Earlier this year the Fiat brand announced its collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, which included placement of the new Fiat 500C in her new music video, Papi as well as in a 30-second trailer of the video. The singer also appears in two additional commercials for the brand broadcast in the USA, My World and Elegance, which feature the Fiat 500C and the Fiat 500byGucci models.

"The Fiat brand is honoured to share the stage with Jennifer Lopez at the 2011 American Music Awards. Her drive and determination is the common thread that is shared with the brand and our philosophy of Life is Best When Driven", says Olivier Francois, CEO of the Fiat brand.

"This appearance allows us to continue to expose the Fiat 500 to a wide demographic. These past few days have been momentous for Fiat as we have recently revealed the new Abarth 500 at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show."

Jennifer Lopez’s performance at the 2011 American Music Awards can be viewed on the Fiat brand USA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FIATUSA and in many posts on YouTube. Both commercials can be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/FIATUSA and http://www.youtube.com/FIATUSA.

Reminiscent of the original Cinquecento, the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500C build on the vehicle’s global popularity. Since its initial launch in 2007, the new Fiat 500 has been sold in more than 80 countries around the world.

General manager Cristiano Calabrese welcomed guests to the new Motor Village Croydon  before they enjoyed fine Italian cuisine, cocktail making exhibitions, pizza throwing, and games including radio controlled Fiat 500 model racing cars.

Motor Village Croydon joins Fiat Marylebone in central London, Fiat’s Battersea service centre and Fiat Direct in Hayes, to offer strong representation throughout London and Surrey.

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“We started here with Fiat in January and Alfa Romeo came in May,” says Tony Dittli, director, Motor Village Croydon. “Chrysler and Jeep joined us in July, so it’s continually evolving. We are still developing and learning but I think we have a superb showroom site from which to offer quality service and become the reference point for these great brands.”

The latest model has grown a few centimetres to accommodate to help meet strict new safety standards and improve passenger and luggage space. With an overall length of 365cm, width of 164cm and height of 155cm, the Panda is designed to offer room for five people and have one of the largest luggage compartments in its class.

Now in its third generation, new Panda has taken further steps forward in terms of comfort, technology and safety equipment, and will make its first public appearance in Frankfurt within a matter of weeks. Featuring  a new engine range, customers will be able to choose from two TwinAir twin cylinder engines: the International Engine of the Year 2011 85bhp TwinAir Turbo, or the brand new 65bhp naturally aspirated TwinAir, both equipped with Start and Stop as standard. The recently revised four cylinder  69bhp 1.2 litre Fire engine completes the petrol engine range at launch, but a state-of-the-art turbodiesel 75bhp 1.3 litre MultiJet 2  engine, also with Start and Stop as standard, will also be offered. In harmony with its eco-friendly spirit, new Panda also offers a Gearshift Indicator, which helps drivers use the engine more efficiently, and thus reduce fuel consumption.

At launch, the new Panda will be front-wheel drive only, but a four-wheel drive version is planned.  Safety has been a priority in the new design, and new Panda has four airbags, ABS anti-lock braking with a brake assist system, front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, Isofix attachments for child seats, anti-whiplash front head restraints, rear headrests, and Daytime Running Lights – all as standard.

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In addition, new Panda has been engineered to accept Blue&Me-TomTom LIVE, a device that combines the advantages of an infotainment system which is integrated and connected with those of a portable navigator, opening the doors to connectivity. The system allows new Panda customers to use mobile phones and media players in complete safety, without ever removing their hands from the steering wheel, while providing a unique and distinctive navigational experience, built into the dashboard, and offering the most accurate traffic information updated in real time.

Alfa Romeo and Fiat dealers can now offer an extended range of brake pad and disc kits, which allow the network to reduce the fitted price of replacement brake parts by up to 44 per cent. The kits are now available on around half the Fiat and Alfa Romeo car parc and include Grande Punto, Panda, 500 and Bravo, along with Alfa Romeo’s 147 and MiTo models, with an average price reduction of 29 per cent across the range.

As part of the initiative a new collection of original equipment brake pads and separate fitting kits has also been launched, reducing the price of a replacement pad procedure by up to 53 per cent.

And to help customers with cars no longer in production, the brake kit line-up is completed with a Magneti Marelli range, called Classic Line, which covers out-of-production models and reduces prices by up to 70 per cent. The range includes popular models such as Alfa 156, original Fiat Punto and Fiat Ulysse.

“I’m delighted we have been able to bring down the prices of these important parts,” says Rob Calver, parts and services director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “It means that Fiat’s authorised dealer network is now competitive in price with the aftermarket, offering even greater value and peace of mind for customers.

“There’s no better place for customers to keep their Fiat and Alfa checked, repaired and operating to its optimum performance, than an official dealer.”

Examples of prices for fitted kits include:

Fiat Panda – from £136 inc VAT
500 – from £128 inc VAT
Grande Punto – from £176 inc VAT
Bravo – from £193 inc VAT

Alfa 147 – £211 inc VAT
Alfa MiTo – £191 inc VAT
Alfa 156 – £178 inc VAT

The perfect little fashion statement, the new special edition 500 has been customised by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat’s Centro Stile. This unique collaboration between two of Italy’s most respected brands combines the desirability of Gucci  design with the iconic cuteness of the 500.

The ‘byGucci’ model will be available in the UK with two  engines: the nimble yet economical 1.2 litre – which will cost £14,565 OTR – and the award-winning 0.9 litre TwinAir, priced at £15,765 OTR.

Initially the new car will be available exclusively on-line, and is another example of Fiat’s use of e-commerce to sell vehicles. It has already enjoyed great success selling cars such as the special edition Fiat 500 Pink and Fiat 500 Matt Black.

The fully automated on-line sales scheme allows customers to configure a 500byGucci, pay a deposit, order it directly from the factory, track the car’s progress, make a final payment and even arrange special delivery of the car to their home.

For information or to order a car on-line, customers will be able to visit www.fiat.co.uk/500bygucci when it goes live later this month. This is also available as a link from the official www.500bygucci.com website.

"The 500byGucci will enlarge the audience for the already successful Fiat 500, reaching those fashionista customers who want to have a unique car to distinguish themselves," says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

"And the on-line sales process adds another dimension to the individuality of this special model, creating an even greater sense of exclusivity and exceptional customer service."

By the end of this quarter, Fiat will have paid out  $1.268 million to buy the larger stake in the US car maker, meaning that the firm’s debt to the US and Canadian administrations can be fully repaid.

In all Fiat will then own 46 per cent of Chrysler, as the company seeks to take over the brand completely. It hopes to take a further 5 per cent stake in the firm before the end of the year.

Fiat took over the management of Chrysler back in 2009, when the indebted car maker was seeking new investment after taking up state bankruptcy protection.

Since that time, Chrysler has enjoyed a reversal of its fortunes, as Fiat investment restored its business. The Italian hoped that the takeove would increase its presence in the US and help it realise a vision for a truly global automaker.

“The transaction that we are announcing today,” commented the Chairman of Fiat, John Elkann, “represents a historic step for Fiat and Chrysler and is a source of great satisfaction and pride for both.

“Fiat, together with Chrysler, will create a stronger automobile group, with a full range of products, present in every market around the world and able to compete with the best.

“Over the past couple of years, Fiat and Chrysler have worked side by side with commitment and mutual respect. With the contribution of everyone who works with us and with the full support of myself and my family, from today this spirit of collaboration will become even stronger, as we continue to produce appealing, fun, safe and eco-friendly automobiles.”

Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne, said: “This is a fundamental step toward completion of the momentous integration of Fiat and Chrysler, initiated less than 2 years ago, that will result in the creation of a global automaker.

“We have chosen to accelerate the pace to bring about, in the shortest possible time, the birth of a single group capable of fully leveraging the joint development of the respective international activities.

The Italian car maker logged a CO2 average of just 123.1 g/km (4.7 g/km less than the 2009 average), placing it top of all brands for the fourth year running, and well ahead of the European target of 130 g/km, due to be met in 2015.

Meanwhile the Fiat group also ranked first among the motor groups with 125.9 g/km, an improvement of five g/km on last year. The figure takes into account all Fiat’s brands, including the Ferrari supercars and Maserati’s high performance luxury vehicles.

Fiat uses technologies such as MultiAir, MultiJet and TwinAir engines as part of its CO2 cutting strategy, along with initiatives such as alternative fuels (CNG Natural Power and LPG Easy Power), Start&Stop; electronic gearshift management (Dualogic robotised transmission), electronic traction management (Traction Plus) and Fiat’s eco:Drive, the in-car software which analyses driver behaviour and suggests ways to improve it.

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“Every year Fiat is raising the bar in terms of fuel consumption reduction and respect for the environment, and it is rewarding that we have posted the best figures for the fourth consecutive year,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. “Every vehicle we sell is making its own contribution to lowering emissions, and playing its part in making the world a cleaner place in which to live.”

Toyota came second with an average of 128g/km CO2 .

The Italian car maker’s latest MyLife model is the Panda, available to buy now, with the other MyLife models set to join the first two, later in the year. The spec is designed to focus on style and technology, with a special emphasis on choice and value for money. MyLife cars are not limted editions either and form a part of the Fiat range. With a great level of equipment, these cars are ecological too.

“We’re very excited to be launching this new model strategy which offers customers the best value proposition within the core segment of each model range,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland.

“MyLife focuses on style and technology while at the same time offering a proposition that represents sheer value for money. I am sure this will be of interest to many new and existing Fiat customers.”

In terms of style there are several highly visible changes to the recognised exterior of the Punto MyLife, such as a special gloss finish (Piano Black) to the front and rear bumper inserts and door pillars.

Like the GP and Sporting versions, Punto MyLife has dark tinted headlights and burnished tail lights to give a sporty look and feel. The car also gets body-coloured door handles, 15-inch sports style alloy wheels and front fog lights.

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Inside Punto MyLife has an enhanced soft touch black dashboard with sporty perforated inserts. As standard, it features Blue&Me telecommunications and information with the facility for TomTom sat nav, Start&Stop with Gear Shift Indicator and air conditioning.

Available with Fiat’s 1.2-litre 8v (69bhp) engine, Punto MyLife current price is just £9,995 (3-door) and £10,595 (5-door).

Panda MyLife is based on the 1.2-litre 8v (69bhp) Active model and comes as standard with 14-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning and remote central locking. It is currently offered at just £6,995.

This achievement is a testimony to the great success that this remarkable small diesel engine has achieved since 2003, the year in which production began. It features the first ever application of MultiJet technology on a world-wide scale, and is an evolution of the Common Rail system invented by Fiat and put into production in 1997.

Constantly updated in terms of technological content, the 1.3 16v MultiJet (currently produced in its latest guise, known internationally as MultiJet II) has been awarded many prestigious accolades, including Engine of the Year (1.0-1.4 litre category) in 2005.

The engine is available with several power outputs: from 75 HP, with a fixed geometry turbocharger, to 85 HP and 95 HP, both with variable geometry turbochargers.

In all versions, the 1.3 MultiJet ensures high performance and low consumption as well as − thanks to its cutting-edge technology − long service intervals.

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The 1.3 MultiJet is installed in a large number of Fiat Group Automobiles models, including the Fiat Panda, Punto Evo, Fiat Qubo and the Fiat 500. Indeed, it is in a Fiat 500 bound for a French customer that the four millionth MultiJet is to be installed, specifically a 95 HP Euro 5 specification unit.

Since 2008 the 1.3 16v MultiJet has also been produced at the Fiat Powertrain Technologies plant in Ranjangaon, India.

Anyone taking a test drive in the 2011 International Van of the Year can claim £50 worth of fuel back, and a bacon roll – meaning they can ‘fill up’ on two counts. The rolls are also on offer for customers who go on to order a Doblò Cargo before 30 April 2011 – and this time there’s £100 of free fuel to claim.

The new ‘sizzling’ sales campaign, launched this week by Fiat Professional, comes as fuel prices hit all-time highs and gives the commercial vehicle arm of Fiat Group Automobiles UK the chance to highlight Doblò Cargo’s own excellent fuel consumption figures – up to 58.9mpg on the combined cycle.

And with environmentally-friendly CO₂ emissions from 126g/km, and high levels of safety, versatility and practicality, it’s easy to see why Doblò Cargo has already won several top awards.

“Doblò Cargo is a great success story, but we’re always hungry for more customers to get behind the wheel and try it for themselves,” says Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional UK. “It’s now a serious consideration for businessmen and women whose role it is to bring home the bacon.

“With the price of petrol and diesel on everyone’s minds today, this incentive offers great opportunities to claw some fuel back – not just now, but also in the longer term for customers opting to buy a Doblò Cargo.”

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Available with a choice of four low emissions, Euro 4 and 5-specification engines, the new Doblò comes in seven different forms – Cargo, Cargo Maxi, Cargo SX, Cargo Maxi SX, Combi, Combi Maxi and Platform Cab – to offer something for a wide spectrum of van users.

The engine line-up comprises a 1.4-litre 16v 95bhp petrol unit and three MultiJet 16v diesels – 1.3 (90bhp), 1.6 (105bhp), and 2.0 (135bhp). Prices start at £11,395 (exc. VAT) for the Doblò Cargo 1.4 16v Petrol.