FIAT Brand to Debut Fiat 500 Design Concepts at the 2013 North American International Auto Show

AUBURN HILLS, MI--Jan. 11, 2013:

• Two new design concepts expand the appeal of the Fiat 500 Abarth and the Fiat 500 Turbo with unique exterior and interior appointments
• Fiat 500 Abarth "Tenebra" design concept displays unique Matte Grigio (gray) paint and special appointments including a roof-size Abarth scorpion logo
• New Fiat 500 "Cattiva" design concept highlights 500 Turbo's sophisticated appearance featuring sporty bi-color look and blacked-out appearance

 

The FIAT brand continues to showcase the design potential of the Fiat 500 lineup with two new design concepts that will debut this January at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. The models are based on the successful high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth, and the recently launched Fiat 500 Turbo, and they showcase how unique, sporty and personal their 500's can look.

At the show, the FIAT brand will also display the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio, the all-new battery-electric 2013 Fiat 500e, and the 2014 Fiat 500L and Fiat 500L Trekking, which expand the Italian design and character of the 500 by adding two more doors plus comfortable accommodation for five passengers. All of these models were revealed at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

"We are not standing still," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "In 2012, we broke a record by selling more than 50,000 units in North America. A few months ago, we revealed four all-new vehicles that will carry our sales momentum into 2013. Now, at the Detroit show, we showcase how the smart use of accessories and clever design elements enhance the personality of our 500, which becomes the perfect canvas for personalization and self-expression."

Fiat 500 Abarth "Tenebra" design concept
Building on the success of the Fiat 500 Abarth -- the brand's halo model, which sold out in only two months after being first introduced -- the Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra is designed for driving purists who crave more exclusivity and style from the only high-performance small car with the pedigree of an Italian exotic in the U.S. market.

Matte Grigio (gray) exterior paint provides the new Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra with an individualized look. This Cinquecento features new Nero (black) Chrome exterior accents, Gloss Nero headlamp, tail lamp and parking lamp bezels, and new lightweight 16-inch Hyper Nero Chrome Abarth design aluminum wheels. For even more distinction, the signature Abarth bodyside stripe and mirror cap are Grigio in color and remain glossy for added contrast. For a bold finishing touch, a Gloss Grigio roof-sized Abarth "Scorpion" logo delivers an unmistakable look.

The exclusive contrast of Grigio and Nero continues on the inside of the Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra. Unique Abarth designed front performance seats with racing-harness pass through are finished in Nero leather with Grigio piping and accent stitching. For a touch of craftsmanship, the signature Abarth flat-bottom steering wheel and instrument-panel cluster brow are wrapped in Nero leather and finished with Grigio accent stitching. Providing a highly technical look, authentic carbon fiber with a matte finish spans the width of the instrument panel, while Grigio accent stitching has been added to the shift knob and parking brake handle.

Adding a high-definition music experience the way the artist intended, the segment-exclusive Beats Audio system is standard and includes six premium speakers, an 8-inch dual-voice coil (DVC) subwoofer with trunk-mounted enclosure and 8-channel amplifier with Beats Audio's proprietary digital sound processing (DSP) algorithm.

Fiat 500 "Cattiva" design concept
The new Fiat 500 Cattiva adds even more excitement and style with its turbocharged engine, vibrant Rame (copper) exterior color and contrasting Nero accents for a bi-color appearance.

Inspired by the new 2013 Fiat 500 Sport and Turbo, the Fiat 500 Cattiva design concept includes Nero Chrome exterior accents, Gloss Nero headlamp, tail lamp and parking lamp bezels, and a sport-tuned suspension with unique 16-inch satin dark grey painted aluminum wheels. For a bold appearance to the iconic Cinquecento silhouette, the roof and aggressive liftgate spoiler are painted Gloss Nero for a distinctive bi-color look.

Inside, the Fiat 500 Cattiva features a Nero interior environment and leather sport seating with a unique Matte Nero instrument panel. For additional detail, a Nero leather-wrapped sport-designed steering wheel is hand-stitched with Argento (silver) stitching, as is the matching manual transmission shift knob. And for high-performance sound, this Cinquecento design concept includes the segment-exclusive Beats Audio system.