Subtle Upgrades for the 2010 Model Year Fiat Panda Mini

Well, can't say that we blame you as we ourselves had to thoroughly check out the press release to discover the changes. On the outside, all 2010 model year Pandas adopt the more contemporary body colored grille found on the 4x2 and 4x4 Dynamic variants, new alloy wheel options, larger exterior mirrors and silver trim finish for the roof bars. Fiat has also added four new exterior colors to the lineup.

Inside, the instrument panel gets fresh graphics while there's also a new selection of upholstery colors.

Mechanical improvements are limited to the introduction of a new 69 horsepower 1.2-liter gasoline engine that emits 113g/km of CO2. In Europe, Panda buyers have a wide choice of gasoline, diesel, natural gas and LPG engines with outputs ranging from 54 to 100 horsepower.

The Panda, which formed the base for the new Fiat 500 and Ford Ka models, was launched in September 2003. In the six years it has been in production, Fiat has sold more than 1.5 million units of the mini hatchback.

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2009 Frankfurt Show with Hamann Presents Insane Fiat 500 Largo 265HP

The Fiat 500 Abarth has certainly caught the attention of the tuning world in Europe. Making its world premiere at the '09 IAA in Frankfurt, the Hamann Largo is one of the most impressive tuning proposals for the Fiat 500 Abarth yet, putting to shame the official 180HP+ Ferrari-badged Abarth 695 special with its heavily modified 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that makes a jaw-dropping 265 horsepower at 5,630 rpm and 348Nm pr 257 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Pretty impressive if you consider that the base model makes a mere 135HP and 206Nm.

Hamann has yet to disclose performance figures, but we reckon that 265 ponies in a car the size and weight of the Fiat 500 should a spectacle worth seeing - don't know about driving though...

A sport exhaust system that includes an end muffler with four pipes, a pre-muffler with a metal catalyser and a sport manifold along with a high-performance brake system with internally ventilated brake discs and 4-piston callipers up front and optional 257mm discs at the rear, as well as a sport suspension that lowers the car's centre of gravity by up to 60 mm complete the list of performance mods.

True to Hamann's nature, the Largo features an aggressively styled bodykit with new fender extensions that broaden the car body by 30mm at the front and 35mm at the back, beefy side skirts, front and rear aprons and a diffuser at the back.

The Largo rides on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance sport tires measuring 215/35 ZR18 or optionally, 225/35 ZR18.

As for the interior, changes include but are not limited to, an aluminium pedal set, a door mat set and embroidered logos. Pricing and more details are to be announced at a later date.

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Chrysler to use Fiat engines, ends GEMA alliance

The GEMA alliance has ended this month. GEMA stands for Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, and was a joint venture between Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Hyundai-Kia to develop a family of 4-cylinder engines.

There are currently three different sizes available – 1.8 liter, 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter. In Malaysia, there are a few cars that use engines derived from the GEMA project – the 2.0 liter motors in the Lancer and Lancer Evolution X, and the 2.0 liter motors in the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima and Naza Rondo.

Chrysler says it intends to replace its GEMA engines with new small engine technology it will gain access to from its new Italian partner Fiat. But interestingly, despite Chrysler stating an intention to replace its GEMA products with Fiat products, Chrysler is the one who has ended up with full ownership of the GEMA plant. Mitsubishi and Hyundai have just sold their stakes to Chrysler. It is likely that the plant will be converted to a plant making Fiat engines in the future.

Technology bought to GEMA by an individual company will remain the intellectual property of that company, so Hyundai and Mitsubishi will likely be able to continue using their Theta/Theta II and 4B series of engines respectively.

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Fiat Unleashes 500-Based Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari: Limited Edition Sport Model with Over 180HP

The same Italian supercar maker that's so protective about its name that went as far as to threaten to take legal actions against a Brit that created a 360 Modena limo unless he removed all Prancing Horse emblems, has now given its blessings for the creation of a special edition version of the Fiat 500 Abarth... And unlike last year's special Fiat 500 that is only used as a courtesy car for the Ferrari sales network, the performance-orientated Abarth 695 'Tributo Ferrari' will go on sale.

Fiat said that the new Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" is distinguished by "substantial modifications" developed by Abarth and Ferrari engineers. Starting with the powertrain, the special edition model is fitted with a 1.4-liter turbocharged T-Jet 16v engine tuned to develop "over 180 horsepower".

The four-cylinder unit is coupled to an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) electromechanical gearbox with race-inspired paddle gearshift that drives the front-wheels.

The hot hatch also gets performance tires that are fitted on 17-inch alloy wheels in a dark finish featuring a Ferrari inspired design. Other upgrades include the more powerful braking system that boasts 284mm multi-section discs Brembo with four-piston calipers and a sportier suspension set up with new shock absorbers.

A "Record Monza" variable back-pressure dual mode exhaust that is designed to improve engine performance and deliver a more sonorous note over 3,000 rpm completes the performance upgrades.

On the outside, the mini is finished in Scuderia Red, with carbon fibre door mirrors and racing stripes, wheels and rear air intakes in 'Racing Grey'. The new Abarth also gets Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions.

Inside, special features include the Sabelt bucket sport seats that weight 10 kg or 22 lbs a piece less than the standard seats and are finished in black leather with a shell and seat base in carbon fibre; the black leather steering wheel with red leather inserts and a tricolour hub as well as the new instrument panel specially made by Jaeger and inspired by Ferrari instrumentation.

Other details include the special kick plates, aluminum foot wells and a plate bearing the vehicle series number.

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Fiat Unleashes 500-Based Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari: Limited Edition Sport Model with Over 180HP

The same Italian supercar maker that's so protective about its name that went as far as to threaten to take legal actions against a Brit that created a 360 Modena limo unless he removed all Prancing Horse emblems, has now given its blessings for the creation of a special edition version of the Fiat 500 Abarth... And unlike last year's special Fiat 500 that is only used as a courtesy car for the Ferrari sales network, the performance-orientated Abarth 695 'Tributo Ferrari' will go on sale.

Fiat said that the new Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" is distinguished by "substantial modifications" developed by Abarth and Ferrari engineers. Starting with the powertrain, the special edition model is fitted with a 1.4-liter turbocharged T-Jet 16v engine tuned to develop "over 180 horsepower".

The four-cylinder unit is coupled to an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) electromechanical gearbox with race-inspired paddle gearshift that drives the front-wheels.

The hot hatch also gets performance tires that are fitted on 17-inch alloy wheels in a dark finish featuring a Ferrari inspired design. Other upgrades include the more powerful braking system that boasts 284mm multi-section discs Brembo with four-piston calipers and a sportier suspension set up with new shock absorbers.

A "Record Monza" variable back-pressure dual mode exhaust that is designed to improve engine performance and deliver a more sonorous note over 3,000 rpm completes the performance upgrades.

On the outside, the mini is finished in Scuderia Red, with carbon fibre door mirrors and racing stripes, wheels and rear air intakes in 'Racing Grey'. The new Abarth also gets Xenon headlights with dipped and main beam functions.

We don't have any photos of the car's interior but Abarth says that special features include the Sabelt bucket sport seats that weight 10 kg or 22 lbs a piece less than the standard seats and are finished in black leather with a shell and seat base in carbon fibre; the black leather steering wheel with red leather inserts and a tricolour hub as well as the new instrument panel specially made by Jaeger and inspired by Ferrari instrumentation.

Other details include the special kick plates, aluminum foot wells and a plate bearing the vehicle series number.

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Fiat Punto Evo: Restyled Grande Punto Revealed Ahead of Frankfurt Show

As a world premiere, Fiat will be presenting the refreshed Grande Punto at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show before the supermini goes on sale across Europe in late October. Now named 'Punto Evo', the Italian automaker's proposal in the hot B-segment has been given a mild exterior restyling, a reworked interior and an updated engine range that includes a 1.4-liter Multiair gasoline and a second generation 1.3-liter Multijet diesel.

On the outside, Fiat's Centro Stile tweaked the Punto Evo with restyled headlamps and a new front bumper that now incorporates three grilles and a dark grey center section while at the back, there's a redesigned bumper and updated tail lights. Overall, we'd say that the styling changes make the Punto Evo look more fussy than it needs...

Fiat said that latest redesign has "stretched" the car to a total length of 406cm while the other external dimensions remaining the same, with a width of 169 cm, a height of 149 cm and a wheelbase of 251 cm.

Inside, the reworked cabin gains a newly styled dashboard with a more premium feel that's inspired by the larger Bravo and features deep-set gauges on the instrument panel, new audio and climate systems as well as circular side vents.

Moving on to the engine range, there's a new 1.4-liter gasoline unit featuring the company's MultiAir system which uses electrohydraulic valve management to reduce fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves without using the throttle.

Fiat did not release any performance figures but the automaker said that compared to a conventional petrol engine of the same size, the MultiAir unit develops up to 10% more power and 15% more torque while cutting fuel consumption and emissions by up to 10%.

There's also a second generation 1.3-liter Mulitjet diesel with a new common rail injector that offers an improvement of around 2% in consumption and CO2 emissions.

As a first, all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines in the range will be fitted with a Start&Stop system as standard.

Finally, all Punto Evos will get seven airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag, while there's also a new "Blue&Me–TomTom" infotainment system that manages telephone, navigation and information functions on a color touch-screen.

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German Tuner gives Fiat 500 Abarth a 200HP Shot of Adrenaline

Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge, the German tuning firm with the hard to pronounce name, has announced the launch of a sport package with both engine and chassis modifications for the Fiat 500 Abarth that is powered by a 135HP 1.4-liter turbo engibe. Customers can choose between two different engine upgrades. The first kit that costs €950, boosts power by 28HP and 45Nm for a total output of 163HP and peak torque of 251Nm (sport mode).

The second kit, which is priced at €5,050 and includes a remapped ECU, a sport exhaust system and a larger turbocharger, ads an extra 65HP pushing engine output to 200 horsepower - no torque figures were released for the phase two upgrade.

The tuning firm also developed a special coilover kit that drops the ride height by a few millimeters (€1,270). Visual upgrades include new racing stripes and 17-inch OZ alloy wheels finished in red (€1,090).

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