Fiat 500C convertible coming to U.S.?

The Fiat 500 has win awards from numerous publications and organizations. It’s confirmed that the 500 will hit the U.S. market in July of 2011. Now a convertible variant called the 500C could be close behind. According to several new reports, Fiat has greenlighted the 500C for the U.S. market.

The carmaker has released a new series of 500C convertible images, revealing the car in much better detail.

The new convertible is distinguished by an automated sliding soft-top with an integrated glass backlight and built-in center high mounted stop light. The lining for the roof is a new weather resistant canvas that is available in three different colors, ivory, red and black, and has been designed to match the car’s exterior color palette, which also expands with two new entries - Pearl Red and Warm Grey.

Inside, there's still enough space for four adults but legroom in the rear is ideally suited to small children.

The 500C will receive the same engine options as the 500, which means three powerplants ranging in size from 1.2 to 1.4L. The entry-level 1.2L petrol model develops just 69hp (52kW), while the range topping 1.4L version develops 100hp (75kW). In the middle is the 1.3L Multijet turbodiesel with 75hp (56kW) on tap. Available transmissions include a five-speed manual and robotized Dualogic automatic.

The 500C will also feature Fiat’s fuel-saving start-stop engine technology. Whenever the vehicle comes to a stop and the driver releases the clutch, the engine is switched off and then restarted simply by selecting a gear.

The 500C will come with two trim options: Pop and Lounge. Standard features of the car included electrically operated hood, air conditioning, remote central locking, radio/CD/MP3 player, seven airbags and electrically operated door mirrors. The Lounge models will get the following chief features: climate control, ESP stability control, foglights and rear parking sensors.

The 500C will be first built in Fiat’s Tychy plant in Poland, but could move to Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico plant in 2010. Sales is scheduled for the third quarter of the year.

Chrysler: Fiat products could reach U.S. showrooms within 18 months

Fiat-based Chrysler products could be sold in the U.S. in as little as 18 months, according to Tom W. LaSorda, Chrysler's now outgoing vice chairman and president.

The big news of the past week is that Chrysler and Fiat have finally managed to forge an alliance, and now Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings are being pushed through to quickly eliminate any obstacles that the merger may face. Bringing the struggling Detroit 3 carmaker back into the market as quickly as possible will be key to helping in its recovery, and according to outgoing co-president Tom LaSorda a range of new Chrysler vehicles based on Fiat models could be hitting the U.S. market in just 18 months.

While the timeline may seem a little optimistic, LaSorda explained to Edmunds that "18 months is practical" considering that a "lot of pre-work in terms of homologations and emissions" had already been undertaken. Despite this, many analysts are predicting a three-year timetable for a Chrysler-Fiat product to hit the U.S. market - a timetable that LaSorda has acknowledged but still dismissed as being too slow considering the company’s current position.

Chrysler's new brand portfolio, which will be largely based on Fiat products, means that the company will be eliminating certain unprofitable models, as well as models that overlap into other segments and cause internal brand cannibalization. Additionally, Chrysler will sell all of its brands, which now consist of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, "under one dealership umbrella".

Bob Nardelli, Chrysler's outgoing chairman and CEO, said the Chrysler/Fiat alliance will result in a "much broader portfolio of products" for Chrysler. But a culling of products is to be expected, said executives in a Thursday press conference.

"We will eliminate certain models and duplication of products," said James Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president. "We're bringing all three brands [Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep] under one dealership umbrella."

While an exact rundown of which Fiat vehicles are coming to the U.S. was not forthcoming, LaSorda said that the highly acclaimed Fiat 500 was being considered for local production. Even Chrysler's head designer Ralph Gilles has been keen to bring the Fiat 500 to the U.S. since the beginning of this year. "It is such a fun package. I think Americans, given the chance, will fall in love with this thing," he said.

At the moment, Fiat is considering three different Chrysler plants that could be retooled for production of Fiat vehicles.