Chrysler Group has
released first images and running footage of the North
American market specific 500C ahead of its debut at the
New York International Auto Show next week with the
convertible version set to hit the stateside showrooms
shortly.The
most curious aspect of the three touched-up images is
that the 500C featured is fitted with
European-specification bumpers, reengineered for U.S.
market requirements, this is evidenced by the inclusion
of curving reflective strips on the front and rear wing
sections, as is also the case on the North American
market 500 coupé version. The 500 coupé, which has just
gone on sale in North America, also has a fresh new
front an rear bumper design which is set to be
incorporated on the Polish-built version for European
markets when the original version receives its first
facelift, although the somewhat generic design language
of the U.S. market bumpers have been mildly criticised.
The only other visible
difference from the Polish-built version of the 500
immediately apparent from the three images is a new
pressing for the bootlid which features a narrower
recessed section for the registration plate and a
corresponding reduction in width for the chromed trim
above.
The three paragraph
press release to accompany the images offers no hint at
any technical aspects of the stateside 500C expect to
say that trim options will be broadly in line with the
U.S. market 500 coupé: "Three exterior soft-top colors,
14 exterior colors, 12 unique seat colors and material
combinations plus a choice of two interior environments
to allow customers to personalise 'their own' Fiat
500c," reads today's press release.
No mention of the
definition of the stateside name either as the press
release refers to the 500C as both the "500 Cabrio" and
"500c" (the latter with the "c" in lower case). With the
launch of the 500 in North America having been carried
out in a somewhat shambolic manner so far and coming
after many months of delays to the schedule, Fiat North
America is likely to rush the 500C to the showrooms as
it chases its ambitious MINI-equalling 50,000 unit
target for 2011 from the back foot.
Fiat North America
will also be hoping that the 500C can make a better
impression across the Atlantic than it has made in
Europe where it failed to make any impact with
consumers. This has mainly been down to its pricing with
too high a premium being demanded by Fiat against the
fixed-roof version.
The 500 was adapted in
a number of areas for the North American markets to meet
different customer requirements as well as legislation,
and most of these changes are likely to be carried over
to the 500C. Changes made to the 500 coupé included
redesigning the body structure for increased strength;
tailored suspension for the U.S. market to keep the 500
nimble while delivering a comfortable and quiet interior
cabin for highway driving; over 20 specific hardware
modifications/additions for improved noise, vibration
and harshness (NVH); new four-wheel anti-lock disc brake
system (ABS) with redesigned front calipers for improved
braking performance; a larger 10.5-gallon fuel tank for
extended driving range; upgraded heating and cooling
system for North American climate extremes; redesigned
driver and front-passenger seats feature a new armrest
and seat cushion for improved comfort on long journeys;
easy-entry system designed into the new front seats; new
steering wheel controls and revised steering effort
calibration to increase stability at highway speed
(against crosswinds); new BOSE Energy Efficient Series
premium audio system features six premium speakers and a
subwoofer.
