fiat

Automakers, recognizing some buyers' need for speed, oblige by tuning up their inexpensive compact models, delivering more power and better handling. At the same time, most of these cars retain their basic practicality, whether it is the stylish and easily parked Fiat 500 Abarth or the cargo-friendly hatchback design of the Focus ST.

Not only do these cars cost less than top performance models, they can also work as your only car, good for the daily commute, a road trip, and maybe even a track day.

Here are five cars designed to perform. … Read more

For those that think the 500 is too petite and the 500 Abarth too butch, Fiat announces a happy medium, a more powerful version of the 500 that is not quite as aggressive as the Abarth. The 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo drops smack into the middle of the line-up, preserving the retro Italian styling of the 500 but boasting a scoche more power.

The 500 Turbo adds a turbocharger to its 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which boosts output from 101 horsepower to 135, and cranks up the torque to 150 foot-pounds. This turbo is smaller than that on the 500 … Read more

Summer is upon us, which means that it's officially open-air motoring season. However, not all cabriolets are created equal; there are actually many different types of convertibles to choose from. We've rounded up seven of the most obvious convertible classes and the best examples of each. … Read more

As so many struggle with the ins and outs of advertising cars on Facebook, one piece of sublime inspiration from Sweden might show there are other media with more promise.

An employee of Fiat near Stockholm, Sweden noticed that Google's fine Street View drivers were making a sweep of the area.

As the Daily Mail reports it, he drove a Fiat 500 and parked it in front of Volkswagen's HQ in Sodertalje, around 30 miles south of Stockholm. He thought it might make for a fun picture when the Street View car came around. He was right.

Sure … Read more

If the classic looks of the Fiat 500 could be compared with a Fellini movie, then the Abarth version is a Spaghetti Western. Where the 500 introduced last year was all about economy and design, the Abarth adds that missing ingredient: driving fun.

To build the U.S. version of the Fiat 500 Abarth, Chrysler's performance team installed a Honeywell turbocharger, lowered the gear ratios, and tuned the suspension. Along the way the team ratcheted up the exhaust note to announce the little car's presence.

This work resulted in a car made for the winding road. Despite a … Read more

A kernel of truth lies at the core of most stereotypes. Certainly mothers across the country trawl suburban streets in minivans, picking up kids from school and delivering them to various extracurricular activities, including the art of kicking a ball into a net. But the moms we know encompass a much greater variety, too much for one simple stereotype. So we considered nine other mom stereotypes, matching the cars most appropriate for them. … Read more

During a brief drive in the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, we stopped for a photo shoot. But as CNET editor Antuan Goodwin and I circled the car with our cameras, the idling Abarth suddenly gave a vicious growl.

The engine decided a few extra revs were in order, resulting in a burbly rumble from the exhaust. The car was either camera-shy or annoyed that we weren't driving it.

The Abarth scorpion badges look pretty cool, but the first thing that will make you sit up and take notice of this Fiat 500 is the exhaust note. It grumbles loudly running at a steady speed. Run up the revs, then let them drop, and it backfires, which makes me unreasonably happy.… Read more

From the Infiniti Emerg-E to the rather hideous Toyota FT-Bh, we've got something to say about every high tech car CNET saw at the 2012 Geneva auto show.

The L means large, said the press release in reference to the Fiat 500L the company will show at the International Motor Show in Geneva.

Taking a page from the Mini playbook, Fiat is beginning to design variants of its very popular 500 model. The Cabrio version of the 500 came out at launch, and Fiat is launching the Abarth version in the U.S. soon, but both of those variants are based on the standard 500 body style.

Although no limousine, the 13.5-foot 500L is 2 feet longer than the standard 500. The increase in length allows for rear doors, making for easier access to the rear seats. Cargo area will be greater as well, especially since the rear seats can be folded down. … Read more