FIAT News

Originally Posted by dnf

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Not 100% on this, but I think you're right

i was being diplomatic 100% correct[/quote]

I'd have to re-read the bulletin, my laptop was turned off and it sounded about right

So what was it exactly? Ive just read a post on Fiat forum that says it was the headgasket?? Ive a vested interest as my sis got her 500 MJ just before all this kicked off! Ta

It's something to do with a faulty bracket which has caused 1 head gasket problem in the UK. So line stopped and checks/recalls carried out. Good to see they're taking no chances and getting it sorted asap

Originally Posted by PR

So what was it exactly? Ive just read a post on Fiat forum that says it was the headgasket?? Ive a vested interest as my sis got her 500 MJ just before all this kicked off! Ta

any vehicles which have gone out prior and fall in the range of effected vehicles will be contacted direct in the near future,as it seems more of a precautionary measure,i would not worry to much as the back log is about 1000 vehicles at depot and dealer.
if the worsed happened and she suffered a breakdown am sure she will be looked after as
1) this is very high profile
2)fiat do seem do have a good job in a desperate situation as parts for the fix have are already beening recieved at the dealer to fix the cars on site

Thanks guys. This was from Fiat forum, suggests the 1 problem in the uk....

Excerpt from letter released by Fiat at 17:49 this afternoon:

"By now I am sure you are aware that we have identified a potential issue in a small batch of cylinder head gaskets affecting the 1.3 multijet engine.

We communicated via After Sales a suspension of depot deliveries and asked you to suspend deliveries to your end customers whilst we evaluated the potential impact.

Whilst we have only experienced one failure in UK, we have taken the decision to intervene in 100% of cases in the identified chassis range. This demonstrates our commitment to delivering quality products and in particular ensuring that all Fiat 500 customers have an outstandingly positive experience with their new product.

While we apologise for the difficulties that may arise from this decision, we believe that 100% assurance during the launch of Fiat 500 is critical.

Today your After Sales department would have received detailed repair process instructions and the first parts arrive direct to dealers from Monday 3rd March onwards. However full details of the parts supply process will follow from our Parts division directly.

We have re-commenced depot deliveries and you now have the details to carry out the intervention, so you should be in a position to re-commence deliveries early next week..."

To be honest, I don't think it's a massive deal. Alot of manufacturers wouldn't go to such lengths to resolve the problem

i'd rather put up with the 'grief' of the manufacturer fixing the problem, than the ball ache of them ignoring it.

g

Yesterday in Geneva Marchionne confirmed that Fiat is working on a new "Topolino" (here is a look at the old one). He said once the styling is agreed upon they'll need another 18-20 months to finish it and as such will not commit to a possible launch date.

Fiat has agreed to more than double its spending in India to $1bn to increase production capacity of a venture with Tata. The plan is for Fiat and Tata to make 200,000 cars, 300,000 engines and 300,000 spares/accessories by 2012.

Originally Posted by dnf

any vehicles which have gone out prior and fall in the range of effected vehicles will be contacted direct in the near future,as it seems more of a precautionary measure,i would not worry to much as the back log is about 1000 vehicles at depot and dealer.
if the worsed happened and she suffered a breakdown am sure she will be looked after as
1) this is very high profile
2)fiat do seem do have a good job in a desperate situation as parts for the fix have are already beening recieved at the dealer to fix the cars on site

Quick update, her car was recalled last week for a headgasket, they said ASAP, and is booked in in Warrington (she lives in Manchester) for Tuesday.

Marchionne confirmed in an interview with Italian newspaper Repubblica that he will stay at Fiat until 2012.

Harald Westar, head of Fiat's Technology team, confirmed that Fiat is planning a micro-car to be ready by the end of 2009. Fiat is stil considering whether to sell the new micro-car under its brand or perhaps a different one (Autobianchi?).

Fiat has record revenues (over EUR 15bn +10%) and operating profit (EUR 766m +28.7%).

Looking good for Fiat thank god

It is, and Marchionne said "Alfa is on recovery path". Let's hope he gets it all the way to the end of the path

Did anyone read his interview in The |Economist? Really good read, I might still have it somewhere. Lets hope he stays with Fiat beyond 2010

Originally Posted by jimbo2109

Did anyone read his interview in The |Economist? Really good read, I might still have it somewhere. Lets hope he stays with Fiat beyond 2010

Thanks for the heads-up.

Fiat | Rebirth of a carmaker | Economist.com

And it has another trick up its sleeve: a new generation of petrol engines, called Multiair.

Using a patented Fiat technology that does away with camshafts and valve gear, the first engine to be launched next year will be an 80bhp twin-cylinder turbo 900cc engine that will emit only 69g of CO2 per kilometre—just over half the proposed EU target for 2012. It will also cost far less to make than an equivalent four-cylinder engine. A few years ago Fiat made the mistake of licensing another important innovation, “common rail” diesel technology, to Bosch: being financially weak, it could not afford to keep common rail to itself. This time it will protect its advantage by not licensing Multiair to other manufacturers for at least four years.

Lets hope he does it only means that they can make even better cars

Fiat 500 Convertible

Roberto Giolito, head of Styling for Fiat, confirmed that there will be a convertible version of the 500, probably to hit showrooms at the end of 2009. The car will be homologated as a 2+2.

Yesterday, Marchionne said in an interview that Fiat will decide on whether launching a new low-cost car (with a new brand) within the next 12 months.

Looking at Yugo/Zastava so the rumour goes

The talks with Zastava are practically almost done. Fiat's going East!