FIAT 500 wins the European Car of the Year 2008

roms · 8th December 2007, 16:03

Time to celebrate yet again for Fiat fans. The Fiat 500 has won with a total tally of 385 points, followed by the Mazda 2 and Ford Mondeo with 325 and 202 points respectively.

Read more here -
Car of the Year

CrAzY dRiVeR · 8th December 2007, 16:12

Is such a cute little car-

However, i think FIAT has made it clear that i won't come to India.

khanak · 8th December 2007, 16:16

The 500 is really being praised by the press especially 5th Gear's Tom Ford who just loves it. I guess theres still some time before India matures and can accept cars like the Mini and the 500. btw does anyone know how much the 500 retails for?

karlosdeville · 8th December 2007, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Is such a cute little car-

However, i think FIAT has made it clear that it won't come to India.

A little bird tells me that we may get to see it at the Auto Expo though.

Thad E Ginathom · 8th December 2007, 17:48

I'm not very good at dates, but I'm sure it's still 2007.

Oh well, maybe journalists live in their own time zones.

I wish cars like this would come to India! Good small cars; perfect city cars, perfect commuting cars if the driver can sacrifice image to practicality.

khanak · 8th December 2007, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I wish cars like this would come to India! Good small cars; perfect city cars, perfect commuting cars if the driver can sacrifice image to practicality.

We already have good small cars that are practical.

The thing with the 500 and the Mini is that one doesnt have to sacrifice image at all. Its positioned more as a lifestyle product and is priced a little moer on the premium side. Not too sure if Indian buyers would appreciate this as yet.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 8th December 2007, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I'm not very good at dates, but I'm sure it's still 2007.
Oh well, maybe journalists live in their own time zones.

I think its like, Car of the year 2008- is the best car launched in 2007. And 2008 is it's year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A little bird tells me that we may get to see it at the Auto Expo though.

Was dying to come to the Auto-Expo this year. But then, Kerala university got no other dates to conduct university examinations.

FERRO · 8th December 2007, 19:20

For a small or mini car Fiat 500 will be waaaay too costly even if it arrives in India and people will comment "arre yaar yeh toh Fiat hai iska mileage bahut kam hai "

ethanh_hunt · 8th December 2007, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERRO

For a small or mini car Fiat 500 will be waaaay too costly even if it arrives in India and people will comment "arre yaar yeh toh Fiat hai iska mileage bahut kam hai "

Agreed man that this will not be a huge hit with the aam junta. But its not at all targeted at them. Its definitely a niche product and I guess there are many Fiat enthusiasts (including myself) who might not mind owning one and paying the high price (and low fuel economy). TI guess they can still import it as a CKD units

roms · 8th December 2007, 20:38

Fiat has won the ''ECOTY" 12 times since the competition was born in 1964. That is a pretty good record. Here's more from Fiat's website -

This is the second time – the first was the Fiat Panda in 2004 – that a segment A model has won the most prestigious award in the world car industry. This extraordinary record brings total Fiat Group Automobiles wins to twelve: the Fiat 124 (1967), Fiat 128 (1970), Fiat 127 (1972), Lancia Delta (1980), Fiat Uno (1984), Fiat Tipo (1989), Fiat Punto (1995), Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), Alfa 156 (1998), Alfa 147 (2001), Fiat Panda (2004) and the Fiat 500 (2008).

Launched on 4 July last, the new Fiat 500 immediately aroused huge interest and success: awarded 5 stars by EuroNCAP, more than 105,000 orders were taken in just 4 months and in just two countries, Italy and France, (while marketing is proceeding apace in the rest of Europe); today, in Europe, the Fiat 500 stands second in segment A with a share of 14.1%, behind only the Fiat Panda.

The award ceremony for the Car of The Year 2008, which this time round is being organised by the German magazine Stern, will take place in Berlin on 28 January.

Thad E Ginathom · 8th December 2007, 22:51

Nisan Micra, Ford Ka --- I'd like to see these here too

BUSA · 8th December 2007, 23:11

If Fiat builds such fantastic car, why is their attitude in India like gone to the dogs?

hellspawn · 9th December 2007, 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUSA

If Fiat builds such fantastic car, why is their attitude in India like gone to the dogs?

they brought a really good car in india as well(uno,palio),but they suck at marketing.well it was more to do with their tie up with PAL which ruined their image.hopefully now with the launch of the linea and the punto,fiat might be serious.
though one thing that pisses me off about fiat is,that they have such a strong lineup of small cars but since the launch of the palio in 99,they havent brought any new model.they have just been playing around with the palio platform turning it into a sedan,estate.in 8 yrs honda has already gone through 3 facelifts of the honda city.

moralfibre · 9th December 2007, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUSA

If Fiat builds such fantastic car, why is their attitude in India like gone to the dogs?

Do you really think that its the same attitude now?

CrAzY dRiVeR · 9th December 2007, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by moralfibre

Do you really think that its the same attitude now?

It might be changing- But, is it enough?

FIAT/TATA has to try harder to get the confidence of the Indian public. Its not impossible since they have real good cars under the brand.

8th December 2007, 16:03	#1
roms BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 641 Thanked: 25 Times	FIAT 500 wins the European Car of the Year 2008 Time to celebrate yet again for Fiat fans. The Fiat 500 has won with a total tally of 385 points, followed by the Mazda 2 and Ford Mondeo with 325 and 202 points respectively. Read more here - Car of the Year
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 16:12	#2
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 14,516 Thanked: 49,323 Times View My Garage	Is such a cute little car- However, i think FIAT has made it clear that i won't come to India.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 16:16	#3
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,746 Thanked: 171 Times View My Garage	The 500 is really being praised by the press especially 5th Gear's Tom Ford who just loves it. I guess theres still some time before India matures and can accept cars like the Mini and the 500. btw does anyone know how much the 500 retails for?
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 17:48	#5
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 9,645 Thanked: 16,001 Times	I'm not very good at dates, but I'm sure it's still 2007. Oh well, maybe journalists live in their own time zones. I wish cars like this would come to India! Good small cars; perfect city cars, perfect commuting cars if the driver can sacrifice image to practicality.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 19:20	#8
FERRO BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 313 Thanked: 2 Times	For a small or mini car Fiat 500 will be waaaay too costly even if it arrives in India and people will comment "arre yaar yeh toh Fiat hai iska mileage bahut kam hai "
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 20:38	#10
roms BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 641 Thanked: 25 Times	Fiat has won the ''ECOTY" 12 times since the competition was born in 1964. That is a pretty good record. Here's more from Fiat's website - This is the second time – the first was the Fiat Panda in 2004 – that a segment A model has won the most prestigious award in the world car industry. This extraordinary record brings total Fiat Group Automobiles wins to twelve: the Fiat 124 (1967), Fiat 128 (1970), Fiat 127 (1972), Lancia Delta (1980), Fiat Uno (1984), Fiat Tipo (1989), Fiat Punto (1995), Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), Alfa 156 (1998), Alfa 147 (2001), Fiat Panda (2004) and the Fiat 500 (2008). Launched on 4 July last, the new Fiat 500 immediately aroused huge interest and success: awarded 5 stars by EuroNCAP, more than 105,000 orders were taken in just 4 months and in just two countries, Italy and France, (while marketing is proceeding apace in the rest of Europe); today, in Europe, the Fiat 500 stands second in segment A with a share of 14.1%, behind only the Fiat Panda. The award ceremony for the Car of The Year 2008, which this time round is being organised by the German magazine *Stern, will take place in Berlin* on 28 January.
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 22:51	#11
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 9,645 Thanked: 16,001 Times	Nisan Micra, Ford Ka --- I'd like to see these here too
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 23:11	#12
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	If Fiat builds such fantastic car, why is their attitude in India like gone to the dogs?
	() Thanks

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