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The tiny Fiat 500e is coming to the US in early 2024
Can a super tiny electric car still work in the US? We'll soon find out! Fiat will soon start selling the 500e hatchback stateside in 2024 for $32,500.
Fiat's Topolino EV is an Italian twist on the Citroen Ami
Fiat already has its own cute EV in the 500 series, but it has now gone even tinier in its latest urban mobility push.
Fiat plans to become an EV-only automaker by 2030
The company will start phasing out combustion engine vehicles in 2025.
There's a Google-branded Fiat 500 range now
Fiat has launched special edition versions of its 500 lineup of cars with an unusual partner: Google.
Fiat may automatically switch hybrids to electric-only mode in city centers
Fiat may allow its hybrid plug-in cars to automatically switch to electric-only mode when they enter congested city centers.
Fiat Chrysler's Android-based Uconnect 5 supports Alexa and wireless CarPlay
Fiat Chrysler's collaboration with Google on in-car Android tech is bearing fruit. The car maker has unveiled an Android-based Uconnect 5 infotainment system that should help it keep up with an influx of modern tech. It includes personalization for up to five drivers, and an interface that takes better advantage of screen real estate with "cards" that provide fast access to features like your media or phone contacts. You can order food or pre-authorize fuel, too. However, some of the biggest changes lie underneath the surface -- this is as much about acknowledging the rapid evolution of car tech as anything else.
Fiat Chrysler may strike Renault deal to survive changing car industry
Fiat Chrysler hasn't been on the cutting edge of automotive change as of late. Unless you count concepts like the Centoventi, the company hasn't done much with EVs -- and its support for autonomy mostly involves supplying minivans to Waymo. The automaker might make a huge deal that could prepare it for the future, though. Financial Times sources have claimed that Fiat Chrysler is in advanced talks to create "extensive ties" with Renault to help it cope with a changing industry. It might even join the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance in the future, although the tipsters cautioned that nothing was set at this stage.
Fiat's Centoventi is a customizable EV for the masses
Fiat has unveiled a concept EV to promote the idea of a completely customizable car that's available to everyone. The Centoventi, which means "120," in honor of Fiat's anniversary, would be sold as a bare gray car. The buyer could then pick four paint wraps, along with four bumpers and wheel wraps. You could even choose among a soft top or solar panel roof cover.
Fiat Chrysler settles with US over diesel emissions cheating
Fiat Chrysler is about to pay a stiff penalty for its alleged diesel vehicle emissions cheating. The automaker has reached a settlement with the Justice Department, EPA and California that will see it make amends for claimed violations of the country's Clean Air Act. It's launching a recall to fix the more than 100,000 diesel vehicles believed to be exceeding pollution limits. More importantly, there's a hefty financial punishment. Fiat Chrysler will pay as much as $800 million to address the case, including a combined $311 million in civil penalties, up to $280 million to address claims from owners (who get an average of $2,800 each) and $100 million for post-fix extended warranties.
Fiat Chrysler will launch over 30 EVs and hybrids by 2022
Fiat Chrysler isn't exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think of electric cars. Where Ford, Volkswagen and other brands are basing their long-term roadmaps around EVs, Fiat Chrysler has been hesitant to make more than the occasional hybrid. Now, though, it's ready to make up for lost time... if only just. As part of a five-year plan, the company has announced that it will launch over 30 vehicles with some kind of electrification by 2022, whether it's a full EV, a plug-in hybrid or a conventional hybrid. To that end, it's investing €9 billion ($10.5 billion) into the development of these greener machines.
Fiat Chrysler reportedly phasing out diesel passenger cars by 2022
Fiat Chrysler's diesel plans are back in the spotlight again. The Italian-American car maker was hit with several lawsuits last December, each claiming that the company's heavy-duty pickup trucks used devices aimed at cheating emissions tests. Last month, the EPA said that Chrysler had violated the Clean Air Act, alleging that the company had installed software in some diesel vehicles that increased emissions. Now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is apparently ditching diesel as a fuel source in its passenger cars by 2022, according to a report in the Financial Times.
Intel’s self-driving supergroup brings Fiat Chrysler into the fold
Intel's self-driving supergroup has added another member to the team: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The partnership, which already includes BMW, Intel and Mobileye, has ambitious plans to get autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021, and FCA's inclusion is likely to make that goal more achievable. FCA already has a decent chunk of autonomous expertise under its belt -- it partnered with Waymo (formerly Google) in 2016, adding 100 self-driving Pacifica minivans to the Waymo fleet -- but compared to its rivals the group lags behind. The new partnership gives the company access to the research and resources it needs to keep pace in the field.
Chrysler pulls a VW, cheats emissions tests
The Environmental Protection Agency has just notified Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) that the carmaker has violated the Clean Air Act, alleging that it installed software in some of its diesel vehicles that increased emissions beyond what the company claimed. Specifically, the EPA says that "light-duty model year 2014, 2015 and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0 liter diesel engines sold in the United States" are releasing excess nitrogen oxide emissions.
Chrysler unveils its concept minivan for the selfie generation
The future of driving (or more likely, riding) has become less about speed and more about making sure occupants are comfortable and more importantly, entertained. At CES later today, Fiat/Chrysler (FCA) will unveil its Portal concept car. The electric vehicle will have face recognition and voice biometrics for what the automaker says is focused on millennials and will be "more than a tool -- it's an integral part of their lives."
Amazon will let Italians buy Fiat cars with a click
Amazon has made it easier to research cars online, but actually purchasing a car? That's another story. Even a recent deal with Seat in France limited customers to making a downpayment on the web -- they still had to agree to a phone interview to clinch the sale. However, the dream of one-click vehicle shopping just came a bit closer to reality. Amazon is partnering with Fiat to let Italian motorists buy the 500, 500L and Panda on the web at discounts up to 33 percent greater than seen at retail. They'll still have to visit a dealership to complete the purchase, but this is about as direct as it gets if you're not ordering a Tesla.
Maserati's first electric car won't be a Tesla rival
Italian supercar makers haven't exactly embraced electric vehicles with gusto (the LaFerrari hybrid is about as close as you get), but that should change in the next few years. Ferrari's sibling brand Maserati tells Car and Driver that it's working on an electric vehicle that would be shown before 2020. And unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati doesn't plan on eating Tesla's lunch. It has to produce something "very different" to stand out, the company's Roberto Fedeli says. Think of something more like the GranTurismo coupe (see above) than yet another upscale sedan.
Google and Fiat Chrysler aren't sure who owns self-driving car data
Google and Fiat Chrysler left a lot of questions unanswered when they unveiled their self-driving car partnership... and that's because they haven't answered some of those questions themselves, apparently. Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne told guests at an event that the two companies have yet to decide who will own the data from the fleet of 100 autonomous Pacifica minivans. The vehicles need to be "viable" first, he says. He adds that the firms have yet to decide whether or not they'll offer open source code that would help others build self-driving technology.
Google and Fiat Chrysler are reportedly partnering on autonomous cars
Google parent company Alphabet has been on the lookout for established automakers to help its self-driving car initiative for some time now, and it looks like the company is close to announcing a major new partnership. First reported by auto blog AutoExtremist.com and backed up today by The Wall Street Journal, Alphabet is working on a "technical partnership" with Fiat Chrysler. The talks have been described as ongoing for several months now, but apparently they're now in the late stages, which means we could hear about a deal sooner than later if these reports are accurate.
Apple hires Chrysler's quality lead to help make its electric car
Apple isn't done hiring top talent for its electric car project -- in fact, it just scored one of its biggest hires. The Wall Street Journal understands that 1 Infinite Loop recently recruited Doug Betts, the manager for Fiat Chrysler's global quality efforts from 2007 to 2014. It's not clear what role he'll take, but his former position suggests that he'll help Apple put everything together in a solid piece of machinery. Let's just hope that the result is more reliable than Chrysler and Fiat cars -- neither brand has performed well in recent dependability rankings.
Eight manufacturers will supply Formula E with custom parts next season
The inaugural Formula E season is well underway, but already organisers are preparing for the next championship. At the moment, all 10 teams are using identical electric vehicles (EVs), but the plan is to let them tinker with the design from the 2015/16 season. Now, thanks to the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), we know the eight manufacturers that'll be contributing custom parts later this year: ABT Sportsline, Andretti, Mahindra, Motomatica, NEXTEV TCR, Renault Sport, Venturi Automobilesa and Virgin Racing Engineering.