RideLust

It’s no secret that Dodge has had a long standing relationship with the Fast and the Furious movie franchise. From Dom’s 1970 Charger to the new Challengers and other Dodge products, Chrysler is banking on the fact that the F&F will continue to help bolster brand recognition with automotive enthusiasts throughout the world. The new film, Fast & Furious 6 is no exception and continues this tradition by incorporating some new Alfa Romeos into the action. Ralph Gilles, SRT CEO sits down for the cameras to tell us about the ins-and-outs of this relationship.

Source: Youtube.com

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It’s been said that the greatest things in life come in the smallest packages, and the Fiat 500 is the perfect example. It’s got zero cargo space, is slower than the fastest snail, and is about as reliable as well – a Fiat. However what this little bugger loses in performance, it more than makes up for in personality. You see this is a car that makes you smile. It makes the sun come out on a cloudy day while at the same time, bringing joy to all those who see it. The Fiat 500 is not just a car per say, but moreover, it’s a little bit of joy that rolls slowly on four wheels.

Source: Petrolicious.com

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Every year Car and Driver Magazine does something wonderful. They gather together some of the best performance cars on the market and then take them to Virginia International Raceway to see who posts the quickest lap time. The first installment tests cars from the LL1 class, or cars up to $29,999. The new 2013 Ford Focus ST, Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec, Subaru BRZ and Fiat 500 Abarth all go up against each other for the budget crown, so make sure to click through to see who wins.

Source: CarandDriver.com

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PRO’s: High style, great price, killer exhaust note.

CON’s: Twitchy handling, not a great interstate cruiser, useless rear seats.

FINAL THOUGHT: A great little city car that offers style, decent performance and economy for a fair price.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is one nifty little roller skate of a car. It looks the business, makes all the right noises and comes from the land of pasta and pizza. However as with all things Italian it’s not free of quirks. Even though the 500 is relatively new to the American market, it’s been around in Europe for over 5 years and in that time has developed a cult-like following. It’s compact, relatively fun to drive and pretty good to look at if you dig hipster fashion and overpriced coffee.

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Thumbs Up: One of the most entertaining front-wheel-drive cars on the market.

Thumbs Down: Unless you’re Tanner Foust’s size, you’ll look comical driving it.

Buy This Car If: You want the most fun for the least amount of money.

When Fiat returned to the United States with its Fiat 500 city car, initial reviews were mixed. Some found its European charm irresistible, while others found its diminutive size terrifying to drive in traffic. One thing that most who test-drove the Fiat 500 agreed on was this: although the handling was go-kart like, the car really needed an infusion of horsepower to deliver entertainment value to driving enthusiasts. Read More…

It’s small, quick and if you fast forward to the 8-minute and 42-second mark you can see Jay Leno flip a bitch and do a pretty serious burnout in the new Fiat 500 Abarth.

Tough life Jay… tough life.

Source: JayLenosGarage.com

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Thumbs Up: Surprisingly fun to drive with the five speed manual.

Thumbs Down: Lack of footwell room is a deal-breaker for long trips.

Buy This Car If: You want a fuel-efficient commuter that delivers inexpensive topless fun.

Driving in Europe is a lot different than driving in the United States. To begin with, gasoline is roughly twice as expensive as in the U.S., and viable solutions for public transportation abound. We’d guess that, on average, Europeans live closer to work than their American counterparts, so those who do drive to work are content to drive smaller cars. Factor in narrower roads and limited parking, and anything larger than a MINI Cooper becomes a liability, not an asset. Read More…

If Fiat’s new ad starring Charlie Sheene teaches us anything, it’s to do enough cocaine to choke a rhino, sleep with enough hookers to make your winky rot, and then make sure you drink enough booze to drown Moby Dick. I mean I get what they’re trying to do here, but Charlie Sheen… really?

That Italian chick is pretty hot though.

Source: Youtube.com

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Thumbs Up: Go-kart-like low speed handling.

Thumbs Down: Needs more power.

Buy This Car If: You want a frugal commuter that’s still fun to drive.

Fiat exited the U.S. market in 1984, a victim of declining market share caused by both the Japanese brands and the changing habits of the American consumer. After decades of offering affordable-yet-entertaining Italian cars like the X/19 and the Fiat 124 Spider, the quirky Italian automaker’s absence was noted primarily by devotees of the brand. American consumers instead bought trucks and SUVs, or dependable-but-bland econoboxes from Japanese automakers. Read More…

The Fiat 500 Abarth: too late to save Laura Soave. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Here’s what we know: the former head of Fiat North America, Laura Soave, is no longer with the company. That’s a recent development, since she still held the position at last week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Replacing Soave in the lineup is Timothy Kuniskis, who formerly held the title of director of product marketing for Fiat and Chrysler brands. There’s no word on when Kuniskis learned of his new role, but we’re guessing it was probably on his way through the door on Monday. Read More…