FIAT? Did I hear that right?

Now wait just a friggen minute. Did you say FIAT? As in the Fiat that we all know and love from our childhood? The funky little italian jobbies that were always broken down on the side of the road, or waiting hopelessly at the shop for another fruitless repair? Yup, THAT Fiat. Coming back to the US! Starting with the 500 sedan, but rumor has it that a 500 convertible will be here too. Built in Mexico (global economy, remember?), and to be sold in about 150 Chrysler dealerships.

The 500 will compete in the Ford Fiesta/Honda FiT class; small car with lot's of interior space, 1.4 liter 16 valve engine producing a little over 100 hp and rated at 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway, ABS, 7 airbags, four wheel disc brakes, yada, yada, yada. And MSRP for the "base" model is $15,500.

If you didn't know, Fiat is the largest carmaker in Italy (maybe not saying much here), they've won the European Car of The Year award a record 12 times, christ, they even won awards in Japan! And Fiats are sold all over the world; drive through Sao Paulo Brazil and you can't spit without hitting a Fiat (if you don't hit some crazy delivery boy on a moped first!).

The Fiat 500 is a seriously FUNKY car; ugly enough to appeal to guys, but cute-in-an-ugly-way that should also appeal to women. Retro-euro chic inside and out, with a high contrast multi colored interior, painted steel dash, and a big ass round speedo sticking right out behind the contrasting (white?) steering wheel. At worst, this thing will bring buyers into those Chrysler dealers for it's curiosity factor alone. Like the New Beetle did for VW back in 1999. And speaking of VW...

You knew I couldn't resist this opportunity! The boys and girls in Wolfsburg should be paying close attention to this. The Fiat 500 is yet another example of the weird, euro retro styling and small efficient power train that VW COULD leverage to their benefit. Instead they go for homogenization; giving us the dumbed down, shitty grey plastic crap that they're puking out of their factories in hopes of selling cars to us hopelessly tasteless Americans (well, maybe the tasteless part IS a little bit true…). Hey VW, this here Fiat 500 throws off some SERIOUS MOJO! Get with the program! 

So we'll see I guess. IF Fiat can build a quality car that's economical and reliable, they MIGHT have a shot at a nice little comeback here in the good old US of A. And if they sell a bunch of cars over here, you technicians better get ready, you might have another Fiat in your shop sooner than you think!