A Fashionable Car That Delights the Eyes

The "Fiat 500 Arancia," named Arancia, meaning "orange" in Italian, is based on the Fiat 500 1.2 POP. Its interior and exterior are painted in a vivid "Vitaminnic Orange" that evokes thoughts of vitamins. Furthermore, with standard chrome-finished parts and other enhancements, it offers not only fashionable elements that delight the eyes but also improvements in its details.

The vehicle's appeal is further enhanced by its standard 15-inch aluminum wheels with 185/55 tires, tightening its stance. Additionally, it is equipped with a "Start & Stop System" that automatically stops the engine when the vehicle is stationary, such as at traffic lights, and instantly restarts the engine without needing to operate the ignition switch when it detects the driver's intention to move off. This makes it a more eco-friendly model. As a result, the fuel consumption rate in the 10-15 mode has significantly improved to 19.2 km/L.

The "Fiat Fresh Festa" event hosted by authorized dealers.

This vehicle is eligible for the eco-car subsidy. For registrations made by September 30, 2010, a subsidy of 250,000 yen will be provided if a vehicle over 13 years old is scrapped.

(*If the government's eco-car subsidy program ends and the subsidy is no longer available, Fiat's own 150,000 yen support will be applied.)

The manufacturer's suggested retail price is 2.05 million yen, with a limited production of 300 units.

FIAT GROUP AUTOMOBILES JAPAN
0120-404-053

BRAND HISTORY
Italy's largest automobile manufacturer. In fact, Italy has only Fiat and Fiat-affiliated manufacturers. One of the few exceptions is Lamborghini, which is under the umbrella of Germany's Volkswagen. Founded in 1899, Fiat was initially f.i.a.t., an acronym for "Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino" (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin). In 1907, the company name was changed to FIAT, which continues to this day.

Fiat experienced significant growth from the 1960s to the 1980s. This was due to the expansionist policies of Gianni Agnelli, who served as chairman at the time. Car production took place in approximately 20 countries, and Fiat expanded beyond automobiles into all types of transport equipment and even the military industry. In Italy, the company was also actively involved in developing niche products, from small cars to large sedans, sports cars, and coupes, which significantly expanded the market.

Fundamentally, Fiat's business has centered on mass-market cars. In the 1930s, they introduced the 507 Balilla, followed by the 500 (Cinquecento) Topolino. The Topolino, a two-seater small car given the charming name "little mouse," was manufactured with minor changes until the 1950s and even appeared in the Hollywood film "Roman Holiday" (released in 1953).

The Balilla was popular among participants in the Mille Miglia, an Italian public road race that began in 1927. Numerous factories tuned engines according to customer orders and fitted custom sporty bodies. The affordable and high-performance Balilla is considered to have supported the popularity of the Mille Miglia.

In 1957, they unveiled the Cinquecento, which remains popular in Japan today. As the successor to the Topolino, it was given the subtitle Nuova (New). In 1955, the 600, designed with the personal philosophy of the genius designer Dante Giacosa, was announced. However, the president at the time reportedly remarked, "Who asked you to design a car? All we want is a Vespa with four wheels." The 600, due to its high design quality, proved invaluable as a base for specialist sports car manufacturers like Abarth.

Fiat began acquiring other Italian brands in the 1960s. In 1968, they brought Autobianchi under their umbrella and acquired a 50 percent stake in Ferrari in the same year. The following year, 1969, Lancia became a subsidiary. Although they acquired a 15 percent stake in Citroën in the same year, it was bought back by Peugeot-Citroën in the 1970s. Fiat later fully acquired Ferrari. In 1986, they acquired Alfa Romeo, and in 1993, Maserati. In 2009, they acquired a 35 percent stake in Chrysler.

Current Fiat focuses primarily on small cars and minivans, keeping in mind the distinct roles of its subsidiary brands. They effectively utilize the "Abarth" brand, acquired in the early 1970s, which appealed to car enthusiasts worldwide through its remarkable success in the World Rally Championship, achieving popularity with models like the Abarth Punto and Abarth 500. Development of new-generation high-performance/high-efficiency engines is also progressing smoothly, solidifying Fiat's position in the global market.
(Updated August 2010)