2012 Fiat 500 Lounge, Very Low Miles, Automatic, Moonroof, Factory Warranty. on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Chrysler Uconnect gets dealer-activated navigation, new infotainment features

Get in just about any mid-level Chrysler product these days, and you'll see a touchscreen head unit that would be perfect for a navigation system. The only thing is that some of these cars equipped with the head unit for Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system were not optioned up with navigation at the time of purchase, leaving drivers looking for turn-by-turn directions relying on either an aftermarket nav system or a smartphone. Starting on select new Chrysler products, however, customers with Uconnect will now be able to upgrade to navigation as a dealer-activated option.
Announced at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, this new element of Uconnect will allow owners to have an in-dash navigation system installed quickly and easily; Chrysler said that this will be a major benefit for used-car buyers. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like this system will be retroactive on previous Uconnect head units, but it will launch this year on the 2013 Ram 1500, 2013 SRT Viper and the 2014 Fiat 500L. Chrysler did not announce the expected MSRP to have dealers activate the navigation capabilities.
Another infotainment option for Chrysler buyers is the Uconnect Access system that can allow WiFi, voice text messaging, emergency assistance, remote vehicle operation (such as starting the engine or locking/unlocking the doors) and limited POI searches using Bing. Also introduced at CES, the new Uconnect Access via Mobile system builds on this by allowing users to add in-car apps such as iHeart Radio, Pandora and Slacker by connecting to the system via a smartphone. This system will first be offered on the 2013 Ram and Viper.

Fiat is quitting the minicar segment it dominates

Fiat plans to exit the minicar segment its global empire is built on. Strict safety and emissions regulations looming over the European new car market will soon make developing pocket-sized models prohibitively expensive, so the Italian firm will shift its attention to the next segment up. "In the very near future, you will see us refocus on this higher-volume, higher-margin segment, and that will involve a move away from the minicar segment," announced Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) boss Mike Manley during a recent conference call with analysts. He didn't provide a specific time frame, but industry trade journal Automotive News speculated the move will happen by 2024. The 500 and the Panda, Fiat's entries in the segment, continue to sell relatively well in spite of their age. The 12-year old 500 was the 16th best-selling car in Europe in 2018; the eight-year old Panda finished in 20th position, but it led the Italian sales chart by a significant margin. Fiat already announced the next-generation 500 -- which likely won't be sold in the United States -- will only be offered with an electric powertrain, but the current car is expected to remain in production for as long as possible. The Panda's future is murkier; the 2019 Centoventi concept hinted at an electric replacement, but Manley's statement seemingly suggests Fiat shifted the project to the back burner. The next-generation 500 will make its debut at the 2020 Geneva auto show and go on sale shortly after. While the model will live on as an electric car, Fiat will focus on slightly bigger subcompact cars that enjoy thicker profit margins, like the Renault Clio and the Volkswagen Polo, Europe's second and third best-sellers (behind the Golf) in 2018. The Italian firm left the segment when it deep-sixed the Punto in 2018; it's now looking for a way back in. The on-going tie-up with Paris-based PSA Group would give it access to the new platform found under the Peugeot 208 and the Opel Corsa. It was developed with gasoline-, diesel-, and electric-powered drivetrains in mind. Fiat's rivals on the European market have recently come to a similar conclusion. The Ford Ka+ and the Opel/Vauxhall Karl retired earlier than expected, decisions partly blamed on sluggish sales, and Volkswagen will allegedly drop the gasoline-powered variant of the Up! to focus on the electric model. Smart's ForTwo and ForFour have gone electric-only.

Mopar maneuvers into SEMA with a multitude of modified models

As the aftermarket and performance arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mopar has a duty to extract everything from the company's models that it can, and there's no better place to show all of its work off than the annual SEMA Show.
Dodge really gets in on the act this year with several customs to show off different parts of the brand's performance heritage. Perhaps the most interesting among them is the track-prepped Viper ACR Concept (pictured above). It wears a custom body kit to produce even more downforce, thanks in no small part to a monstrous wing at the back. To shed weight, most of the interior is stripped out, as well. Next up, the Challenger T/A Concept takes inspiration from '70s Trans-Am racing in a livery of Sublime Green and matte black paint. The center scoop in the hood keeps the 6.4-liter V8 fed with cool air, and the special's 20-by-9.5-inch matte black wheels keep it planted in the corners.
Also getting the once-over from Mopar is the Charger R/T. It wears the division's body kit, and under the hood, a cold-air intake keeps the 5.7-liter V8 breathing. The suspension is retooled to hold the road better with a coil-over kit, upgraded sway bars and strut tower braces for the front and rear. The company is also showing off a snazzy blue Charger with a mean look. The final Dodge getting work from Mopar is the Dart R/T Concept with bright, O-So-Orange paint and a matte black hood with a scoop hooked directly to the air intake. The performance-oriented design is finished off with a coil-over suspension and big brake kit, as well.