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Could Chrysler leave Michigan for Tennessee?

Detroit's Big Three could become the Big Two. According to an AP report in The Detroit News, state officials have been lobbying for Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to select Tennessee as the location for Fiat's joint headquarters with Chrysler Group LLC.
This weekend, Marchionne met with Tennessee governor Bill Haslam at a ceremony celebrating the expansion of a Fiat subsidiary plant in the city of Pulaski. The AP report does not mention any serious talks about headquarters relocation, only that Tennessee officials have been "working me over pretty well," according to Marchionne.
Fiat hopes to complete its merger with the Auburn Hills-based automaker sometime next year, and earlier reports have stated that the company is seeking $10 billion in financing to buy the remaining bits of Chrysler. If the company were to relocate, it would join Nissan and Volkswagen in having major American automotive operations in Tennessee. Of course, that whole "Imported From Detroit" thing would need to go out the window, as well.

Neiman Marcus adds $65,000 Fiat 600 Jolly look-alike to Fantasy Gifts collection

Neiman Marcus recently released its Fantasy Gifts collection - a part of its Christmas catalog - that includes his and hers Island Cars featuring bespoke touches by Lilly Pulitzer. The vehicles are customized versions of the Island Car built by Island Car Limited in West Palm Beach, FL. The compact beach machines are manufactured to look like the Fiat 600 Jollys that were made in 1959 and from 1961 to 1964. The new ones cost $65,000 each. Neiman Marcus' Island Cars comes with signature Lilly Pulitzer prints, towels, tote bags, swim trucks for him, as well as a caftan (a long, loose dress) for her. Other than these extras, the beach-oriented cars share a lot of the same components as the ones built by Island Car Limited. The vehicles are built off a composite construction and compared to an original Jolly are lower, wider, and have more storage space. The Island Cars are powered by the company's own electric motors and lightweight batteries. Island Car Limited doesn't say what kind of range or batteries the compacts have, so we're assuming the vehicles are Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. While $65,000 is a lot of money for an electric vehicle that doesn't have doors, Hagerty values the average price of a 1964 600 Jolly at $44,400. Looking for something more powerful from the Neiman Marcus catalogue? There's always the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport. Related Video: News Source: Neiman MarcusImage Credit: Neiman Marcus Celebrities Design/Style Green Fiat Coupe Electric Special and Limited Editions neiman marcus neiman marcus christmas book

2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth is lacking its sting

After seeing the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Elaborazione Abarth at the New York Auto Show, we're starting to understand the convertible is essentially Fiat's take on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club trim. Thing is, the Abarth name is synonymous with big performance out of tiny engines, and that's exactly what the latest Fiat 124 Abarth gets in Europe. We want it here, too. Despite the scorpion badge on the fender, this model makes the same 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet as the standard 124 Spider. By way of comparison, the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 170 horsepower in Europe. Customers here can choose between a six-speed manual or automatic to route power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. The Elaborazione Abarth isn't completely without improvements, though. The droptop gets a stiffer suspension with Bilstein shocks, and a Sport Mode button adds an extra edge when drivers want it. Brembo four-piston calipers are optional, and the US model keeps the European Abarth's retro touches like the black hood. Unfortunately, Abarth's performance legacy holds the Elaborazione Abarth back, rather than helping it. The Mazda MX-5 Miata Club gets most of the same upgrades, including a limited-slip differential, Bilstein shocks, and optional Brembo brakes. However, the Miata's sporty trim is easy to accept because it's just part of the regular lineup; Mazda doesn't attach a brand name with racing history to the sharper model. In contrast, the scorpion badge on this 124 Spider makes the convertible hard to accept as a real Abarth. Related Video: