New Fiats at the L.A. Auto Show

Fiat Innovates at LA Auto Show
By Richard Bartholomew
Photos by Wallace Wyss

At the LA Auto Show, Fiat had a large display, and showed signs of continuing to offer models that will appeal to those nostalgic for the “good old days” of Fiat. For instance, they came out with what is called the 500 1957 edition, copying the colors of the ’57 model imported to America. Of course back then it just had a two-cylinder city car but still was a worldwide hit, Autoweek saying 3,893,294 were built before production ended in 1975.

The new “anniversary model” (harkening back to ’57 in color and trim) has a modern four cylinder engine, a 101-hp, 1.4-liter mated to a five-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic. Ordering will begin early next year.

Here’s what the Fifties inspired edition has:
Three old-school exterior paint colors to choose from.
– All-white (“bianco”)
– light green (“verde chiaro”)
– light blue (“celeste”) with a white roof.
Fiat even brought back old-style Fiat badges for the wheels and the car’s nose and tail. The seats are brown leather seats with matching brown accents on the shifter boot, armrests and steering wheel. The bottom half of the dash is a sea of blinding white.

Also on display was something called the Fiat 500cc GQ edition named after the men’s magazine. As far as we could tell it was pretty much of a cosmetic package—GQ labels embossed on the seats and in exterior badges, some interior parts matched to the exterior color, sporty mag wheels. And it has the 3 position cabrio top. I can see this reflecting the stylish readers of GQ of the Fifties, when having a Fiat in America was an innovative thing, something driven by preppie college kids, the same ones driving Vespa and Lambretta motor scooters.

A hefty booklet they handed out showed lots of bolt on goodies are now available at the dealer including a front and rear fascia kit, a chrome fog light surround, a chrome hood spear, 16 inch painted 5-spoke wheels, bodyside moldings and a rear roof spoiler. Those side moldings by the way are available in many colors. There are bodyside graphics that have a checker flag motif on the last one fifth of the horizontal stripe. And then the roof treatments — we have to see this in person before we go whole hog for it, things like an American flag on the roof, a Canadian flag, an Italian flag or Mexican flag. And fender badges, one that says Mopar, another a Canadian motif, another an Italian or Mexican label.

Since they are going for the youth market there’s optional snowboard carrier, rear window ski carrier, bike carrier for the roof. There’s even a rooftop cargo carrier (can we put Fido up there) or a hitch mount bike carrier. From what we have seen of the plethora of young weekend exercise types, out there on Saturday mornings all set to do some off road bicycle–all this will help sell the car—if sports minded fans can get the equipment for the car that fits with their hobbies.

Some of the coolest accessories in the book are the drilled pedals, or maybe they are just metal pedals with simulated holes on them but they look oh so racy. So does the cold air intake under the hood which they claim “provides horsepower and torque.” There is a cat back exhaust system, T304 stainless with polished tip that they say “provides horsepower and torque gains, improved fuel efficiency and a ‘deep tone.’”

BEACH CRUISER

I remember when VW microbuses were the hot setup to take to the beach (well, before that it was woodie wagons) but Fiat showed a concept car that was called the 500L Thalassa, a variation on the Fiat 500 Beach Cruiser that was shown at the 2012 SEMA Show. This shapeless beast used new 18 x 8-inch “Beach Cruiser” wheels (a production version of the steel wheel from the previous Beach Cruiser show car). Decorated with chrome ring accents, the wheels are painted to match the Vibrance Bright Orange body color.

Mopar roof rails support a long roof basket for transporting a surfboard. The roof is bright white, as are the mirror caps. A lowered ride height, smoked taillight lenses and new trim try to make a shapeless minivan have some style.

With an eye toward surfer’s needs, they have a towel-drying rack inside, and a water-protecting cargo organizer that houses wetsuit. At least they were imaginative in use of materials using wetsuit material integrated into the seat construction, along with Katzkin charcoal leather bolsters paired with Alcantara leather and dual Katzkin white leather stripes that run down the center of the seats. They had a bunch of beach furniture outside it but we doubted if those folding chairs, etc. were put inside, there’s room for more than two people.

About that name? Wikipedia says Thalassa may refer to: Thalassa (mythology) (“sea”), a primordial Greek sea goddess Thalassa (moon), a moon of the planet Neptune Thalassa, a fictional planet , etc. a name completely lost on this scribe. But it’s only a concept car. The 500e (electric) was also shown, but this one is ready to buy and drive.

This writer thinks Fiat will become more part of the American car experience once again if they try hard to see what the needs of American buyers are and cater to them. We can’t say whether all the foregoing indicates they have their hand on the pulse of Americans, but its’ all evidence that they’re trying…

More on the 500e

More on the Abarth

More on the 500L
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THE AUTHOR: Richard Bartholomew is a graphic arts consultant in Riverside,CA