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Fiat Group
President Luca di Montezemolo has revealed that
much-anticipated the new Fiat 500 model will arrive in
record time, its marketplace appearance now just over a year
away, in January 2007. His comments came during a Ferrari
Christmas press luncheon earlier this week, and confirm insiders' comments
that state the project is at an advanced stage.
Ever since the
tiny 'Trepiuno' concept showcar - with its highly innovative
2+1 seating arrangement - made its public debut at the
Geneva Salon last March, instantly capturing the hearts of
the public and media alike, Fiat Auto have been exploring
the potential possibilities of bringing to production a true
modern day successor to the iconic Fiat 500, a car that is
fondly remembered as having literally 'motorised' the
Italian during the 1960s.
After
considering several platform options Fiat settled on using
the existing Panda model's underpinnings and drivetrains. In
September Fiat announced that they would be building the new
car in partnership with US automotive giant Ford, who would
use it to replace their current Ka model.
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The tiny Fiat 'Trepiuno' concept showcar - with its
highly innovative 2+1 seating arrangement - made its
public debut at the Geneva Salon last March,
instantly capturing the hearts of the public and
media alike |
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Fiat Group President Luca di Montezemolo has
revealed that much-anticipated the new Fiat 500
model will arrive in record time, its marketplace
appearance now just over a year away, in January
2007 |
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Thus
financial stability was secured as well as making the
project genuinely feasible. An annual production of around
250,000 vehicles, split roughly evenly between the two
carmakers, is envisioned.
It is also believed that during their negotiations with Ford
over the summer, the Italians were able to demonstrate the
project in quite advanced detail, and that the Fiat-branded version, including a design
which is based very closely on the
well-received Trepiuno showcar, had been effectively
finalised by this point.
The new Fiat 500, another lynchpin in CEO Sergio
Marchionne's strategy to move Fiat Auto forward, will be
built at the Bielsko Biala factory in Poland which currently
assembles the Panda and Seicento. The latter model - which
is now known as the Fiat 600 - is due to be phased out
shortly, thus freeing up build capacity. The new 500, which
is the work of Fiat Centro Stile, will use the highly
regarded, compact and very light 1.3-litre Multijet 16v
diesel engine.
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