In the first 6 months of 2023, Fiat Sold a total of 280 cars. There are currently 357 Fiat dealerships in the US.
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/fiat-us-sales-figures https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/Fiat-USA/
In the first 6 months of 2023, Fiat Sold a total of 280 cars. There are currently 357 Fiat dealerships in the US.
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/fiat-us-sales-figures https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/Fiat-USA/
It’s a car that really only works in very specific places in the country, and you won’t sell the fucking cool one lol. Still want an abarth.
It’s a pretty good little car… But the automatic is better for the US to be honest. 5th gear is just too short to be ideal for US highways.
An unfortunate reality, I love my Abarth but if I have to go more than, say, 50-60 miles at once I really long for a 6th gear.
I’d even take a weird 5th gear that’s “too tall” relative to the other 4 as around town I’m rarely higher than 3rd or 4th
European highway speed limits are higher than America’s
Our highways in Portugal have a 120km/h limit (~75mph). There are a ton of states with an 80mph limit, similar to some other European countries, like in France I think they have some places at 130km/h
A 1.4L engine is downright dangerous merging onto American highways
It’s a turbo 1.4
It’s not fast, but it’s definitely sufficient.
I live in a country (Brazil) where Fiat is the company that sells the most cars. The issue of reliability is known among mechanics: it doesn’t tend to break very often, but if it does, it’s very cheap and quick to fix. They have a very general model line, with city cars, subcompacts, hatchbacks and medium sedans, ute pickups, trucks, crossover SUVs or classic SUVs and minivans. They just don’t sell wagons and they all use the same mechanics, at most resized to increase displacement or adapt the gearbox. The discounts they make for legal entities, fleet owners and the weekly stock burns for individuals are absurd. They are the cheapest models in all categories.
A common joke is that you can even find FIAT car parts in bakeries along with pasteurized milk and bread…
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Brazilian FIAT was a totally different animal from European FIAT. A quick look on the Brazilian FIAT website and the Italian one says that their lineups have very little in common. Probably simpler vehicles with older powertrains that have been around long enough that most of the flaws had been ironed out.
I looked up the European FIAT model range and saw that there aren’t many differences in the trims or anything like that. All FIAT models in South America are creations with their own design, engineering and production. Since the 1970s, the range has even had exclusive engines and platforms, such as the Fiasa engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Occasionally, they even call in Alfa Romeo designers, as in the Fiat Cronos sedan and the Fiat Argo hatchback.
What makes me love FIAT is its avant-garde spirit. They were the only automaker to have the audacity to put a high-power five-cylinder turbocharged engine in a family sedan (Fiat Tempra) or wagon (Fiat Marea). The engine in question was a Pratola Serra of Alfa Romeo origin with the most beautiful sound ever seen here. It sounds like an orchestra.
They were the first to bring cars with turbochargers, electronic injection, four-wheel drive, a locking differential, some comfort items and they usually brought Alfa Romeo models with changed emblems. They have an extra refinement and charm.
We have the Fiat Tipo SW in Portugal, caro irmão!
If they made the 5-Speed Abarth 500 with Honda reliability, I would have happily bought one. Drives, looks, and sounds fantastic.
ABARTH MENTIONED 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂
Here for the abarth thread lol. I was baffled when the 124 was canceled. I saw them around at a reasonable ratio to other small sports cars and think there is now a gaping hole in the market below boxster cayman.