Most liked posts in thread: Fiat 500, no threat at all

Fiat future products: Look for more 500s - AutoWeek

 

Aren't they all imported???

The Abarth gets an imported version of the 1.4-liter engine

 

Sort of like a countryguyman.....

 

Chrysler 'probably' won't reach Fiat 500 sales goal this year

Chrysler Group LLC "probably" won't hit its target to sell 50,000 of the new Fiat 500 in North America this year after it took longer to open new stores than previously expected, an executive said.

The company is intensifying 500 marketing efforts, including a planned promotion in Times Square in New York, Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand under Chrysler, said in an interview. About 100 Fiat stores have opened in the U.S., including about 30 in July. The goal is to have 130 by year-end.

"We have coverage now, so now is the time for us to turn this up," she said. "We've activated the smaller guerrilla- type marketing, but then these are the bigger events that are going to get us bigger awareness."

The marketing push and added outlets should increase Fiat 500 U.S. sales at least 30 percent in August over July, Soave said Thursday in an interview at Chrysler's U.S. headquarters. Chrysler reported U.S. 500 sales of 3,038 in July, with a total of 7,982 for the year so far.

Another 3,064 Fiats have sold in Canada this year through July. Chrysler is responsible for reintroducing the Fiat brand in the U.S. after an absence of almost 30 years. The U.S. automaker in March began selling the 500, with its clam-shaped hood that evokes the model's original design, at a starting price of $15,500 against Daimler AG's Smart and BMW AG's Mini small cars.

Marketing expands

A national 500 marketing campaign began in early July with advertising that included spots on the Internet and in movie theaters. Earlier this month, television commercials began airing that show a young couple going to a drive-in movie in a Fiat 500.

This weekend, Soave will begin in Manhattan a series of marketing events. The company will park 36 of the cars in Times Square for guests to watch movies on the jumbotron, she said. "This is going to be our biggest signature event," she said.

Soave plans similar promotions in Chicago, Miami and Santa Monica, Calif.

On a smaller scale, Fiat has been sending 15 teams with 500s to drive and park around major U.S. markets, such as Los Angeles, to attract attention, showing off a new iPad application and handing out brochures. Chrysler also began in July offering financing as low as 1.9 percent for 36 months on the hatchback.

CEO Sergio Marchionne, who heads both Fiat and Chrysler, wants to merge the carmakers to reduce costs and generate more than 100 billion euros ($142 billion) in revenue by 2014. Fiat gained control of Chrysler through the U.S. automaker's 2009 bankruptcy restructuring. Fiat last month increased its ownership stake to 53.5 percent on a fully diluted basis.

Dealer delays

Instead of using Chrysler's existing franchise stores, the automaker picked 130 dealers to open new U.S. Fiat showrooms. Chrysler had wanted those showrooms to open by February for a March marketing push. Only about a dozen were up and running by late February because it was taking franchise holders longer to get government permit approvals for their projects, Soave has said.

"We lost the whole first quarter," Soave said. If the store openings had occurred as planned, the sales target would've been achieved, she said. Now, that will "probably not" occur this year, she said.

Fiat is working on two more TV commercials to begin running in September along with plans to keep the Fiat marketing push going long-term to build the brand, Soave said.

Source - http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110812/RETAIL03/308129853/1493#ixzz1Uqlca1IA

 

I still think this is good and won't hurt MINI at all.

Jim

 

They are being hurt by the lack of forced induction engines. It is as simple as that. opcorn:

 

And now you too MM.

Et tu, Brute. :frown5:

Jim

 

Ya know..if only the 500 had a Supercharger...

 

Jim your troubles are over. Now you too can be a supercharged overlord.... :cornut:

HIGH QUALITY ELECTRIC SUPERCHARGER TURBO HP+ AIR FILTER | eBay

 

Now this is more like it.....
This ain't no Jlo....... Nice tattoo too....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpi2IAec9Ho]FIAT 500 Abarth -- Seduction - YouTube[/ame]

 

Wow, now they are starting to play for real. Reminds me of the Coupe twins commercial. Nice job.

Jim

 

I think I will be using hand sanitizer after touching one of those Abarth's.... :smilewinkgrin:

 

I agree

 

what tattoo?

 

That was a scorpion hickie....

 

I liked the "Gotcha Moment" when she caught him eyeing her.....

 

Fiat USA has half-year supply of 500 models, 29 of 130 dealers didn't sell one last month

 

Chrysler names Tim Kuniskis head of Fiat for N.A., replacing Laura Soave

Chrysler Group today named Timothy Kuniskis head of Fiat brand for North America, replacing Laura Soave, who "has left the company and will pursue other interests."

Kuniskis, 44, most recently served as director of marketing for the Chrysler and Fiat brands. The change is effective immediately, Chrysler said in a statement.

Soave, 39, who supervised Chrysler's efforts to reintroduce the Fiat brand in North America after a 17-year absence, attended the rollout last week of the Fiat 500 Abarth at the Los Angeles auto show, but did not participate in the press conference, raising further questions about her tenure.

She joined Chrysler in March 2010 after she had previously worked in marketing for both Ford and VW. Fiat's only North American vehicle, the subcompact 500, has suffered from lagging sales in part because of slow development of its U.S. dealer network.

 

Well this sure is going to be the "Acid Test" to see if Fiat has the cojones to stick with the North American market.....

The boat is in the middle of the river, which way do we go????