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17 Sep 2012

Fiat at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show

Fiat is at the Paris Motor Show 2012 in an attractive exhibition area which underlines the company's mission on the international marketplace: a global brand with the goal of supplying simple answers to complex needs, like the freedom of travelling in roomy, flexible, fun and accessibly priced cars that are also cost-effective to run on a daily basis and to manage for their entire life cycle. Fiat skilfully interprets the customers' increasing attention to environmental issues. The brand satisfies this social sensitivity by continuously seeking innovative solutions to cut pollution and CO2 emissions.

Fiat at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show

Fiat is at the Paris Motor Show 2012 in an attractive exhibition area which underlines the company's mission on the international marketplace: a global brand with the goal of supplying simple answers to complex needs, like the freedom of travelling in roomy, flexible, fun and accessibly priced cars that are also cost-effective to run on a daily basis and to manage for their entire life cycle. Fiat skilfully interprets the customers' increasing attention to environmental issues. The brand satisfies this social sensitivity by continuously seeking innovative solutions to cut pollution and CO2 emissions.

These needs are applied to geographic and cultural contexts which are only apparently different. Proof of this is the success of Fiat 500 in North America, where sales grew by 158% exceeding all last year's sales in the first six months only. Worth noting is the interest for the Abarth and Gucci versions. The anticipation for 500 Turbo introduced a month ago is running high.

From the USA to Brazil, where Fiat is experiencing its best year ever. In August over 100,000 cars and commercial vehicles were sold. The prospects for China, the world's first market, are good. Fiat Viaggio, a car designed specifically for the Chinese market and made in Changsha, is being launched now.

Consolidated successes and new objectives spur the Fiat team to press on with the same determination despite the difficult times being experienced across Europe by betting on the values of accessible, sustainable mobility which have always been in the brand's blood. While the European's propensity to spend is failing, Fiat has chosen to offer "meatier" solutions. In practice, this meant deciding to launch two entirely new models - Panda and 500L - made in two completely renovated factories in Europe - Pomigliano d'Arco (Naples) and Kragujevac (Serbia) during the past 12 months.

Dominated by bright colours and shapes and an attentive play of technological references, the Paris Motor Show stand is the ideal setting to get close and personal with major national previews and the consolidated models of the large Fiat range. The entire setup exudes the spirit of "Italian technology and design" that the creativity of the Fiat brand skilfully combines with joy and originality to create cars which are beautiful to admire, fun to drive and have plenty of room inside to share with whomever you want.

The Panda family will be the star here in Paris with three world previews - the 4x4, Trekking and Natural Power versions - destined to consolidate the model's leadership in the A segment in Europe. The range is now by far the largest, most versatile in its class: six engine versions, three drive versions, three transmissions, five trim levels, 12 colours and 13 interior environments make for over 850 possible combinations.

World preview: Panda 4x4, Panda Trekking and Panda Natural Power

The new Fiat Panda 4x4 - the only A segment four-wheel drive model - will be making its debut at the Paris Motor Show. The successor to a bestseller which first appeared almost 30 years ago, today's third-generation four-wheel drive Panda is a perfect interpretation of the spirit of the times, proving itself able to unite consolidated off-road capabilities with a refined design and compact, efficient architecture.

Panda 4x4 is the superlative expression of the model's great versatility, a genuine "Super Panda", ready to tackle mountain mule tracks and the urban jungle with the same cool. In addition to standard equipment able to satisfy the most demanding of customers, from a technical point of view, the new Panda 4x4 betters itself once more and reasserts its admirable capacity to compete with off-road cars of much greater dimensions (as well as much higher prices).

The Trekking and Natural Power versions will be debuting in Paris to further confirm that this is indeed the most extensive, versatile range in its class. The first is the link between the 4x2 and the 4x4 version combining off-road look with smart front-wheel drive and Traction+ technology. This is an innovative traction control system, which improves handling on slippery terrain guaranteeing excellent performance when setting off.

There is also the new Panda Natural Power equipped with a bi-fuel (methane and petrol) 80 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo engine to combine all the running cost and eco-friendly advantages of methane with Turbo TwinAir technology for excellent fuel consumption, emission and performance. Panda Natural Power delivers 14% more power, 34% more torque and -20% less CO2 (only 86 g/km) than the previous model.

New 500L presents three new models to the public

Spotlight on 500L, the perfect expression of Fiat's anti-crisis recipe, a car which raises the bar in the segment: an icon of style, compact on the outside and roomy within, remarkably versatile, cost-effective to run and competitively priced.

Three models equipped with three major innovations, which will be marketed in the forthcoming months, will be shown on the Paris catwalk. The public will admire the new premium Hi-Fi system developed with Beats Audio - for the first time ever in the Fiat Group - that exploits an advanced equalisation algorithm to create crystal-clear, high-definition sound. This is the same quality that the founders of Beats - rapper and record producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Records chairman and record producer Jimmy Lovine - demand in their recording studios. Another world premiere will be the brand new espresso coffee maker created in collaboration with Lavazza. Fiat 500L will be the first standard car to fit a genuine coffee maker working with Lavazza "A Modo Mio" capsules. Available from December 2012, this original optional feature will later be extended to other Fiat models. Finally, two exclusive "Living" leather upholstery variants with tones of grey/black and contrasting beige and dark grey accents will be available from the beginning of 2013.

500 Street and 500 by Gucci: sportiness and elegance interpreted by Fiat

The "defiant streak" of Fiat 500 - the new Street version - will be shown on the Paris catwalks and will be hitting European dealerships at the same time. With a tough look and complete standard equipment, the model on display fits a brilliant 1.4 16v 100 HP engine with a top speed of 182 km/h and 0-100 km/h in only 10.5 seconds.

From sportiness to glamour. The saloon and convertible versions of Fiat 500 by Gucci, expression of peerless Italian elegance, will be displayed at the stand. Marketed in over forty countries worldwide, including the Middle East, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, over 5000 units have been made since June 2011.

The three cars on show are the very best expression of the broadness of the 2013 range which sports six brand-new body colours, two trim levels (Street and Color Therapy) and other style details which accent the fun-loving, pop spirit of the iconic car of which more than 800,000 units have been sold across Europe since 2007. The success of Fiat 500 is that it makes life simpler and makes everything more colourful, sunny and fun: in brief, it is "Simply More!". The range today includes two versions (saloon and convertible), six trim levels (Pop, Pop Star, Color Therapy, Lounge, Street and "By Gucci") and five engine versions (1.2 69 HP, 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 85, 1.4 16v 100 HP, 1.2 69 HP EasyPower and 1.3 MultiJet 16v 95 HP).

Freemont: introducing the Park Avenue trim level and the 2.4 litre 170 HP petrol engine

Fiat will be introducing two important innovations to the Freemont range in Paris - the brand-new Park Avenue trim level and the new 2.4 litre petrol 170 HP engine - which reassert the great potentialities of a competitively priced model packed with equipment. These are the ingredients for success pushing the model to collect more than 39,000 orders in Europe. It ranks sixth in its class in EU27+Efta (YTD 07/2012) and is the seven-seater most sold in Italy. Available in winter, the Park Avenue trim level (FWD and AWD) is top of the range in terms of contents and style. The new 2.4 litre 170 HP petrol engine, combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, will complete the offering also in Europe where there is a market for this type of fuel.

Punto 2012: the certainty of a reliable, constantly renewed product

The Paris Motor Show will also be the opportunity to admire the Punto 2012, the evolution of the Fiat bestseller of which over 8.5 million units have been sold in Europe since 1993. Two versions - TwinAir 85 HP and Lounge 1.3 MultiJet 85 HP - will be on display representing the wide range with its many trim levels (from four to six, according to markets) and ten engine versions. Many optional packages for a very high level of customisation complete the offer.

Pack Nitro: today available also for Panda and Sedici

A Fiat Panda Trekking equipped with the new Nitro kit will be on display at the stand. After the success on Fiat Qubo Trekking in 2011, Fiat has decided to refresh the pack for Qubo and extend the availability of the Nitro kit - developed with the American leading snowboard maker - to Panda and Sedici. Available from October in markets across the Alps (France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany), the kit targets the most dynamic customers who want a car for enjoying all sorts of open-air sports with its 490 litre Freebox, its roof bars and its "Road Warriors" Nitro snowboard. All this and more, including style accents like body stickers and the handy backpack with cool "Nitro - Fiat Free Style Team" graphics.

FGA Capital

Brochures and material specifically designed for the stand will be introducing visitors to the products of FGA Capital, a joint venture of Fiat Group Automobiles and Crédit Agricole specialised in the automotive segment. The finance company is operative in all the major European markets, and in France with FC France, with a sole mission: to support the sales of all Fiat Group Automobiles brand vehicles by offering innovative financial products with high added value services targeted to the dealership network, private customers and companies.

Turin, 17th September 2012

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