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Fenice Milano Blings-Out the Fiat 500C to create "La Dolce Vita"

After seeing Fenice Milano's Rolls-Royce Diva, would you expect them to do any less to a car like the Fiat 500? No, of course not, which is why you see all the gold trim covering the Italian company's 500C-based "La Dolce Vita".

The rag-top La Dolce Vita is powered by a 1.4-liter engine from Fiat that puts out 101 ponies and is connected to an automatic transmission. Other than the excessive gold inserts, teak paneling will be crafted by Fenice Milano for the interior in order to better harmonize the city car with Fenice Milano's other offerings.

Within the potentially attractive interior is teak, gold, and leather, as well as a redesigned dashboard (check it out for yourself below and let us know if you like the Mini-esque central info pod).

As with the Diva, FM's 500C will be offered with the usual round of optional performance upgrades in the form of an ECU/intake/exhaust tune-up and suspension tweaks. Available colors will be a "chromium" Deep Red on the Sportiva model, or a more "sober and refined" (...) white golden pearlescent on the Classica.

Personally, I kinda-sorta like the "La Dolce Vita" when compared to the slightly tacky Ghost. Now, I'm no baller and have no need for the 24k gold treatment, but if some of that gold were removed the car could make an interesting competitor to the Aston Martin Cygnet.

By Phil Alex

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Fiat 500 Prima Edizione Special Sells Out in the States

As expected, it didn't take long for Fiat fans to buy out the first batch of 500 city cars that will come to the States in the form a limited edition model called the "500 Prima Edizione". Today, Chrysler announced that all 500 examples of the special edition, which was offered in three colors - Bianco (White), Rosso (Red), and Grigio (Gray)- and only with a manual gearbox, have been spoken for.

"It's important that the Fiat enthusiasts and fans are among the first to receive their very own Fiat 500 Prima Edizione special edition vehicles, as they share the same excitement about the brand's presence in North America," said Laura Soave, Head of Fiat brand North America.

"As we begin to introduce Fiat to North America, our goal is to develop a solid relationship with our customers so they are made to feel as part of the brand. Over 1,000 people are on the waitlist for the Prima Edizione, a clear indication of the buzz that the Fiat 500 is generating among our fans", Soave added.

Those that didn't receive the special invitation from Chrysler or didn't manage to reserve the 'Prima Edizione", need not worry as Fiat will soon begin accepting U.S. orders for the regular version of the 500. At first, the 500 will be available in Sport, Pop and Lounge trims, followed by a faux-convertible variant called the 500C in spring of 2011.

Fiat 500s from U.S. Dealer Presentation, Plus 500 Sport (red)

Chrysler to Show Dealers New Models, Discuss Future at Florida Meeting on Tuesday

Chrysler dealers will meet in Orlando, Florida tomorrow to discuss the Pentastar's future and their role in it. Some 1,735 (out of 2,314) dealers will be getting up close and personal with new models, as well as getting sneak peeks (call us!) at some of the upcoming model facelifts and updates including the refreshed Dodge Challenger and minivans, and the new Fiat 500.

Other than seeing the new products, they will have a variety of questions answered by Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat North America CEOs.

David Kelleher, a dealer from Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania and member of the Chrysler Dealer Council, told Wall Street Journal that "dealers will experience a very transparent show. They are going to go home with more information they have now. They will know about the future of the company."

Sergio Marchionne will finally address dealers personally, as well; since he and Fiat took over in summer 2009, the only real communication between him and dealers has been discussing future product with the media last winter. Other than that, he says he simply wasn't ready to speak with anyone until the proper plans for his super-company were ready.

While in Orlando, many dealers will also be asked to stay open on Saturdays in order to help both with sales and Mopar Express Lanes (for quick repairs / tune-ups / oil changes). The goal is to have 80% of dealers staying open on weekends by the end of next year (versus 68% now).

For comparison, 95% of Toyota dealers are open on Saturdays (including 100% of Lexus dealers), over 90% of GM dealers stay open, and 85% of Ford lots are there for you.

Mopar CEO Pietro Gorlier says, "We have to respond to customers and customers shop or get their oil changed on Saturdays. Those that stay open on Saturdays have had tremendous success and their oil change business has increased by 20%."

By Phil Alex

Source: WSJ (sub. req)

Here's the US Version of the Fiat 500, Available for Order Soon

Today, the Chrysler Group lifted the wraps off the North American version of the retrotastic Fiat 500, which will be available for order in the States later this year in Sport, Pop and Lounge trims, followed by a targa-top convertible model (500C) in spring of 2011.

The North American market Fiat 500 will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico. All variants of Italy's answer to the MINI are powered by Fiat's 1.4-liter four-cylinder MultiAir engine that will be manufactured in the USA. Output and fuel economy figures will be released closer to the launch date.

The red-colored 500 Sport version featured in the photo gallery below matches a sportier-tuned suspension with a new bodykit that includes unique front and rear bumpers with additional air-vents, side skirts and a roof spoiler. The car's more athletic appearance is rounded off by special 16-inch alloy wheels with Mineral Gray painted pockets, a chromed exhaust tip and gloss black shadow-line window trim.

Chrysler said the Fiat 500 Sport also features an available SkyDome power sun roof.

The Detroit automaker has said it plans to open Fiat dealerships in around 165 locations across the United States with the biggest small-car registrations, including include Chicago, Manhattan, Los Angeles and Boston.