2012 Fiat 500 Sport on 2040-cars

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Fiat Chrysler to pay $800M in Jeep, Ram emissions cheating case

WASHINGTON — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to a settlement worth about $800 million to resolve claims from the U.S. Justice Department and state of California that it used illegal software that produced false results on diesel-emissions tests, but still faces an ongoing criminal probe. The hefty penalty is the latest fallout from the U.S. government's stepped-up enforcement of vehicle emissions rules after Volkswagen AG admitted in September 2015 to intentionally evading emissions rules. The Fiat Chrysler settlement includes $311 million in total civil penalties to U.S. and California regulators, up to $280 million to resolve claims from diesel owners, and extended warranties worth $105 million. It covers 104,000 Fiat Chrysler 2014-16 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels, the Justice Department said. Regulators said Fiat Chrysler used "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests in real-world driving. Fiat Chrysler said in a statement that "the settlements do not change the Company's position that it did not engage in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat emissions tests." The company did not admit liability. "You wouldn't pay $311 million total dollars to the federal government in civil penalties if there were not a serious problem," U.S. assistant attorney general Jeff Clark told a news conference. The settlement also includes $72.5 million for state civil penalties, and $33.5 million in payments to California to offset excess emissions and consumer claims. German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH, which provided the emissions control software for the vehicles, also agreed to pay $27.5 million to resolve claims from diesel owners. Owners will receive an average of $2,800 to obtain software updates as part of the emissions recall, Fiat Chrysler said. Elizabeth Cabraser, a lawyer for the owners, said the "substantial cash compensation" will ensure that consumers get the recall fix. Bosch, which also provided diesel emissions software to Volkswagen, also agreed to pay $103.5 million to settle claims with 47 U.S. states that said the supplier "enabled" the cheating and should have known its customers would use the software improperly, the New York Attorney General's Office said.

Fiat Centro Stile sells design sketches to support kids in Italy

Fiat's Centro Stile design studio in Europe has kicked off a project called stART Again to support the global charity Save the Children. The studio put 136 high-resolution sketches of Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, and Lancia vehicles for download online at just ˆ20 a pop — about $22. The proceeds from all sales will be donated to a charity founded in England 101 years ago "to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts." Save the Children will use the funds to provide supplies, teaching materials, and support for studies for more than 100,000 children in the most disadvantaged areas of Italy who have been additionally harmed by the coronavirus and its effects. There are a heap of knockout drawings available. The selection at the Alfa Romeo store ranges from a 1958 Alfetta 158 racer to the coming Giulia GTA, classics in between including the immortal GTV 6 and the left-field 75 1.8 Turbo TCC racer. The Fiat marketplace contains wares from Abarth, Fiat, and Fiat Professional, with a massive emphasis on the new 500, but the hardcore 1972 Abarth 124 Spyder and oddball 900E van get slots in there (the 900E looks like a Volkswagen Vanagon, but the 900E came first). The Jeep shop is all business and big tires, save for the 1942 Willys MB, but someone needs to take the 1956 Jeep Forward Control sketch off the page and into reality. And the Lancia store has more to offer than the Stratos and Delta Integrale, an ominous Aurelia B20 GT and a Fulvia GT part of the five-model lineup. For some reason, Maserati got left out of the graphic bonanza, as did Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler, which is a shame. That still leaves 136 good reasons to click through and help the kiddies. Related Video:

2023 Fiat Topolino unveiled as tiny, city-only electric runabout

Fiat took a trip to the heritage well to launch its own version of the quirky Citroen Ami unveiled in 2020. Called Topolino, the electric two-seater (it's not legally considered a car) shares its basic proportions with its French sibling but features a retro-inspired exterior design. The name wasn't chosen randomly: Topolino (which means "little mouse" in Italian) was the nickname given to the original 500 built between 1936 and 1955. The first-generation model's contribution to the project stops there. Designers instead drew inspiration from the second-generation 500 to differentiate the modern-day Topolino from the Citroen-branded model, and we'd argue the front end is even more retro than the new 500's. It's characterized by a pair of small, round lights, smaller turn signals, and a piece of trim shaped like a metal bumper. Thick ropes replace the doors while creating a visual link between the Topolino and the beach-friendly 500 Jolly and 600 Jolly built by Ghia, among other coachbuilders, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Fiat hasn't released photos of the back end yet, and it's keeping the interior under wraps for the time being. The seats look a lot like the Ami's, however, and we're expecting most of the interior changes will be trim-related. Similarly, the Italian brand isn't ready to publish technical specifications. For context, the 1,070-pound Ami measures 95 inches long, 55 inches wide, and 60 inches tall; it fits in the back of a Ford F-250 Super Duty equipped with the longer of the two available cargo boxes. Power comes from an electric motor that draws electricity from a 5.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to make eight horsepower. Driving range checks in at about 45 miles, which underlines the model's positioning as a low-speed, city-only vehicle, and if you keep your foot down you'll eventually reach a top speed of 27.9 mph. These riding mower-like specifications place the Topolino in the quadricycle segment. Built in Morocco, the Fiat Topolino will go on sale in select markets in the coming months. Pricing hasn't been announced but it's of little interest to us, because nothing suggests this tiny EV will receive clearance to travel to the United States. Across the pond, it's reasonable to assume pricing will start in the vicinity of ˆ10,000 (about $10,700). Keep an eye out for it the next time you're on a Mediterranean island. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences.