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This Or That: Fiat 500 Abarth vs. Ford Fiesta ST [w/poll]

They're pretty darn similar. And yet our views are oh so different.
If you guys could read the transcripts of our editors' chat room, you'd know that we're a pretty argumentative bunch. It's always good-spirited stuff (well, usually), but when we're not obsessively covering this or that, we're usually fighting about one car being better than another. We're all enthusiasts here, and our automotive tastes run the gamut from the weird and unusual to the decidedly mainstream - we all feel strongly about specific cars in a given segment. While it usually makes for good conversation, if we're passionate enough, it can turn into a tomato-throwing showdown.

Stellantis will build four electric vehicles in Italy, say union reps

MILAN — Stellantis will produce four medium-segment electric vehicles, of different brands, at its Melfi plant in southern Italy from 2024, the UILM union said on Tuesday. Since Stellantis was formed at the beginning of this year through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, production in Italy has been under scrutiny for costing more than elsewhere in Europe. "Stellantis announced that Melfi would be the first plant in Italy to get new models, based on post-2022 business plan," UILM said in a statement after workers' representatives met with the carmaker at Italy's industry ministry in Rome. Future production at Melfi will be based on a single enhanced production line that will merge the two existing ones, the union said, adding the restructuring will leave production capacity at the site unchanged at around 400,000 units. UILM's head, Rocco Palombella, said unions had not received all the answers they wanted as Stellantis was still working on its new business plan. "But the positive element is that the company has not absolutely called for structural redundancies," he said after the meeting. Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares has said the group would present its business plan late this year or in early 2022. Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest carmaker, gave no details about what was discussed at the meeting. In an earlier statement the company said it was working "with determination and speed" to support the energy transition of all its Italian sites. Italy's Industry minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, however, said in a separate statement after the meeting that Stellantis had yet to decide where it would build its third electric battery plant in Europe. Stellantis, which already has two battery factory projects in France and Germany, has said adding gigafactories in Europe and the United States would be decided this year. The company is holding talks on this with Rome, as Italy is one of its main production hubs in Europe. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Fiat Jeep Citroen Opel Peugeot Stellantis

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.