2012 Fiat 500 Gucci Convertible on 2040-cars

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Likely Fiat 500X replacement caught in new spy photos

Fiat is testing a new baby crossover that will likely be the replacement for the 500X crossover. The 500X never set the American market on fire despite its attractive styling and nimble handling, sadly, and suffice it to say that Fiat noticed. It's likely we won't see whatever this is come stateside, at least not in the near-term. Fiat has made it clear that its future in America is limited to the electric 500e in all of its (yet to be enumerated) forms. Those who want a baby Fiat crossover will have to settle for Jeep's more rugged interpretation of the same platform, the Renegade, which seems to sell well enough to justify its continued existence even in Europe, where they've made an even smaller one they're calling "Avenger." As you can see above, this prototype screams "500X;" The ride height and proportions are dead-on. It's expected to be sold with both ICE and EV powertrains initially, but if previous Fiat efforts are any indication (the current 500X went into production in 2007; the 500x in 2014), it could very well remain in circulation long enough to still be on the market when Europe's mandate for 100% electric new-vehicle sales kicks in in 2035. That means we're likely to see the petroleum-based models phased out over the course of its lifespan.  It might seem premature to dismiss this new model as a Europe-only venture considering that the car it is expected to replace (500X) was itself branded as an offshoot of the 500. Could we not see a 500Xe? Well, that train goes off the rails in the face of information provided by our spy photographer, who says this is likely to be sold as a revival of the long-departed Fiat 600 nameplate, rather than the 500. A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but a model number starting with a "6" appears to be where Fiat has chosen to draw the line, at least for now.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

FCA: PSA deal terms still intact despite dividend cut report

MILAN - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) said the terms of its merger with France's PSA had not changed after an Italian newspaper report that it was looking to spin off assets to reduce a planned 5.5 billion euro ($6.2 billion) cash pay-out to its shareholders. FCA said on Friday that it was sticking to the deal agreed with PSA in December before the coronavirus crisis hit demand for cars. "The structure and terms of the merger are agreed and remain unchanged," a spokesman for the Italian-American automaker said. FCA and PSA plan to finalise their merger by the first quarter of next year. PSA declined to comment. Italian business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore said that FCA could conserve cash by reducing the special dividend, possibly by handing shareholders assets as compensation. Il Sole reported that talks were at a very early stage and no decision had been taken, adding the that aim was to keep the 5.5 billion euro value of the special dividend but to turn its "nature" from cash to assets. FCA, has just agreed a 6.3 billion euro state-backed loan to help its Italian unit and the whole country's automotive industry to weather the crisis. Although this does not bar FCA from paying the dividend, as it is not due until 2021 and would be paid by Dutch parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Italian politicians have called into question such a large cash pay-out. Options being considered include spinning off the Sevel van business, a 50-50 joint venture between the two groups, or FCA's Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands, Il Sole said. Sevel, which produces vans in Atessa's plant in central Italy, Europe's largest van assembly facility, could be valued between 2.5 and 3 billion euro, Il Sole said. Its spin-off to FCA shareholders could also help address European Union concerns about the merger's consequences on competition in the van segment. This option looks however complicated, Il Sole said, as it would require PSA transferring its 50% stake in Sevel to FCA. Another option is scrapping a planned spin-off of PSA's controlling stake in parts maker Faurecia, Il Sole said. A source close to the matter said that PSA could instead sell its Faurecia stake before the merger and keep the cash proceeds of the sale within the new merged company. ($1 = 0.8899 euros; additional reporting by Sarah White in Paris; editing by Alexander Smith)

Apple enthusiasts sleuth out some Project Titan details

With apologies to Tesla fans, there are, perhaps, no brand enthusiasts quite as enthusiastic as Apple enthusiasts. Every scrap of rumor, innuendo and speculation about the company and its endeavors gets thoroughly investigated, with the results promptly posted to the internet, frequently at the AppleInsider website. So, when news of the Cupertino corporation's Project Titan surfaced – deerstalkers were donned, secret sources tapped, and the game was afoot. So, what have they learned so far? A bit, it seems. Perhaps the most tangible nugget takes the unique shape of the Fiat 600 Multipla, pictured above. SixtyEight LLC, thought by AppleInsider to be the corporate sub-entity under which Project Titan is being conducted, imported a 1957 example of this unique bit of Italian automotive history. We don't know if the this "minivan-type" hauler of yore was brought stateside to serve as inspiration for a new design or whether it might end up being a whimsical technology demonstrator. Perhaps neither. We can only hope – or hope not, depending on how you view this variation of the 600 – that an Apple car will carry some Multipla DNA. What we can be pretty sure of is this: Apple enthusiasts will continue to seek out more clues about this program until it's completely revealed, officially or otherwise. You can read more on the Project Titan sleuthing discoveries here. Feel free, of course, to voice your opinions, clues and speculations in Comments below. Related Video: News Source: AppleInsiderImage Credit: Elmar Peiffer Green Rumormill Fiat Minivan/Van Electric project titan icar