Category Archives: 500

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Fiat 500E gets ready

After Paris and Sao Paulo, the next important auto show will be held in Los Angeles, USA. It is certainly not as important as Detroit motor show, but Los Angeles has some relevance as it is the main city of the largest car market among USA states (California state captures 11% of the US market). California is also important as it is the place where hybrid and new energy-sources cars are really popular. According to California New Car Dealers Association, September YTD sales figures indicate that the hybrid Toyota Prius is the best-selling car over there, with more than 46.000 cars sold so far. The market is clearly dominated by Japanese brands with ‘C-Segment’ sedans, different from what happens in the rest of the country where big trucks and sedans are the kings of the roads. The same source shows that the small Fiat 500 occupies an interesting place, among best-selling models, with more than 6.300 units sold, much more than what it has sold in some European markets such as Spain or the Netherlands. Actually, California counts for 19% of Fiat 500 sales in USA, which is not a small number. It is why, according to some press releases, Fiat is getting prepared to present the 500E in Los Angeles motor show, starting November 30th. According to Autoblog Español, the small electric car will be limited edition, on sale exclusively for US market and will be powered by 100 hp, not bad to be a small and electric car. It follows Marchionne’s statement in which he said the small electric 500 would be ready in early 2013, even though it was not a profitable car, but an image brand car. And that’s really what Fiat needs now in America. After the great success of the regular 500 and Abarth, they must keep working on brand awareness to get more and more clients. The best way is with new presentations or special editions. In Los Angeles it is expected the presentation of the Fiat 500C Abarth and this electric version. They will be in charge of increasing the 500 family while the 500L arrives next year.

Photo by Auto Edizione

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Long-term test. Abarth 500 impresses

Photo by Autoblog Español

As a constant reader of Autoblog Español, I must reproduce a brief of what has been their long-term test with an Abarth 500. The guys from that blog have always done a great job when it is about telling auto news or, in this case, making an extreme test of a car. Yesterday they released what seems to be final results of 90.000 km with the powerful 500, which took them more than 2 years. One of their main goals, as they say, was to clarify how right or not were the rumors about reliability of Italian cars. As it is well-known Fiat Group cars, except for Ferrari and Maserati, suffer from a serious illness: the lack of trust by most European consumers. For some problems in the past related to quality, most of Italian cars are still fighting against that common idea that most of them have problems and are not reliable. But according to the guys from Autoblog it is more a myth than a reality, just as it is considered in the UK, where the Abarth 500 is among the best rated cars in terms of depreciation.

Photo by Autoblog Español

First of all, they fell in love with this car from the beginning, no matter it was neither the fastest nor the cheapest. However “it has a character and personality, and above all, you can fall in love with the way it moves and sounds“. Its fuel consumption average is about 7.8 liters/100 km, which means that is “a car with low fuel consumption taking into account how fast it goes on the road, and allow us to have fun without burning money“. In terms of quality, they are just impressed with the “phenomenal” way it ages. After 90.000 km there is not even one single weird noise of the materials in the dashboard. There was only one tiny sound in the sunroof which stopped after a quick maintenance. All plastic and leather components are extremely well-preserved and they seem to be less old. Only outside, due to some scratch and inside, the gear box, the car demonstrates it has been driven for almost 100.000 km. They did also have tiny problems with one of the headlights which stopped working only after some hours of use. According to Autoblog guys, the major problem they had, was when the starting system broke just before 50.000 km: “after being replaced by warranty, we can’t complain anymore about the mechanics of the car, which we consider more than reliable. From all cars we’ve tested so far, this is the one with less quantity of problems, and that’s a good thing for the small Italian produced in Tychy… Italian reliability topic has shown that, at least with this car, is just undeserved fame“. They recommend it for those who love the 500 and looking for a small and fun-to-drive car, which is unbeatable when it is about the perfect combination of fun-design-passion.

Interior for the unit tested. Photo by Autoblog Español

“The Abarth 500 is one of the few cars I don’t get bored with” says Guillermo Alfonsin, one Autoblog writers. Its engine with its 135 hp “has made me smiled”. Compared to high performance cars or more complete ones “I just took 5 minutes to want it. And every time I parked it in the garage, I could not resist to look back to see its shape of ‘sporty shoe’ that I have always loved“.

Engine for the unit tested. Photo by Autoblog Español

The unit tested was an Abarth 500 1.4 135 hp, 5-Speed manual. Taken from Autoblog Español, Prueba de larga duración: 90.000 km con el Abarth 500

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Fiat in trouble. VW Up! hits the market

Fiat is in trouble, big trouble. It is not only a matter of its home market, Italy, or the delay in plans for new products. The problems with its factories and Fabbrica Italia are just some more to the latest one. What used to be the main strength of the group is now being hit hard by Europe’s largest car maker. VW is having great results with its trio Up!/Mii/Citigo and it means that Fiat is feeling the success of the Slovaks with less sales figures for its couple 500/Panda. Last month is the best example as sales figures for the Italian couple drop while the VW trio seems not to feel the crisis. As I have done it during the last months, the analysis takes into account the sales figures for Fiat 500 and Panda vs. the trio together, Up!, Mii and Citigo, as they are the same car. The analysis includes the countries where there is data available every month: the largest markets, Germany, France, Italy and Spain (except the UK) plus Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Romania and Greece. 16 countries that can tell a lot about sales trend of these small cars. Due to lack of data important markets as the UK, Belgium and Portugal are out of the monthly analysis. Nevertheless even though the UK is not included (is the second largest market for the 500 in Europe), the results for August indicate that Fiat should be worrying a lot.

Though Fiat invested 800 million euros in the plant of Pomigliano for the production of the new Panda, the small car continues to lead the ‘A-Segment’ but far away from initial forecast. Photo by: Automobilismo.it

In August 2012 the trio sold 12.041 cars*, which means more than double of Fiat 500’s registrations and almost 4.000 units above the Fiat Panda, the historical leader. This trend was evident in July when the Up!/Mii/Citigo was just 51 units behind the Panda. But last month sales figures dropped for the Italian couple while the Slovak trio did not experience it that way. Compared to July figures, the 500 was the most affected one, down a massive 40%. Then comes the Panda, down 37% and finally the trio from VW Group, down only 9%. The results are really bad for Fiat specially if it is considered the fact that both models represent more than half of the brand sales in Europe and now the Punto is becoming a rare model to see in the top best-selling cars outside Italy. It is also even more complicated taking into account that the Panda is an all new model with no more than 10 months old, and the investment required for it was around 800 million euros. At this point is when Marchionne says that there is not enough market for new models, specially if that market is being conquered by VW in all segments. In the other hand there are some people who say that there is no such cataclysm and August bad results for the small couple are just punctual. Some how that position is right.

The new versions of the 500 may be helping but after 5 years in the market the small Fiat should be thinking of a successor

Last month’s results can be explained from several points of view. First of all August has been always a month of small numbers all over Europe as people go out for vacations. Second, European car market is certainly passing thru perhaps the most difficult times in decades. And third, Italian market is becoming one of the worst in terms of sales fall. Just in August the market was down 20%, which is the biggest fall among big European markets. For example, in August/11 almost 1.800 Fiat 500 were sold in Italy, and one year later 1.700 were sold (down only 4%) so at the end the bad result for the 500 could be explained as a ‘seasonable’ thing, more than really bad results. The same situation for the Panda and Italy: one year ago 4.532 units were sold against 5.011 last month. Of course, if those numbers are compared to July ones, the conclusion would be completely different. What happens in Italy every August does not happen that much in other European markets. Germany for example saw its total car sales to fall 5%, year-on-year, but at the end the total number is not far from previous months. So it is important to consider what happens in main markets for the models analyzed. As the 500 and specially the Panda depends a lot on Italian market, their total sales figures for Europe will be strongly affected by the Italian result. In the other hand the Up! depends a lot on German market (42%) but that market does not collapse in August.

This figure shows the main 3 markets for each model. The left number indicates the market share of that market on model’s total sales. The right number indicates the market share of the model in that market. It means Italy represents 31% of Fiat 500 sales in Europe, while that model has 3% of Italian market sales. Fiat Panda sales figures include the second generation numbers. VW Up! sales figures include Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii numbers. Source: bestsellingcarsblog.net

But if Italy and Germany are not considered, certainly VW is winning the match. The trio sold more than 2.000 units in small markets as Denmark or Netherlands, while they sold some more in France, Romania, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. Fiat did well in Germany and the Netherlands with the 500, while the Panda did not do bad in Austria and Denmark. French sales figures for the Italian couple are really bad and it contributes to less numbers, as traditionally France has been an important market for both models. The good markets for ‘A-segment’ cars are now being conquered by VW. It means Denmark and the Netherlands, where this kind of cars is very popular (because of high taxes to all cars). Other important markets (in terms of units sold and not in terms of  ‘A-Segment’  market share) such as Spain and France, Fiat still dominates the battle. Year-to-date numbers show that the Slovak trio surpasses for the very first time the Fiat 500 with 2.300 units. If the three models were considered as a unique model, the 500 would not be anymore the second best-selling ‘A-segment’ car in Europe. The Panda is still the best-selling small car but initial forecast and the capacity of Pomigliano plant are far away from current results.

Source: bestsellingcarsblog.net

*Not included Mii and Citigo Italian sales numbers

 

 

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! September 2012

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! July 2012

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VW Up! threatens Fiat Panda’s leadership

If June was a bad month for the couple Fiat Panda-500, July was even worse. If it is considered sales figures of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland, during las month 13.272 Pandas were sold, just 51 units above the sum of Up!, Citigo and Mii. It is the first time the German trio reaches that great result and now it is not only more popular than Fiat 500 but it seems it will beat Fiat Panda and maybe dethrone it in the next months. It is important to mention that in this monthly analysis it is being considered 3 models with 3 and 5 door versions for the VW/Skoda/Seat against one single model of Fiat 500 with only 3 doors option and the two latest generations of Fiat Panda, only available with 5 door body.  Anyway, the Panda has been always Europe’s best selling A-Segment car but it has had a tough time not only in its native Italy, where it dropped 17.5% compared to June figures, but also in all other countries except for Romania and Slovakia. The small Fiat fell 25% compared to June figures, much more than Fiat 500, down 16%, while the Germans are up 7%. The 500 is down everywhere in Europe except for Austria, up 17%, Denmark, up 3%, and Poland, up 68%.

In July the Up!/Citigo/Mii are more popular in Austria, Czech Rep., Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. They had a record sales in Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland. The situation for Fiat is really bad as two important things must be analyzed: first of all, it was July, a historical bad month for car sales everywhere in Europe, and Fiat models dropped but the VWs were up. And the second one is that the product with the deepest fall was the Panda, an all-new product on sale since January. Year-to-date records show that the Panda commands with a big difference but the 500 will be soon replaced as the second best selling A-Segment car by the German trio. If Italian car market continues to fall, while the Up! keeps rising in Germany, Fiat will not only lose and important market share in A-segment but will be in serious trouble in the next months. Of course the UK, not included due to lack of data, is an important market for the Fiat 500.

Green cells indicate growth compared to June figures. Red ones indicate fall. Source: http://www.bestsellingcarsblog.net

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! August 2012

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! June 2012

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More Fiat 500 for the USA

Fiat USA is doing really good and Marchionne wants more. The arrival of the 500 Abarth was the begining of great sales figures as American buyers love high performance cars and don’t really car about fuel consumption. Nevertheless the American offer was still small and there was a big hole between the regular Fiat 500 with 100 hp and the Abarth version with 160 hp. People love the second one but in some cases it can be really expensive. Fiat solved this problem and today they presented the Fiat 500 T. The car has Fiat logo and no Abarth one and is moved by 135 hp, just the same engine used for Abarth 500 basic version in Europe. The difference is that the American version uses MutiAir system. Though it does not have the Abarth logo it uses some exterior features like the Abarth, such as the bumpers. One more thing: it is the first model to use the Beats sound system just like the Fiat 500L. Pricing will start at $20.200 and will be available this fall.

Here it is the link of the presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEPqttdBkOw&feature=player_embedded#!

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Italy’s bad results affect Fiat 500-Panda in its battle against VW Up!

Once again the monthly report about the impact the small car of VW is having on Fiat 500 and Panda’s sales. In June things got worse for the Italian couple because of only one country: their native Italy. Compared to May figures, the 500 and Panda grew in most markets except for Italy, where both models falled 26% for the 500 and 15% for the Panda, against the VW Up! which was down 17% in that market. The stong fall in Italy made total European market figures to go down 5% and 4% for the 500 and Panda, while the VW was up 4%. Certainly without taking into account Italy, both Fiat would have had much better results, specially in Germany and France. The 3 models of VW, Up!, Citigo and Mii, got record sales numbers in Germany, which counts for 42% of its total sales. Meanwhile Italy represents 43% of Fiat 500 sales in Europe (the UK is not included) and a massive 63% of Panda figures. At the sixth month of the year, the VW beated the Fiat couple in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania and Sweden.

May and June 2012 sales figures for Fiat 500-Panda and VW Up, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii. Source: http://www.bestsellingcarsblog.net

For the first half of the year the situation is still good for the Italians as they combined sold 3.2 times more than the 3 VW. The Panda continues to be the best selling A-Segment car in Europe but it is really dependant on Italian market, something not good nowadays. The new generation is doing good but not as the second one, which was on sale during better times. The Fiat 500 is also doing good but the arrival of the VW trio will continue to impact its sales and maybe could lose its second place among A-segment cars in Europe. If the UK is included the results are better for Fiat, specially for the 500, which has been in the top 10 for 2 consecutive months and is 12th best selling car of that country. In that case the Panda would continue ruling with more than 102.000 units, followed by the 500 with almost 75.000 (23% of them sold in the UK), and then the german trio with more than 54.000 units. These results can be analyzed from several points of view. For example, the VW cars are completely new cars coming from Europe’s largest car maker and offering 3 and 5 doors. In the other hand the Fiat 500 is pretty old, with more than 5 years in the market and a bit more expensive. Anyway the couple from Fiat must work harder to keep their place in the ranking. VW will lead in Germany, Denmark, northern Europe, Austria and the Netherlands, but Fiat must keep its position in Italy, France, Spain and the UK.

Sales figures for Fiat 500, Fiat Panda and VW Up, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii for 2012 H1. Source: http://www.bestsellingcarsblog.net

 

 

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! July 2012

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! May 2012

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The VW Up! takes off and hits Fiat 500

After the first analysis made by FGW about the sales performance of the new Fiat Panda and VW Up! and the Fiat 500, it is time to see how were May figures to these 3 minicars. When VW Up! was finally available in the market there was a special attention on how the leader of the segment would respond and how consumers would change their mind and shift to Europe’s largest car maker. 5 months after official launch of the German minicar and third generation of Fiat Panda, things began to get complicated to Fiat. Or at least is what sales figures show. Because from what happened last month there can be several different analysis and approaches as the comparison is made among two different family cars: in one side there are the 3 VW, Up!, Citigo and Mii, all in 3 and 5 door versions. And in the other hand there are Fiat 500 (only 3 door) and Fiat Panda (only 5 door). But results can be seen also from the different moments they are living: the Germans and the Panda are enjoying their first months of commercial life, while the unique Fiat 500 will soon have its 5th birthday (July 4th) without any specific facelift or deep change. However here are the results.

Fiat Panda’s dashboard

VW Up! dashboard

The first thing that must be considered is that UK sales figures were not included in the analysis as there is only data for 10 best selling cars. The lack of UK results affects considerably Fiat 500 as it was the tenth best selling car in that country during May/12 with 2.823 units. So the countries to be analyzed were the same of April’s analysis: Austria, Czech Reublic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland, or in other words, those European markets with available data. In May/12 the trio Up!/Citigo/Mii sold more than Fiat 500! it is the first time the small VW have better results than the popular 500. The Germans sold 11.935 units, up 44%, against 10.818 Fiat 500, up 23%. Unlike what one would think, the difference is explained by what happened in smallest markets because both models sold pretty much the same in their native countries: 6.000 units in Germany and in Italy, and vice versa, 1.224 units of VW sold in Italy and 1.572 of 500 sold in Germany. In France they both sold more or less the same, around 1.050 units. But the big differences come from Netherlands and Denmark where the VW Up! has become really popular. In the rest of small markets people are shifting from Fiat to VW. But the analysis must be also done taking into account Fiat Panda figures.

The Fiat 500 has to compete with not only one member of VW family but 3: the VW Up! 3d, Seat Mii 3d, and Skoda Citigo 3d

The third generation is doing quite well in Europe. Although it has not reached yet its predecessor sales numbers, the small Fiat continues to increase the number of units delivered. In May 18.546 Pandas were sold in these countries, up 11%, less than its brother and Germans competitors, but is still the absolute leader of the segment (it was Europe’s 9th best selling car). Of course it depends a lot on Italian market, where it sold 69% of the total, but the new car had interesting numbers in the Netherlands (beating the German trio), and Germany. Anyway in Panda’s figures there are included both, the previous and new generation. It had some problems in Austria, Denmark and Spain, but its registrations in Italy rised 19% compared to April figures. Both Fiat results indicate that the brand is still the leader of the segment as they sold 2.5 more times than the 3 VW. And that’s the point to be considered. It is true the Germans passed Fiat 500 sales by more than 1000 units, but it is also true that in that comparison there are included 3 ‘different’ models (Up!, Citigo and Mii) against just one, the Fiat 500. It is also true that though the German trio sold more than Fiat 500, in the first case there are included two body types, the 3 and 5 door versions, while the Fiat 500 is only available in 3 door version. At the same time the comparison does not take into account that Germans are in their first months of commercial life, while the 500 is on its 5th year. And in the case of the Panda, the same problem of body type could apply. It is also relevant that Italy represents a big part of Europe’s A-segment car sales, and it is now facing really tough times.  In terms of costs is very important to mention that the 500 and Up!/Mii/Citigo are all made in low labor costs countries (Poland and Slovakia) while the latest Panda is made in Italy, where labor cost is higher. And finally one important thing to consider is that Fiat may be the leader of A-Segment but is now competing with the big power and excellent marketing of Europe’s largest car maker.

Fiat Panda offers much more habitability than its German competitors as it is conceived as a small utility vehicle and not as a regular A-segment car.

Year-to-date results show that Fiat Panda reigns and accumulates sales equivalent to the sum of Fiat 500 and VW Up!, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii. The German trio is still behind Fiat 500 by 11.000 units as it had a very bad begining. But things seem to change and they finally begin to be a threat to Fiat 500 leadership, unlike what happened during April 2012. The VWs reigns in Germany but with very far sales numbers from what is seen in Italy with Panda. And also in the land of Skoda Citigo, Czech Republic; in Denmark where the VW Up! could become the country’s best selling car. Also in Slovenia, Slovakia (the country where they are produced) and Sweden. On the other hand both Italians are extremely popular in Italy, France, and somehow in Germany and the Netherlands. No matter what the reason is for this change in A-segment market, it is clear that Fiat must do something to maintain the sales of its beauty 500 or maybe accelerate a big facelift, well they can not loose market share in the only segment where they feel secure.

Sales figures for Fiat 500 and Panda, and VW Up!, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii. Source: bestsellingcarsblog.net

 

 

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! June 2012

Click here to see Fiat Panda/500 vs. VW Up! April 2012

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New versions for Ram, 500, Bravo, Linea and Giulietta

Ram 1500 Laramie Limited. Photo by netcarshow.com

The ending week brings a lot of news related to the coming versions of Ram pickup, Fiat 500 and Bravo, and the first restyling of Fiat Linea. The offer of the bick truck from Ram will add a luxury version called Laramie Limited, featured with heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, to replace the Laramie Longhorn version. It will be Ram’s most expensive pickup and is part of the strategy of the brand to cover a the fast growing segment of luxury trucks. Chrysler has seen an opportunity among those clients that are not cowboys but want a big truck to use in the city.  In fact this kind of pickups are allowing Ram to rise the average price of its products. Last year, 13% of light -duty Ram pickups were sold for at least $40.000 (+9% compared to 2010), and among heavy-duty one, those pickups with prices above $50.000 represented 29% of total sales (+22%). In other words a new subsegment has born and Ram is ready to cover it. For the coming months, though, they should develop an exclusive model (not only an update of current model) in order to address more directly this kind of client. Last year, Ram sold around 315.000 units, 78% of them in the US, up 23% on 2010 figures,  double of growth that had its eternal rivals, Ford F-150 (+11%) and Chevrolet Silverado (+12%).

Fiat 500 Street MY 2013

Meanwhile in Italy Fiat has introduced the 500 Model Year 2013. Available in both body types, 3 door hatchback and cabrio, the car is now offered with 6 new colours and 2 new versions. The MY 2013 introduces the blue “Dipinto di blu”, the purple “Dolce”, gray “Colosseo”, red “Diva”, yellow “Sole” and Beige “Cappuccino”. They will be also available with 2 more interior options: Cioccolato/Avorio (Chocolate/Ivory) and Gray/Black. Lounge version is now possible to have with 14 axes rim of 15″. In terms of accessories, there are 2 more versions: the Street (Black Matt color, 16″ rims, spoiler, new seats, crome gearbox) starting at €13.750 for the 1.2. The other version is called Color Therapy, that according to Fiat, it develops the pop and coloured soul of the 500 through colours that had made this model so famous. MY 2013 does not mean any change in design, as Fiat is waiting for the first real facelift in the coming months in order to enhance in a better way the new rivals.

Fiat Bravo Sporting for Brazilian market

After some weeks of the presentation of Fiat Bravo MY 2013 for Brazilian market, they have showed the Sporting version. From next week Brazilians will be able to buy the Bravo with 17″ rims with new sporty touch outside and inside. It adds a red frame in the grill, a spoiler and a suspension 25mm lower than its ‘common’ brothers. Sky Dome roof is standard. Will be available with both gearbox, manual or Dualogic starting at R$58.140 (€23.000). Is then more expensive than Essence version R$53.140 (€21.000) and cheaper than Absolute (€24.600) and T-Jet versions (€26.200). The engine is 1.8 E-torQ and is only available with 4 different colors: yellow, white, red and green. Fiat , which is Brazil’s best selling carmaker, is trying to recover its market share in C-segment due to the fall of sales of its Bravo and Linea. During the first 5 months of 2012 they have sold 3.478 Bravos and 3.419 Lineas, far away from the leader of the segment, Toyota Corolla with 20.681 units sold so far.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sportiva

Alfa Romeo wants to keep the good results of its C-segment Giulietta. In April and May it was Italy’s best selling car in its segment surpassing VW Golf. After the arrival of entry level version of 1.4 T with 105 HP, now is turn for a more sporty version. The Supersportiva will arrive soon offering an interesting sporty package with 1.4 MultiAir 170 HP , 2.0 JTDM 140 HP or 2.0 JTDM 170 HP. It comes with 18″ rims (the same of QV version) with Brembo brakes, darken stop lights, matt external mirrors; sporty pedals, leather seats with red stitching, among others. A good way to keep shaking the market in a moment when all segment sales are droping. This year is expected to be really hard for Alfa Romeo’s sales figures as they just count on 2 models and Giulietta one is now having problems outside Europe with the arrival of new competitors. In Italy this car should take the comand of C-Segment sales, thanks to a wider range of versions and GPL options, now more appreciated by Italians. YTD sales figures indicate the Giulietta is just 2.951 units behind the Golf, but it seems this gap will reduce as the Giulietta was in May, for second month in a row, the best selling compact in Italy.

Fiat Linea 2013

Finally from Turkey arrives the last news. The Linea, Turkey’s  best selling car, has received its first facelift since it was introduced in 2007. The make up affects the outside and inside design and allows it to look much better and elegant. Now it comes with a rear spoiler and inside there is a new design for the steering wheel and redesigned instrument panel, and a new dashboard. Engines don’t change: 1.4 Fire with 77HP, 1.3 MultiJet 95 HP and 1.6 MultiJet 105 HP. Inside the whole dashboard and panel were changed and took from the Punto Evo but adding better looking materials. Fiat produces the Linea along with local producer, Tofas, and this year it has become country’s best selling cars beating its rivals from Renault, the Thalia and Fluence. Jan-Apr sales figures indicate that 8.710 units of this sedan (C-segment in Turkey) were delivered, up 13% in a whole market that drops 19%. Eventhough the good result, it is practically the unique successful model of the company as the Albea sedan (B-segment) is getting really old and its sales falling dramatically. Turkey is an important market that is expected to grow to interesting levels in the next years.

Fiat Linea interior

Source: Automotive News, FGA, Auto Esporte

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Fiat/Abarth 500 continues to impress British market

Once again, second month in a row, the successful Fiat 500 continues to hit British. In May 2012 it was again among 10 best selling cars in that important market. Last month 2.823 units were delivered to clients making of it the 10th best selling car and number 1 among small cars. The good sales performance is even more impressive if is taken into account that the UK is the land of Mini, the eternal archenemy of the small Italian (though they don’t belong to the same segment). Year to date results indicate the 500 has reached 14.113 units sold, compared to 25.607 units it sold for the whole 2011. The good results of it can be explained by several and continous promotions made by Fiat that include very interesting financial plans, and also by the good reputation the model has in the UK.

Fiat 500 and 500C Financial payment offers for the UK, June 2012. Source: http://www.fiat.co.uk

 

Fiat 500 and 500C financial offers June 2012 with Fiat Advance Payment Plan. Source: http://www.fiat.co.uk

In fact one of the success key factors that allows the good sales figures is the depreciation index of the car. Some days ago CAP, British market leading provider of vehicle valuation data, published the list of best and worst depreciated cars in that country. The study includes only three-year-old cars with more than 48.000 km and Abarth 500 and Fiat 500C occupied very important places. The first one retains an average value (after 3 years/48.000 km of use) of 60% of its initial value, while the cabrio version costs 58.4% of what it used to cost 3 years before. These results allowed them to occupy number 3 and 4 places among the best depreciated cars in Britain, after the Audi Q5 and Skoda Yeti. It is certainly an excellent result that tells about the good image the car continues to have after 5 years of its launch. In the other hand another member of the family, Fiat Bravo, appears in the bottom of the list, keeping just 34.4% of its original value. Something to think about.

CAP’s April 2012 Depreciation Survey in the UK. Source: Auto Express