Chrysler Auctions First Fiat 500 in Canada for $85,000

The "Numero Uno" (not the pizza, the car), which is the first in a series of 500 limited edition Fiat 500s to reach Canadian shores, was auctioned off on Saturday evening by Chrysler at Toronto's 17th annual Venetian Ball. The car fetched an impressive $85,000 (no word if that's CAD or USD), with all proceeds benefiting Villa Charities, which is said to provide "culturally sensitive care" for the elderly Italian-Canadian population.

"The enthusiastic bidding for this iconic vehicle, and the fact that it sold for $85,000, underscore the excitement and interest the Fiat 500 has generated since Fiat's return to Canada was first announced," said Ed Broadbear, Vice President of Marketing - Chrysler Canada.

The Fiat 500 will be introduced to the public in North America at the end of 2010. At launch, it will be offered as a three-door hatchback with a 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder gasoline engine, with a rag-top convertible model to follow next year.

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Fenice Milano Blings-Out the Fiat 500C to create "La Dolce Vita"

After seeing Fenice Milano's Rolls-Royce Diva, would you expect them to do any less to a car like the Fiat 500? No, of course not, which is why you see all the gold trim covering the Italian company's 500C-based "La Dolce Vita".

The rag-top La Dolce Vita is powered by a 1.4-liter engine from Fiat that puts out 101 ponies and is connected to an automatic transmission. Other than the excessive gold inserts, teak paneling will be crafted by Fenice Milano for the interior in order to better harmonize the city car with Fenice Milano's other offerings.

Within the potentially attractive interior is teak, gold, and leather, as well as a redesigned dashboard (check it out for yourself below and let us know if you like the Mini-esque central info pod).

As with the Diva, FM's 500C will be offered with the usual round of optional performance upgrades in the form of an ECU/intake/exhaust tune-up and suspension tweaks. Available colors will be a "chromium" Deep Red on the Sportiva model, or a more "sober and refined" (...) white golden pearlescent on the Classica.

Personally, I kinda-sorta like the "La Dolce Vita" when compared to the slightly tacky Ghost. Now, I'm no baller and have no need for the 24k gold treatment, but if some of that gold were removed the car could make an interesting competitor to the Aston Martin Cygnet.

By Phil Alex

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General Motors's Opel to take on Fiat and its 500 with New Mini Car

Last month, we told you that General Motors' European Opel / Vauxhall division announced the development of a new small car below the Corsa. Now, Autonews is reporting the car, which is codenamed "Junior", will be a funky upscale proposal designed to compete with Fiat's 500 mini in one of the smallest - literally - segments of them all.

Opel/Vauxhall's sales and marketing head Alain Visser hinted that the car will be an "iPod on wheels" and aimed squarely at young consumers with their high-tech needs. The "Junior", which begins production in Germany in 2013, will also be offered in an electric flavor.

Opel CEO Nick Reilly says. "It will have the latest infotainment systems and good fuel economy to make it environmentally friendly. For that, buyers will pay a little more."

In addition to being willing to pay more,potential buyers will be green, cool, and all the other bla-bla everyone's pushing these days. Regardless of the marketing gibberish, Opel's recent offerings have been attractive enough to indicate a promising 500-fighter.

By Phil Alex

Source: Autonews

Note: All photos are of the 2004 Opel Trixx Concept Model and NOT of the new mini GM is readying

Paris Show: Abarth 500C Esseesse with 160 Ponies

If you feel the regular Abarth 500C could benefit from a few more ponies under the hood, Fiat's performance division has the answer in the form of the Esseesse edition. The tuning package bumps output of the standard 1.4-liter turbocharged engine from 140HP and 206Nm to 160HP and 230Nm, respectively.

As a result, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) drops 0.6 seconds to 7.5 seconds, while top speed increases from 205km/h to 209km/h (130mph).

The scorpion-branded version of Fiat's 500 rag-top convertible that was shown in Paris featured a two-tone paint job with a white chromatic line separating the two colors, and came fitted with a Record Monza exhaust silencer and unique 17-inch alloys with 5 diamond shaped spokes.

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