Fiat Rumored to Extend 500 Range With Mini-Rivaling Five-Door “Wagon”

On paper, Fiat’s return to the North American market after a 30-year absence was well planned. The firstproduct introduced by the Italian maker was the 500 city car, which had already proven to be a hit in Europe, selling 770,000 units since 2007. Things looked promising in the U.S. as well.

While the 500’s mission was to rival BMW’s Mini, its 2011 sales of 26,000 units were almost half of original forecasts. Delays in the launch and the dealer network certainly played a role while Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also thinks that the company’s strategy was to blame.

“We thought we were going to show up and, just because of the fact people like gelato and pasta, people will buy it”, he told reporters last week. “This is nonsense”.

Dave Sullivan, a product analyst at AutoPacific Inc., commented: “There needs to be a reason for people to downsize and spend more for less other than fuel economy and good looks. Dealers would welcome with open arms something with more utility and space than the 500.”

According to Sullivan, that’s exactly what Marchionne plans in order to reverse the stylish 500’s fortunes: a bigger, five-door “wagon” version developed for the U.S. market.

Inside sources state that the as-of-yet unnamed model will be built at Fiat’s Serbian plant. Although it is aimed at the U.S., it will first become available in Europe.

Mark Cannon, a spokesman for Fiat’s largest American dealer AutoNation believes that extending the 500’s range is the right thing to do: “Mini started with a product everybody said would never work. They added more product, the pipeline was slowly built, and now everyone wants Mini dealerships.”

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2012 Buick Verano Sedan

If you’ve been following the announcement on Carscoop, the 2012 Buick Verano won’t come as a delight as the new stream-lined automobile is the South United claims edition of GM’s The far east industry Buick Excelle GT that was unveiled in the first half of 2010. The two Buicks are similar in appearance right up to the somewhat gaudy opera eye brows over the longest tail lights.

The small Buick is primarily the automobile edition of the Western industry Opel Astra, something that is noticeable from the account appearance as well as the internal, and is designed on the same program and stocks primary website structure with the Chevy Cruze.

The VW Jetta-sized Verano methods 183.9 in. (4,671 mm) extensive, 71.4 in. (1,815 mm) wide and 58.4 in. (1,484 mm) large, offering a 105.7 in. (2,685 mm) extensive wheelbase.

Under the skin, the Verano’s front side revocation uses decoupled MacPherson struts and the raise a H Z-link design. Guiding information are carried out by an energy steering program, offering a dual-pinion carrier, while avoiding energy is presented by a four-wheel dvd braking program system with normal anti-lock and electrical braking program power syndication, as well as StabiliTrak electrical steadiness management with footing management.

At start, the new Buick Verano will presented with a normal 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder website providing an approximated 177 power (132 kW) and 170 lb.-ft. of top twisting (230 Nm), with a six-speed automated indication driving a car a vehicle the top side tires. GM says the primary Verano will come back a 0-60 mph [96 km/h] operation of 8.0 minutes and an approximated 31 mpg [7.6 lt/100km] on the road.

The Detroit car maker said a more highly effective 2.0-liter turbocompresseur website will be presented later on. In The far east, the Verano’s double sister is available with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter developing 145HP and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-pot providing 181HP.

The 2012 Verano stream-lined automobile will be given its world initial at the South United claims Global Vehicle Show in Detroit next week and go available in the States in it all 1 / 4 of 2011. Prices has yet to be produced, though an supposedly recognized file that was published online advises that the Verano will start at around $21,000.

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New Buick LaCrosse GL Concept gets All Dressed up for the LA Auto Show

You have to look far to see what is in the final concept paper based on Buick LaCrosse sedan in 2012 and will be exhibited at the Auto Show in Los Angeles on 16-27 November.

This is due to the concept of GL LaCrosse is the most luxed-up of the standard model than anything else.

David Lyon, executive director of Buick design, explains: “The design elements that have already differentiated production LaCrosse – such as premium leather upholstered seats, ice blue ambient lighting and smooth surfaces – intensified in GL and serve inspiration for future Buick models. ”

Outside is the concept of GL wearing a cabernet red paint complimented by a brushed chrome grille and tinted, door handles and trunk lid, and around windows, taillights and headlights. The machine-face wheels of 20 inches with a round satin finish on the exterior enhancements.

Most of the changes taking place inside, where the Buick designers came up with a French-stitched leather surfaces against each other a chocolate brown color and Carmelo chocochino of doors, seats and dashboard.

GL also get house chocochino suede, metal accents on the instrument cluster and controls in the center console and custom wood trim on the steering wheel, dashboard and door panels.

“Every surface is formed of GL hinterland LaCrosse, Buick knowing that customers enjoy the finer things in life, but do not need to flaunt,” said Magdalena Kokoszynska, GL LaCrosse creative designer.

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2013 Buick Encore Small SUV Puzzle Continues with Third Shot

The soon-to-be launched 2013 Buick Encore showed its face today with the release of the third photo of GM’s Facebook puzzle.

There’s only one image left for the full reveal but for the most part (three-quarters to be precise…), we now know what to expect from the five-passenger model that will make its public debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in less than a week’s time.

GM is still keeping us in the dark on the details, but to recap, we know that the Encore is based on a similar model being prepared by the Detroit firm’s Opel subsidiary for Europe (see the spy pictures here), with both models making use a modified version of the Sonic/Spark’s Gamma II platform architecture.

It is believed that the Encore will be offered with GM’s latest 1.4-liter and possibly 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline units, and a choice of front- and all-wheel drive layouts.

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Abarth to Unleash Punto SuperSport and two Special Editions of the 500 in Franfkurt

The Fiat Group’s Abarth division will display three “specialties” based on the firm’s Punto supermini, the 500 and 500C softop models at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

First up is the Abarth Punto SuperSport featuring a “Grigio Campovolo” two-tone color scheme with silver bodywork and a matte black bonnet and roof, along with “SuperSport” decals on the side, the tailgate and the mirrors, plus a set of 18-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers.

The SuperSport is based on the Punto esseesse and is powered by the same 180HP 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.5 seconds and its top speed is 216 km/h (134 mph).

Performance changes include the stiffer suspension with Koni dampers and lowered springs, perforated and ventilated discs all around with four-piston calipers up front, and a sport exhaust system with a centrally mounted tailpipe.

Inside, there are “Abarth Corsa by Sabelt” black leather bucket seats, Jaeger driving instruments and aBlue&Me satellite navigation system.

Abarth’s second debut is the 695 Competizione that showcases the brand’s intention of bringing its 50-year racing experience to road cars.

The 695 Competizione is a two-seater reminiscent of Abarth racers of the past, and is powered by a tuned version of the 1.4 turbo MultiAir developing more than 180HP and fitted with an Abarth Competizione electromechanical gearbox with race car-like steering paddles. This transmission has two modes: the fully automatic “Street” and the manual-shifting only “Track” for when you feel like exploiting the car’s performance.

Like the 695 Tributo Ferrari, the Competizione gets an upgraded braking system with 305 mm Brembo brakes, specially calibrated dampers and a “Record Monza” dual-mode exhaust that improves both sound and performance.

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