Fiat Topolino Is Officially Coming to America

Fiat Topolino Is Officially Coming to America​

CEO Confirms It Will Debut Next Year, But Why?​

The micro-EV that has been teasing American audiences for over a year is finally headed here. Stellantis has now confirmed that the Fiat Topolino — the smallest fully electric vehicle (EV) in the company’s global lineup — will reach U.S. consumers.

Fiat Topolino Is Officially Coming to America

Exciting news! The Fiat Topolino is officially coming to America as the smallest electric vehicle from Stellantis.

moparinsiders.com

 

[The Mopar Junkie]

 

[bill burke]

Cute as a button, but the market for buttons with wheels is small and unprofitable. If it ever materializes it will be a curiosity, little more. A cute curiosity for sure.
Now to Fiats resurgence in the U.S.
I have repeatedly stated that Fiat introducing things like some of their popular products, inclusion in most if not all CDJR dealerships and a robust marketing program which must evaporate lingering doubts about the brand could produce a strong competitor in the marketplace. Big challenge.
Indeed that is highly speculative, maybe pie in the sky thinking, but the global success of Fiat can not be ignored and they have much product that might change fortunes in the states. The Topolino is cute, interesting but not realistic for leading Fiat back to viability, that mission rests with more and better products, changing minds and hearts and incorporating established dealership thus creating visibility with resources. Cute is cute but so far Fiats effort in America has been pretty ugly. Brazil Fiat success just might be the magic formula needed to turn ugly to a swan on wheels. Just maybe.

 

[patfromigh]

I frequented the retirement communities in Florida enough to understand the lifestyle. The Topolino will do well for that. It will also do well in urban areas where the Department of Social Engineering has converted traffic lanes of various thoroughfares into bike lanes. The streets in such municipalities often have low speed limits.

Fiat is struggling in Europe and Asia as the emphasis on battery electric power failed to resonate with buyers. The new Grande Panda is flopping because the electric version was introduced first and the followup hybrid version has run into labor unrest because Stellantis chose to pay slave wages at the Serbian manufacturing facility.

The only region where Fiat does very well is in South America. The brand rules in Brazil, but what surprises many is the rapid increase of sales in Argentina. Apparently some guy with a chainsaw, who runs that country, has resurrected the dead economy of that once socialist paradise.

Now that Fiat has bailed out Auburn Hills, not once but twice, I think Fiat in North America deserves a second chance. I'm not sure how to get around the tariffs for the Fiat 500, but we need the Fiat 500 Hybrid, sold here, but with a 48V hybrid system using a single e-motor automatic transmission. The only engine that seems to fit in that model is the GME Firefly three cylinder, but like South America, we don't have Brussels dictating emissions standards to us. The horsepower of that particular engine can be easily doubled from the European output. In targeted areas of the US, Fiat should offer the 500e with swappable battery packs as a lease program. Stellantis, Free-2-Move, and Ample Technology have a pilot program in Madrid, Spain. This could lead to a low cost mobility solution.

The Grande Panda needs to be built and sold here, using a power train built and sold here, as a Fiat model. The CDJR dealers need an entry level product, and the Fiat Grande Panda should be it.

 

[TripleT]

Now do Tipo and Panda

 

[vbondjr1]

Cute, but bad idea. It's the smart car all over again.

Fiat works in the Euro market and Latin American market, as does Alfa Romeo, Maserati, etc. Flood those markets with the european brands, the sub 2-liter engines and all of that kind of stuff. The American market needs to just be the American market.

Again, Dodge needs to be the biggest part of the North American Mopar scene. Bring Ram back into Dodge, Keep the Jeep brand as the other large brand, retire Chrysler and bring back Plymouth. Jeep has already taken over as the Luxury brand of the Mopar market so Chrysler is not needed. Plymouth and Dodge could literally flood the streets of North America like they did before with a plethora of vehicles that make more sense in the North American Auto market than anything else.

Plymouth:
STLA MEDIUM:
NEON: (AWD hatchback w/ SRT4 Trim level),
DUSTER: (performance midsize sedan 2.0L Hurricane-4 w/ 9-speed AWD)
STLA LARGE:
SATELITE (COUPE, SEDAN & Wagon bringing back the Sebring 2.0L Hurricane-4 Hybrid, GTX Hurricane-6 S/O, ROADRUNNER Hurricane-6 H/O, SUPERBIRD Hurricane-6 H/O hybrid and SRT8 7.0L Hellephant),
VISION: STLA LARGE FWD BASED AWD Sedan w/ Hurricane-4 non-hybrid 9-speed powertrain)
STLA FRAME:
TRAILDUSTER SUV: Midsize SUV about the size of a Toyota Landcruiser, (Rugged, All-terrain), Hurricane-4 and Hurricane-6 S/O options
Dodge:
STLA MEDIUM:
Caliber hatchback (AWD hatchback w/ SXT, R/T & SRT4 trim level),
OMNI Hatchback: (Hornet powertrains, suicide rear half doors, SE & GLH models)
Dart (performance midsize sedan 2.0L hurricane-4 w/ optional hybrid 9-speed on SRT4 Demon)
STLA LARGE:
CHARGER (COUPE AND SEDAN, GT 2.0L Hurricane-4 Hybrid, R/T 3.0L Hurricane-6 S/O, Super Bee 3.0L Hurricane-6 H/O, Daytona (hybrid 3.0L Hurricane-6 H/O), SRT8 w/ 7.0L Hellephant)
CORONET (WAGON, Same as Charger but in Wagon form)
INTREPID: STLA LARGE FWD BASED AWD Sedan with Hurricane-4 Hybrid 9-speed powertrain
Durango SUV: SXT Hurricane-4, G/T Hurricane-6 S/O, R/T Hurricane-6 H/O & SRT8 7.0L Hellephant
STLA FRAME MIDSIZE:
Ramcharger SUV & Dakota Pickup w/ Hurricane-4 full hybrid 8-speed and Hurricane-6 S/O powertrain options, Dakota to get and SRT8 option with the 7-liter Hellephant V8
STLA FRAME FULLSIZE:
Ram 1500 pickup: 6.4L BGE 410hp, Hurricane-6 S/O 420hp, Hurricane-6 H/O 550hp, SRT8 7-liter Hellephant V8
RAM HD pickup trucks: Cummins only
Jeep:
STLA LARGE
CHEROKEE FWD 2.0L HURRICANE-4 HYBRID 9-SPEED FWD BASED AWD (Laredo, Limited, Golden Eagle trim levels)
RENEGADE (RECON) 2.0L FWD BASED AWD HURRICANE-4 HYBRID (Laredo, Limited, Golden Eagle Trim levels)
GRAND WAGONEER (GRAND CHEROKEE) HURRICANE-4 HYBRID 8-SPEED GEN-4 EVO FULL HYBRID (Laredo, Limited, Golden Eagle Trim levels)
COMPASS RALLYE (WAGONEER S) FWD BASED PERFORMANCE AWD HURRICANE-4 HYBRID HIGH RIDING PERFORMANCE JEEP CROSSOVER (Sport, GT, Limited SRT4)
STLA FRAME
WRANGLER (4-DOOR ONLY) HURRICANE-4 4Xe hybrid or Hurricane-6 S/O
GLADIATOR (MID SIZE) Hurricane-4 4Xe hybrid or Hurricane-6 S/O
J10 HONCHO (FULL SIZE) Hurricane-6 S/O pickup with Jeep/RHO grade suspension and chassis

These should be the only Stellantis vehicles for North America. Period. If Stellantis wants to keep the Chrysler brand, send it to Australia and let it flourish down there and give them the Jeep models on the STLA Frame platform.
As far as the Latin market, 100% Fiat. from cars to crossovers to trucks, let it be all Fiat. Pull Jeep from Africa and let the Fiat, Maserati and Alfa Romeo take over that market. Let the Euro-Asian market keep Fiat, Maserati and Alfa Romeo and all of those other brands but our market and our brands need to be our market and our brands. And tbh, I would love to see Chrysler get back to their roots in Australia with the new Hurricane being the spiritual successor to the Hemi-6. Chrysler Valiant-Chargers, Pacers and things of that nature along with Wranglers and Gladiators. Perfect market for those four vehicles. The success of the Stellantis brands rests in being in tune with the heritage of each brand from each respective area. For Europe, bring back the Alfa Romeo Montreal, the GTV6 Balocco & Alfetta, the 33 sedan hatchback and things like that on the STLA Large platform.

 

[TripleT]

Plymouth is Dead .... NO ONE left has brand loyality. Relaunch Fiat at CDJRs, that is where the thing fell down. Markets we respect like their fiats.

I see a LOT of names in the Previous post that have Zero value now, if not negative... and some are just awkward.

This little thing will be fine for Golf course and Beach Communities. Fiat should offer 500, Panda, and Tipo... especially the Cross.

 

[patfromigh]

Many people are locked out of the auto market because of affordability. That was a key point in the Oval Office discussion. Under the CAFE rules manufacturers were penalized for making small affordable gas cars. Everything was based on fleet averages. Unless all electric, a large volume of econoboxes rang up a lot of fines. That’s why they slowly disappeared. Pure battery electrics aren’t cheap. The new Chevy Bolt has an affordable price, but is still 5 Grand more than a Corolla Hybrid.

Fiat has to get into their heads Americans want affordable small cars, not boutique items.

 

[vbondjr1]

Plymouth is Dead .... NO ONE left has brand loyality. Relaunch Fiat at CDJRs, that is where the thing fell down. Markets we respect like their fiats.

I see a LOT of names in the Previous post that have Zero value now, if not negative... and some are just awkward.

This little thing will be fine for Golf course and Beach Communities. Fiat should offer 500, Panda, and Tipo... especially the Cross.

Golf courses? Beach communities? The rich 1% have enough options for those kinds of vehicles to park in their little private gated communities. No one in the real world with working class people care about that kind of stuff. And you're right, No one left has any kind of brand loyalty and that's a major issue because if they did, a lot of things may be a lot different and a lot better. Plymouth is dead but would be more relevant than an out of touch brand like Chrysler, who's sole vehicle flounders in a dead market of minivans. Plymouth would at least serve as a real world affordable version of the Dodge vehicles, which are still priced at least $10,000 too high. Not all of us respect rich snobby 1% markets, especially since Most of the Mopar brands don't target those markets anyway. The Mopar brands are blue collar brands for working class people, not people with beach homes, Sun Seaker yachts, Learjets and things like that.

You said you see a lot of names that have Zero value or Negative value. But how different would the suggestion of the Neon and Caliber be than Honda's Civic and Acura's Integra? Two very popular cars that are pretty much everywhere on the roads today. The Duster and Dart, no different than a Toyota Camry, or Nissan Altima or Honda Accord. The Satellite and Charger, a better duo than the Charger and Chrysler 300 but still the same concept that worked for the last 20 years. The Omni definitely would sit across from the Corolla GR hatchback, The Vision and the Intrepid could easily go to city police fleets and other kind of city official cars just like the Dodge Diplomat did in the late 70s and early '80s. Not everyone wants an SUV for everything. No one will ever argue about an updated Durango and yes, rugged Midsize SUVs and pickup trucks are still a money making market. Mopar vehicles aren't supposed to fit in the "Respected Markets that like Fiats" Mopar brand cars are supposed to be a middle finger to those brands and even though they need to make cars that fit into multiple markets, whatever Mopar decides to make should be brash, unapologetic, loud, unruly, obnoxious and American about it. the Mopar brand isn't a brand for suits or golf courses, or quiet uptight beach communities. Mopar brand vehicles are for AMERICAN country roads, back roads, city streets, and drag strips. They're not meant to be quiet, submissive or civilian. That's why they're different. That's why they're American and that's what they always should be. Our vehicles should be on OUR roads.

 

[TripleT]

What with odd Rage Post because a resort community Vehicle is offered in the USA. I am advocate for offering everything here.

You keep going back to names and brand that have Zero market value. Omni, Coronet, Plymouth, Duster.... These have no VALUE. They aren't relaunch any new brands, they aren't. You want to write long Fan Fiction, for the joy of it. Have fun. BUT there already a lower market brand that has International Value, at one time was the best selling brand in Europe, the launch debacle in the US trying to copy Mini. Just fix that.

There doesn't have to be a long post to address the lower end. Fiat goes to all CDJR in good standing. 500, 50e, Tipo wagon, TIpo Sedan, Tipo Cross, Grand Panda. It also would be a Good place for Sub-$25K EV market that IS COMING whether LEAP or there own little Pickup.

2 Sentences ...... everything exists.

 

[patfromigh]

There doesn't have to be a long post to address the lower end. Fiat goes to all CDJR in good standing. 500, 50e, Tipo wagon, TIpo Sedan, Tipo Cross, Grand Panda. It also would be a Good place for Sub-$25K EV market that IS COMING whether LEAP or there own little Pickup.

I suspect the longer wheelbase version of the Grande Panda will morph into a Jeep model. The Grande Panda has a wheelbase of 100",overall length 157", and width 69". The Omni / Horizon twins dimensions were 99" wheelbase, 163" OL (Remember those bumpers stick out.), and width 66". They will have to replace the headlights on the G Panda to something more acceptable to our insurance companies, but some well placed Fiat models may effectively fill the voids left in the bottom of the product lineup.

Golf courses? Beach communities? The rich 1% have enough options for those kinds of vehicles to park in their little private gated communities. No one in the real world with working class people care about that kind of stuff.

Retired people often live on fixed incomes. The retirement community my in-laws lived in allowed low speed vehicles on their streets. (Low Speed Vehicle Federal Register :: Request Access ) There are 70,000 low speed vehicles in Florida between Orlando and Ocala.

I have seen a low speed vehicle in a first ring suburb recently. They are definitely allowed on the city streets, but not on the main drag with its higher speed limit. I live in county in Minnesota the size of Rhode Island. I dwell in the dense urban part, but to the south of where I live is rural. Some of the county roads are not paved, but have route numbers. Those "unimproved roadways" allow low speed vehicles to be operated on them.

 

[vbondjr1]

What with odd Rage Post because a resort community Vehicle is offered in the USA. I am advocate for offering everything here.

You keep going back to names and brand that have Zero market value. Omni, Coronet, Plymouth, Duster.... These have no VALUE. They aren't relaunch any new brands, they aren't. You want to write long Fan Fiction, for the joy of it. Have fun. BUT there already a lower market brand that has International Value, at one time was the best selling brand in Europe, the launch debacle in the US trying to copy Mini. Just fix that.

There doesn't have to be a long post to address the lower end. Fiat goes to all CDJR in good standing. 500, 50e, Tipo wagon, TIpo Sedan, Tipo Cross, Grand Panda. It also would be a Good place for Sub-$25K EV market that IS COMING whether LEAP or there own little Pickup.

2 Sentences ...... everything exists.

not trying to rage post. Simply put, more effort needs to be put into American brands and not so much into the foreign brands. I just get tired of seeing so much being done to support the euro market and not ours. It supports the statement you made that no one has brand loyalty. To me, that's truly a sad thing.