Ingolstadt lookalike.

This here owner combined an Audi A3 face up front with a wide body kit of unknown origins, Fiat Coupe tail lights and…a rear bumper from the first-generation of the Audi TT coupe.

And now he’s selling this automotive Kielbasa for an asking price of 7,900 PLN, which comes to around €2,015 or close to US$2,900. Check out the photos below and write away your thoughts in the comments section.

Link: Allegro via Motofilm

Having launched a new spicy campaign for the 500 by Gucci starring Russian bombshell Natasha Poly, Fiat is now beginning to announce pricing for individual markets. Today, the Italian released details for the United Kingdom, where the limited edition model designed by Gucci will be offered with two gasoline engines, a 1.2-liter unit priced at £14,565 OTR and a 0.9-litre TwinAir, which won the International Engine of the Year accolade and costs £15,765 OTR.

At launch, the 500 by Gucci will be available to order exclusively on-line with buyers being able to place a down payment and then track the car’s progress, make the final payment and even arrange a special delivery of the car to their home.

“The 500byGucci will enlarge the audience for the already successful Fiat 500, reaching those fashionista customers who want to have a unique car to distinguish themselves,” said Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “And the on-line sales process adds another dimension to the individuality of this special model, creating an even greater sense of exclusivity and exceptional customer service.”

Aside from the two engine options, customers can also choose from two exterior themes with matching interior colors.

And the big winner of the 2011 edition of the coveted International Engine of the Year is…Fiat’s 0.9-liter twin-cylinder gasoline engine also known simply as the TwinAir. A jury comprised of 76 journalists and industry experts from 36 different countries were convinced by the 875 cc unit's low emissions, high fuel economy and impressive output for its size, awarding it four awards: “Best New Engine 2011”, “Best Green Engine 2011”, “Best Sub 1-Liter Engine” and the “International Engine of the Year 2011” overall award.

Currently available in a turbocharged configuration developing 85-horsepower, the TwinAir is offered on the Fiat 500 and 500C, and will soon find its way under the hood of the new Lancia Ypsilon supermini. Fiat is also planning the introduction of a naturally aspirated version producing 65-horses as well as another high-performance turbocharged variant with 105HP. The TwinAir will also be offered in a more eco-friendly 80HP Turbo bi-fuel version.

“Fiat has now produced one of the all-time great engines,” said Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology International and co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards. “Who would have thought that a two-cylinder unit could have won the International Engine of the Year title when we launched the Awards in 1999? Its triumph is a clear signal that less is more: people want low-emission, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and just two cylinders certainly seems to provide a comprehensive solution!”

This year’s event, held on Wednesday, May 18th at the Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany, also saw BMW taking four accolades. These include the “3-liter to 4-liter” category with its 4.0-liter V8 unit mounted on the M3, the “2.5-liter to 3-liter” category for its 3.0-liter DI Twin Turbo, the “1.8-liter to 2-liter” category for its 2.0-liter Twin Turbo diesel engine found in the 123d and X1, and finally the “1.4-liter to 1.8-liter” category for its 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine co-developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen, powering the Mini.

The second place in the overall competition went to VW Group's 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger engine, which triumphed in the “1-liter to 1.4-liter” category, while Audi won the “2-liter to 2.5-liter” category with its impressive 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine from the TT RS and RS3.

The “Above 4-liter” category went to Ferrari's 4.5-liter V8 engine found in the 458 Italia, which also took the accolade of “Best Performance Engine”, bringing the Fiat Group's total wins to six, or half of all the awards.

By Dan Mihalascu