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Hi All:

Just a quick note. The Fiat 500 grabs many of us with its cute Italian styling combined with half a century of illustrious history. The brand new to the North American marketplace, 2012 Fiat 500 will be previewed for us by none other than Laura Soave, CEO of Fiat brand North America tomorrow morning and early afternoon in downtown Chicago.

Some may remember us talking about Laura from the LA Auto Show Press Event when she was introducing the North American Fiat 500 to the media horde. At the presentation, Laura showed some of her childhood pics and one just so happened to show her standing on the hood of I believe a 64 Fiat 500. Talk about a match made in heaven quite some time ago!

2011 Fiat 500 Presentation/Reveal at the 2010 LA Auto Show Press Event

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Fiat_Presentation.jpg
Laura Soave, CEO of Fiat brand North America in LA

In any case, you can tell by the massive crowd of journalists in LA that the Fiat 500 is grabbing America’s attention. With over 500,000 sold in 80 countries since the new 500’s global launch in 2007, the 2012 Fiat 500 is finally arriving in the Chicago area.

If you have any questions I can possibly get answers too about the little Italian Stallion, let me know before I have to head out about 09:30 AM.

Wayne

Will it be one with the twinair engine (http://www.topgear.com/uk/fiat/500/road-test/twinair-driven) (small 2 cylinder) or an Abarth version (http://www.abarthcars.co.uk/uk/CMSUK/CarsElaborations/Pages/Abarth500.aspx) ?

Have fun,

Denis.

Will it be one with the twinair engine (http://www.topgear.com/uk/fiat/500/road-test/twinair-driven) (small 2 cylinder) or an Abarth version (http://www.abarthcars.co.uk/uk/CMSUK/CarsElaborations/Pages/Abarth500.aspx) ?

Have fun,

Denis.

Sorry, it's MultiAir. I don't believe they'll be selling TwinAir here.

Sorry, but I just can't picture the Fiat 500 as an "Italian Stallion." :eek: Maybe Italian Colt or Pony would be better suited.

Italian Stallion conjures up images of Ferrari or Lamborghini in my mind.

I would be interested in the parts and service network for the 500. Will the district network have a good supply to fully rebuild the new model, or will we have to wait for shipping from "the old country?"

Have fun wayne, 30/38 should be easy enough to work with.

I would be interested in the parts and service network for the 500. Will the district network have a good supply to fully rebuild the new model, or will we have to wait for shipping from "the old country?"

Toluca Mexico is firmly in the "new world".

Wayne has a date with an Italian?!! :eek:;)

Hi Andrew:

Yup, an Italian ;)

I just got back and have a ton to post about the new 500 as this program was a regional launch. Unfortunately, we did not get to drive them today. There is however a beautiful 500 Sport with a 5-speed stick heading to the Chicago Press fleet with our name on it for mid June. You know, longest days, warmest pavement temps over the course of the longest day and some decent ambient to drive in ;)

More later as I was up until after 03:00 AM doing some CleanMPG Event Drive housekeeping and keeping our twitter channel running at WOT ;)

Wayne

Can't wait to hear about it, and whether it's an inexpensive true Mini competitor. As the Mini has, this car could really help make saving fuel cool in the eyes of a lot of folks.

Hi All:

2012 Fiat 500 Sport

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2011_Fiat_500.jpg
A Red 500 w/ a 5-speed stick no less :)

This is the actual Fiat 500 that will be placed in the Chicago Chrysler/Fiat Press Fleet that we are tentatively scheduled to drive in mid-June :D

Wayne

Don't let your wife know you've got a date with this lady (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF45V7ReY2Y), Wayne!

Hi All:

While the Fiat 500 is only a car, it is not just any car. What vehicle have you driven that incorporates a timeless design that was derived over 50-years ago? What vehicle have we driven that is more akin to a piece of art than simply a mode of transportation? And finally what automobile was as much “fun to drive” a half a century ago as it is today? Well ok, almost as much “fun” ;)

The new Fiat 500 is a throwback to simpler times while providing the very latest infotainment technology, a unique eye catching B-Segment design, decent FE, the very latest active and passive safety protection and probably its most endearing attribute, its ever present iconic Italian style.

Fiat North American CEO, Laura Soave

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Laura_Soave_-_CEO_of_Fiat_North_America.jpg
Laura was giving the history of the Fiat 500 design from the mid 50’s through today.

At the heart of the Fiat 500 is the Michigan produced, 1,4L Multiair engine. Its claim to fame is that it incorporates no efficiency robbing throttle plate providing a respectable 30/38 mpgUS city/highway rating with the 5-speed stick. Without Multiair, the 500 with the exact same 5-speed MT would have achieved just 27/34 mpgUS per the EPA test cycles and offsets. It was that significant.

Saying the Multiair does not have a throttle plate however is a bit of a misnomer as there is a throttle plate located in the intake structure but it is only used for an initial start, idle, a runaway condition and a few other particular LOD and RPM specific instances. At all other times, it is wide open allowing the Multiair mechanism to handle intake valve opening for fuel and air induction.

Fiat 500 – Multiair top end exposed

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Fiat_Multiair.jpg

The Cam moves the finger follower which creates oil pressure of ~ 1,600 psi up to the solenoid. The solenoid opens and closes via ECU command to allow 1,600 psi oil to be introduced into the actual valve “extender” (for lack of a better term) which pushes the valve down allowing intake fuel/air charge into the cylinder. The longer the solenoid is open, the longer the pressurized oil acts upon the valve (opens it up) and the more fuel/air enters resulting in more power.

For a bit more detail on the car before I continue, here is a very long list of reads so you can become as familiar as you would like with the 2012 Fiat 500 :)

The new 2012 Fiat 500 from an overwhelming number of previous write-ups beginning with the recent through the somewhat distant past. Distant means < 2-years.
The Iconic Fiat 500 Arrives (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37523)

Fiat’s European Twin Air Engine (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35957)

The Iconic Fiat 500 (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36518)

Live from LA, “It’s CleanMPG” – Day 1 & 2 (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36266)

Fiat Arrives With the 500 (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34844)

Coming To America… The Fiat 500 At A Dealership Near You (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33353)

Fiat 500 Project Puts Customers in the Picture (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32000)

500,000th Fiat 500 rolls off the production line (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30714)

Fiat’s eco: Drive moves into fleet service (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30179)

Fiat 500 takes another award in Europe (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28744)

Fiat 500 celebrates second UK anniversary with private gallery (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28598)

Fiat's Pretty in Pink (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28486)

Fiat’s eco: Drive named ‘Green Champion’ (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26919)

Fiat’s 500 breaks into the UK top 10 (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26569)

Europe’s Fiat 500 takes in another award (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25753)

Fiat 500c – The big smile heads toward the UK (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24355)

Fiat’s eco: Drive wins another industry award (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24162)

New Fiat 500 convertible now available in the UK (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23362)

Europe's Fiat co-developed a unique Hypermiling data recording solution (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21297)

Some Fiat 500's now equipped with Start/Stop (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20672)

While the rest of the automotive world evolves, Fiat revolutionizes (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20476)

Fiat celebrated Barbie’s Birthday too! (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20504)
And the list goes on and on and on. Do you know of anyone else with more Fiat 500 coverage than this? After Wendy Ortman, Chrysler’s Midwest PR Manager, sees all of this, I think she is going to cry. Happy tears that is :angel:

Darrell, she seems down to earth and she is cute but I doubt my wife has anything to worry about :D

Wayne

Wow! That's the sexiest engine cutaway I've ever seen - seriously. The Italians know how to build beautiful cars, externally and internally - with the exception of the manual tranny Fiat Uno I rented & drove for 1000 km. in Israel.

Enjoy your Italian date, Wayne. We won't tell your wife. ;)