2014 Fiat 500l Trekking on 2040-cars

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Fiat retraces its roots with 1957 Edition 500

A car like the Fiat 500 is nothing if not retro, but the Italian automaker is making it all the more so with the 1957 Edition seen here.
Marking 57 years since the iconic Cinquecento launched in 1957, this new special-edition 500 upgrades on the model's Lounge trim level with such unique touches as throwback 16-inch wheels, vintage-style badges on the nose and tail, and an interior decked out in brown leather with ivory trim and gray door panels. It comes in either white, light green or the baby blue pictured here, the latter two colors distinguished by contrasting white mirrors and roof.
Power comes from Fiat's 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic, with a sport-tuned suspension and premium audio as standard. A limited quantity - Fiat has yet to say how many it'll build - will begin arriving at dealerships in the spring, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. In the meantime, you can check out the images above and the press release below.

Fiat and PSA predicted to be Europe's biggest losers in 2013

Industry observers are expecting Europe's new vehicle sales to fall to lows not seen in decades, with Fiat and PSA/Peugeot-Citroën sitting in the lead car of the plummeting coaster. Both of those automakers traditionally count on the southern part of the continent for sales, yet consumers in that region have slowed spending due to the financial crisis.
Compounding the problem for Fiat is a lack of new product, as CEO Sergio Marchionne has stalled development to conserve cash during the downturn. PSA has invested in new vehicles, but aggressive price wars have forced it to sell its product with steep discounts. Making matters even more difficult, both companies may have their credit ratings cut this year. That would raise borrowing costs and only deepen the wounds.
The news isn't just bad for Fiat and PSA. Analysts are predicting that volume automakers in Europe lost 8 billion euros (about $10.68 billion in today's rates) overall in 2012, and they won't break even until mid-decade.

Fiat Chrysler posts $690M Q1 loss

If there is one thing that should be remembered when looking at quarterly and annual earnings, it's that the headline numbers rarely tell the whole story when it comes to an automaker's health. Chrysler's first-quarter earnings are just such an example.
Yes, the Auburn Hills-based manufacturer lost $690 million, which is quite a large sum of money. The reasons for the loss, according to Chrysler, were "Unfavorable infrequent items," which includes a $504 million payment to rid itself of the debts it took on for prepaying the UAW's VEBA healthcare trust. Chrysler was also hit with a $672 million charge to the UAW, which was part of a deal that allowed Fiat to purchase the remaining shares of Chrysler owned by the VEBA.
Ignoring those one-time deals, the first quarter was quite a successful one for Chrysler. It would have made $486 million if you erased the merger costs, which would have been a year-over-year increase of $320 million. Even more promising is the fact that Chrysler snagged the largest increase in market share of any automaker during Q1 at 1.1 percent, bringing its overall share to 12.7 percent of the US market. Chrysler saw a 30-percent improvement in sales of trucks and SUVs, along with an 11-percent increase in year-over-year sales and a 23-percent increase in revenue, to $19 billion.