2014 Fiat 500l Trekking on 2040-cars

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Fiat's Centoventi Concept previews an electric Panda city car

The Fiat Panda is about to be born again. Fiat has presented the Centoventi EV concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and it bears the look of a future Panda redesign. Going with "ABC," as Fiat says, "Affordable but Cool," the Centoventi stands for Fiat's 120th anniversary. It kicks Fiat's long-awaited EV transformation into motion, building on the time-honored basic mobility aesthetics that have served Fiat so well in earlier years. The design of the Centoventi is similar to the utilitarian, super-basic look that the 1980 Panda rode on when it was revealed, blending that into the small five-door hatchback dimensions of more recent Pandas. There are numerous styling cues dating back to the original "141" Panda — the enormous, unpainted, city-suitable boxed arches are covered in a similar subtle ribbing as the 1980 Panda's lower body. The bumper lights are squares similar to the Panda's headlights, and the Italian flag stripe on the front is offset just like the grille on the Panda. The dashboard is another throwback to 1980: the classic, super-simple Panda instrument cluster has been rethought for 2020 with full digitalization and smartphone connectivity, but it still retains the same shape. And there are open-roof options, just like with the classic Panda. The Centoventi has suicide doors with no B pillar. We would expect the eventual production version to do away with this for crashworthiness reasons, but in the interests of showing off the modular, sneaker-like interior, it probably serves the concept well. Only Fiat can compare the car's interior to a Crocs shoe and successfully pull it off. And the customizable sneaker attitude encompasses the entire car: The idea is that the car is just a "blank canvas," produced in just one version and color, and the customer can choose the colors and style of the roof, the bumpers, the hubcaps and additional wraps, fitted by the dealer. The roof options comprise a polycarbonate top, an opening canvas one, a roof with an integrated cargo box or one with a solar panel setup generating power to cool the car's cabin. The battery packs continue with the modular theme. The basic battery of the EV is good for 62 miles, but those can be multiplied, with a servicing garage adding more batteries for a maximum range of 310 miles. One add-on battery fits under a seat, and it can be charged at home, in the style of an electric bike.

Mike Manley named CEO of FCA amid Sergio Marchionne health crisis

Mike Manley has been immediately granted "all the powers of CEO" of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. In a statement, FCA said its Board of Directors made this decision "in order to provide for his full authority and operational continuity for the company." Manley, who has been at the helm of Jeep since 2009 and Ram since 2015, is expected to be named an executive director for FCA after the next shareholder's meeting. In a similar statement, Ferrari said it had "named John Elkann as Chairman and will propose to Shareholders, at a meeting to be called in the coming days, that Louis C. Camilleri be named as CEO." CNH Industrial, a company that makes trucks, agricultural, and industrial equipment and which Marchionne also chairs, named Suzanna Heywood, as his replacement. Sergio Marchionne, who had served as CEO of both FCA and Ferrari, suffered "unexpected complications" as he was recovering from surgery performed earlier this month. FCA's statement adds that these complications "have worsened significantly in recent hours." Marchionne, credited with rescuing Fiat and Chrysler from bankruptcy since taking the wheel at the Italian carmaker in 2004, had been due to step down as the head of Fiat Chrysler next April. His internal successor had yet to be named. Marchionne had previously said he planned to stay on as Ferrari Chairman and CEO until 2021.Reuters contributed to this report.Related Video: Image Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Chrysler Ferrari Fiat Sergio Marchionne

Pope Francis' Fiat 500L just sold for $82,000

A brand-new Fiat 500L will run you anywhere from about $20,000 to $25,000, depending on trim. But the one you see here just sold for $82,000 – more than four times the car's base MSRP. This isn't just any old 500L, though. This one carried Pope Francis through Philadelphia on his recent visit to the United States. The 500L sold at an auction during the Philadelphia Auto Show, where bidders could participate remotely, or in person. Nineteen bidders competed over the course of 11 minutes, and the winning bid of $82,000 was made by Michael and Kate Chapman of Chapman Auto Stores. Reuters (via Automotive News) says the money will go to benefit the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This 500L was one of six the Pope used during his visit to the US. Automotive News says the Pope originally selected the Fiat because it's frugal and efficient, and that Francis wanted to move away from some of the lavish appointments long associated with his office.