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Maserati and Lamborghini pull out of Iran

Daimler is out, Toyota is out, Porsche is out, Hyundai, PSA Peugeot-Citroën are out and when it comes to selling cars in Iran, now Maserati and Lamborghini are out, too. The definitive pullouts of those last two automakers are said to be reactions to a press conference held by a group called United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The group highlights businesses that sell in both the US market and Iran, and works to get those businesses to choose one market or the other.
UANI said it had sent letters to Maserati and Lamborghini about their dealings in Iran, but that the letters went unanswered. Mark Wallace, head of UANI and a former US ambassador to the United Nations, held a press conference in October of last year that referenced the two companies. Apparently Lamborghini contacted Wallace just after the press conference and told him "they were out, they weren't doing any business in Iran anymore."
Discussions with Maserati then took place, and the Italian automaker said it had been out of Iran ever since Fiat announced it was leaving the country in May 2011. UANI said Maserati had been in talks with an Iranian distributor, however, and that distributor was continuing to use the Maserati name. The carmaker has since cut all ties with Iranian interests and has prevented its name from being used, adding that its new models will not be able to be sold there because they won't pass regulations the country's regulations.

Fiat reveals updated 500 overseas

See that Fiat 500 up above and in the rather large accompanying gallery? Look closer. It's new, or at least pretty comprehensively refreshed. The biggest updates that Fiat has grafted into its diminutive 500 hatchback are under the skin and inside its interior. Perhaps the most notable update is the inclusion of a proper infotainment system with a five-inch display, in this case, the well-received Uconnect tech borrowed from its corporate siblings under the Chrysler umbrella. In Europe, the refreshed Fiat 500 will launch with a 0.9-liter TwinAir engine with either 85 or 105 horsepower. A 1.2-liter engine with 69 horsepower will also be on offer, and an ultra-low emissions version of that engine will join a 1.3-liter 16v Multijet II turbocharged diesel unit that grunts out 95 horsepower sometime after, in certain markets. On the outside, the most notable updates are redesigned lighting clusters front and rear, but there are detail enhancements elsewhere, including to the hood and a new beltline that appears to sweep upward as it moves forward. We suggest you see for yourself in our high-res image gallery above, and if you want all the details, to read through the press release below. Keep in mind, this is all for Europe, so we'll just have to wait and see how many of these updates we get Stateside. NEW FIAT 500 REVEALED - New FIAT 500 unveiled with new exterior and interior style - Highlights include revised front designed with new headlamps, grills, chrome brightwork and LED daytime running lights - Rear enhancements include innovative new 'empty' light clusters - Interior revisions include new Uconnect™ infotainment systems, enhanced comfort and numerous detail improvements - Engine range enhanced for more efficiency and eco-friendliness - High standard safety specification includes seven airbags and a full suite of active safety systems - On Sale in September priced from GBP10,890 In Brief July 4 has always been a red-letter date for the FIAT 500. A symbol of mass motorisation in Italy, of which almost 3.8 million were sold, the original FIAT 500 was introduced on this day in 1957. Exactly fifty years later, on July 4 2007, FIAT chose to celebrate that heritage by introducing the New FIAT 500, a car which embodied the same spirit and personality as the original and which has also enjoyed phenomenal success all over the world.

Fiat Chrysler joins open pool with Tesla to avoid paying EU emissions fines

According to a report from the Financial Times, Fiat Chrysler has agreed to pay Tesla "hundreds of millions of euros" in order to pool their fleets together in Europe. This move will reportedly allow FCA to use Tesla's zero-emission vehicle sales to offset fines it would have to pay for failing to meet European Union carbon emissions rules, which fall to 95 grams per kilometer starting next year. According to the report, FCA joined a so-called open pool with Tesla on February 25. The electric car company created the pool and gave other automakers "the chance to join" three days prior. The pool will be valid "for several years," according to Julia Poliscanova, a senior director at the Transport & Environment lobbying group. Toyota and Mazda apparently created a similar pool on the same day, but that agreement doesn't elicit quite the same eyebrow raise since Toyota owns a five-percent stake in Mazda. It's not clear exactly how much money FCA will pay Tesla through this arrangement, but similar deals have been part of Tesla's financial strategy for years. FT reports Tesla earned more than $100 million by selling electric vehicle credits in the United States last year and close to $300 million the prior year.