2014 Fiat 500 Pop on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Fiat showed off the 500 Electric in New York, should sell it here too

The New York Auto Show was pretty predictable for the most part; lots of model refreshes, trim lines and new engines. The stuff you would expect from a lot of auto shows. But there was one truly bizarre, inexplicable appearance: the Fiat 500 Electric. For reasons unknown to us, or even to a Stellantis PR representative, the Fiat booth was not adorned with just one lonely 500X — which is currently the brand's entire U.S. lineup — but there was also a pomodoro (tomato) red 500 Electric convertible and a pale pink metallic 500 Electric hatchback. Two cars that Stellantis has, since the model's introduction a couple of years ago, said will not be coming to the United States. They weren't roped off or on any fancy display. They just sat on the carpet like any other regular Stellantis product. And of course, we had to check them out. And ... they're pretty great! We think Fiat should sell the 500 Electrics here. Here's why: First off, they're wonderful designs. They're still just as cute and retro as the 500's gas-powered (and electric) predecessor, but with far more attention to detail. The headlights intersect with the hood, and the turn signals pop out from the belt line. Nifty recessed door handles sit below that line. Little tabs with the model name bump down from the window trim. The retro, grille-less fascia is natural and practical, and the whole car has subtly athletic curves. Plus, you can get it as a convertible, something the competition doesn't offer. The excellent detailing continues inside. The materials are certainly cheap (and admittedly, the doors sound a little flimsy on closing), but it pulls the same tricks that the Ford Maverick does. It has fun with the colors, materials and shapes to make it pleasant. It has a soft, curvy dash panel that can be covered in cool fabric or painted to match the body. The seats are available with the "FIAT" wordmark stitched all through the upholstery. And it has convenient controls to go with the bright and responsive touchscreen. Furthermore, that rear half-door on the hatchback is great for rear seat access. The rear seat is still tight, but you can get three adults into the car in a pinch (mind your heads and knees). Basically, it's an extremely stylish and chic machine, something that the electric car market could use more in the low-end segment. And it likely would sell at the low end.

Fiat previews production 500X on Melfi assembly line

The Fiat assembly plant in Melfi, Italy, may not be one that appears on our radar that often. It's been in operation since 1993, but until recently only built the Punto - a model that's been around in its current form with few modifications for the better part of a decade, but hasn't warranted the transatlantic voyage to American showrooms. Fiat recently added to the Punto assembly line in Melfi the production of the new Jeep Renegade, but that's not all.
Soon the Renegade (which you can see being built in the background of the image above) will spawn the 500X, a small crossover based on the same platform but with what you can see will be a more rounded shape. Replacing the Sedici (a.k.a. SX4) that was jointly developed with Suzuki, the 500X will join the Cinquecento family alongside the 500 hatch, 500C convertible and 500L minivan, the latter on whose design we hope the 500X will prove a marked improvement.
Expect the 500X (or so it's expected to be called) to be revealed on July 4, which will mark not only the 238th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence but also the 57th anniversary of the original 500's debut.

Work at a Chrysler dealership, get free college education

The cost of a college education in the US can put a student tens (hundreds, in some cases) of thousands of dollars into debt. FCA US wants to give its dealership employees a leg up, though, and the automaker is now offering a completely free education to them through a partnership with Strayer University. The workers can take any of the college's classes online or on campus through program called Degrees@Work. Currently, the offer is only available to employees Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Fiat dealers in the automaker's Southeast region, which includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. However, a national expansion will happen before the end of the year, Strayer spokesperson Cristina Henley tells Autoblog. The program will cover all of the students' expenses, including their books, according to Henley. FCA US sees this partnership as a way to improve the talent of its workforce, retain employees longer and possibly attract people wanting to take advantage of this free education. "Many of our dealers have expressed concern over the availability of talent to fill open positions due to business growth and turnover in their stores, especially in metro markets," Al Gardner, the company's Head of Dealer Network Development, said in the Degrees@Work announcement. Strayer has about 40 programs available, including in business administration, accounting, marketing, and more, and the university offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. It will also give FCA US employees credit for their work experience to get them a diploma even more quickly. FCA US Dealers to Offer Employees No-Cost, No-Debt College Education FCA US teams with Strayer University to develop first-of-its-kind dealer program Degrees@Work program open to all employees of participating dealerships Employees can earn no-cost, no-debt degree through Strayer University All Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram and FIAT dealerships may participate First phase of program rollout begins with dealers in the FCA US Southeast Business Center National rollout expected later this year May 4, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Employees of Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram and FIAT dealerships will have the unique opportunity to earn a no-cost, no-debt college degree through Strayer University's Degrees@Work program, developed in collaboration with FCA US LLC. FCA US is the only company in the automotive industry to offer the program.