Fiat 500 soon in the US!

[BigWarpGuy]

I keep wondering if the Fiat 500 - the new one - will come to the USA. I get e-mail information from the site. It is a newer version of the older Fiat 500. It is really nice looking. It is in the same category of the Smart Fortwo.

[SmartAzz]

I saw them in Europe, very nicely done inside and out. I don't consider them in the same category as the Smart though, they are not micro enough, more akin to Minis, the Mito, future A1, other small hatch backs.

[BigWarpGuy]

There are those who do not consider the Smart Fortwo not micro enough; especially compared to micro or mini cars of the past. Compared to those vehicles, the Fortwo looks big.

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

There are those who do not consider the Smart Fortwo not micro enough; especially compared to micro or mini cars of the past. Compared to those vehicles, the Fortwo looks big.

yep, I know, there were lots of tiny micro cars in the past (we even owned a bianchina briefly) but as the smart is actually quite shorter then the classic mini i'd say its micro enough -especially considering that it is the only such micro car sold new and legally in the states. the new fiat, mini, etc are small but certainly not micro at all and we can really tell the difference when it comes to parking

[BigWarpGuy]

It is not a side by side comparison but one can still compare the two.

The new Fiat 500 compared to the old Fiat 500. With so much safety and emissions added, it is bigger than the original.

[robotbill]

FIAT Fix It Again Tony! But I love Italian cars,even though my Alfa has hurt me I still like the sound of the engine and the horn. Yes if this comes I will buy it.

[mike-in-sa]

These 500's are rented out on Capri. I'd buy one to make my smart look bigger.

[jwight]

Turns out the new 500 is produced in Poland with its sister car, the 2nd generation Ford Ka. As for a US version, this from Wikipedia:

New 500 in the United States

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has indicated that the United States may receive the newly designed Fiat 500. “Sooner or later it is a possibility that the 500 will arrive on the American market,” he said, adding “but it will not happen now, probably after 2010."[11]

It is rumored that the 135-horsepower Abarth version will make it to U.S. shores after 2010. The car would likely be sold in U.S. Alfa Romeo dealerships after Alfa Romeo (set to return to the U.S. in 2009) retains a firm foothold in the market.[12]

Fiat chief technology officer Harald J. Wester revealed there are two new small cars in the works and the 500 minicar will be sold in North America, although he didn’t give a timeline. He also confirmed the car would be produced at either a U.S. plant or one of Fiat’s existing facilities in South America.[13]

In May 2008, reports surfaced on a venture between Chrysler and Fiat, which could possibly see Fiat using Chrysler's excess manufacturing capacity to produce the Fiat 500 in North America for the United States market. The proposed Fiat 500 line for the United States would be sold as its own, separate brand, rather than under the Fiat name.[14]

[2smartArizona]

When I was in Poland years ago, right after the wall went down and such, that was about the most popular car there was. They were everywhere.
Personally, I would love to see this car come to the United States, it or the Ypsilon, would be a great little car to see running around our streets.

[JPaul]

By Chuck Squatriglia

Hallelujah! The first child born of the Fiat-Chrysler marriage arrives in just 18 months when the Italian automaker brings the awesome 500 to the United States.
Better yet, Fiat has no plans to significantly change the sweet microcar before rolling it into Chrysler showrooms. The way Fiat sees it, the 500 - which perfectly updates the adorable Cinquecento - could take a big bite out of the market Mini has carved for retrocars.
“The Fiat 500 — we see that, like the Mini, as a sort of a boutique car that we think we can sell in good numbers on the East and West coasts in the same way that Mini has been successful in the U.S.,” Fiat spokesman Richard Gadeselli told Automotive News (sub. req.).
The 500 is the only Fiat-badged vehicle slated for the United States, Gadeselli said. Everything else will sport a Chrysler nameplate on the hood. “They will be Chrysler products,” he said. “They will be specific to Chrysler. The vehicle architectures will be based on our stuff, and there will be some powertrains. The vehicles will be U.S. vehicles, designed for U.S. customers by a U.S. company.”
Yeah, yeah. Now bring us the Abarth 500, please.

Source: Rejoice! Fiat 500 Headed Our Way | Autopia | Wired.com