2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen has shown a deft hand at the wheel of a rally car finishing an impressive 13th overall in the first round of the Finnish Rally Championship the Arctic Lapland Rally in his Grande Punto Abarth

Photo Gallery: Arctic Lapland Rally - Kimi Raikkonen (Grande Punto Abarth S2000)

Chrysler expects to have its first vehicle based on a Fiat on sale in North America within two years according to President and Vice Chairman Jim Press, with initial products being based on the Grande Punto and Panda platforms

Alfa Romeo’s sporty new compact, the Alfa MiTo, has gone on sale in the UK this weekend with prices starting at £10,745 for the entry level 1.4 16V Alfa MiTo Turismo, and rising to £14,745 for the top of the range 1.4 TB 155bhp Veloce

Just when it couldn't get any worse for Abarth, Anton Alén suffered a dramatic finish to the Monte Carlo Rally during the night, when his Grande Punto Abarth's clutch agonisingly failed on the road section back to the podium in Monaco

Hopes of an Abarth resurgence were dashed as the Monte Carlo Rally arrived at the Col du Turini with Giandomenico Basso and Anton Alén leading the surviving Italian cars home through the ice and darkness in fifth and sixth place

Photo Gallery: Intercontinental Rally Challenge Rd 1, 78th Monte Carlo Rally - Abarth (II)

Senior management at design departments at Fiat and Chrysler will begin meeting together within days to start deciding which vehicles and technology from the Italian firm's range will be adapted for the North American market

The Monte Carlo Rally gods played their hand once again this morning, turning the leaderboard upside down in just one dramatic stage, elevating Abarth driver Toni Gardemeister into second place when all hope seemed lost

Photo Gallery: Intercontinental Rally Challenge Rd 1, 78th Monte Carlo Rally - Abarth (I)

Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne who has masterminded the proposed ambitious alliance with Chrysler LLC has made it clear that he has no intention of running the American carmaker if the partnership comes to fruition

After two days of fast paced action in icy conditions privateer Toni Gardemeister upholds Abarth honour having climbed up to fifth place on the overnight leaderboard while the factory challenge for honours continues to flounder

Fiat Group Chairman Luca di Montezemolo has reacted positively to news that the Italian government will consider providing aid to the crisis hit Italian automotive industry when it convenes a special meeting of concerned parties

Fiat has flatly denied Italian media reports this morning that it was seeking a capital increase to fund a merger or acquisition after a turbulent day on the stockmarket that saw its shares suspended prior to the confirmation

Fiat Group has reported its Q4 and Full Year 2008 financial results today which see a 69.8 percent fall in Q4 profits to 180 million euros as the worldwide economic slowdown bites into profits while full year profit was 1.72 billion euros

Just two days after the dramatic alliance with American giant Chrysler was confirmed, Italian media sources claim today that Fiat is also in the process of planning a merger with French car making group PSA Peugeot-Citroën

More details have emerged about the proposed alliance between Fiat and Chrysler that was confirmed on Tuesday as unions give their initial support the deal while US Congress members say that they have some reservations

The new solar system installed on the roof of Ferrari's Engine Mechanical Machining facility has been officially unveiled to the world this week, they will reduce the amount of power taken from the national grid by over 210,000 kWh annually

It all went horribly wrong for Abarth on the opening day in Monte Carlo; after three stages in the snow and ice the Italian factory team's challenge lay in tatters, leaving its surviving drivers with a mammoth task if they are to salvage victory

In the 24 hours since the proposed alliance between Fiat and Chrysler was announced, the world has pondered the potential of this deal, with the media, analysts, rating's agencies, research agencies and dealers offering their opinions

Chrysler's newly forged alliance with Fiat SpA should cheer those worried about the fate of Detroit's auto industry, says The Detroit News, the deal should give Chrysler some breathing room to operate as an independent company

The Abarth factory team's 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season gets underway this morning with the unique challenge posed by the Monte Carlo Rally: the oldest, best-known and most prestigious event in the history of the sport

The first examples of the Alfa MiTo, the eagerly anticipated new sporty compact car, have arrived in Ireland; initial reaction has been outstanding, with dealers reporting interest both from traditional Alfisti and customers new to the brand

Photo Gallery: Alfa MiTo, Ireland

In an open letter to Chrysler stakeholders, Chairman Bob Nardelli has outlined how he believes that the proposed alliance with Fiat provides significant strategic benefits that will support the US carmaker's viability and long-term competitiveness