Jeep® Renegade and Jeep Wrangler are “Cars of the Year” according to Auto Bild allrad

• Jeep_® Renegade named best "Off-road vehicle and SUV up to €30,000"
• Jeep Wrangler is the winner in the category "Off-road vehicles and SUVs from €30,000 - €50,000"
• Second top placing in a row for the Renegade since 2015

For the second consecutive year,  the expert readers of the German SUV and 4×4 specialist magazine "Auto Bild allrad" selected the Jeep_® Renegade as their favourite car in the import class of "Off-road vehicles and SUVs up to €30,000". A very important recognition that demostrates that the first Jeep compact SUV, and latest addition to the Jeep family, comes immediately to mind of the German reader.

The Auto Bild allrad readers also chose Jeep Wrangler, the icon of the number one SUV brand, as the winner in the import class of the "Off-road vehicles and SUVs from €30,000 - €50,000" category.

Auto Bild allrad is one of the leading magazines for 4x4 enthusiasts on and off the road in Europe. First published in 2002, it has a monthly circulation of almost 70,000 copies and 260,000 readers.

In addition to the two prestigous awards, the Auto Bild allrad readers awarded both the Wrangler and the Renegade the second place in the respective overall classes incuding all German national brands, further confirming the strong appreciation of the German public for the Jeep icon and its top selling model.

A total of 170 models split into 10 categories participated in the contest. The readers' vote proved that both the Jeep Renegade and the Jeep Wrangler can boast unsurpassed on and off road performance.

Jeep Renegade was introduced in September 2014 throughout the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) where it is available with a full-range comprising four different trim levels - Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk - and a choice of efficient turbo diesel and petrol engines combined with four-wheel drive or front wheel-drive configurations.

Jeep Renegade is the top-selling model of the Jeep range and the main driver of Jeep commercial success in the region. Its record-setting pace is confirmed in the first quarter of 2016 where, with 19,159 units sold in Europe, Renegade recorded a 51.25% growth compared with the same period in 2015. Through March, Renegade also achieved its best ever quarter in Europe as well as in several markets such as Italy, the UK, France, Spain and Austria.

 The list of awards gained by the Jeep compact SUV in EMEA since its launch includes:

"New Car of the Year 2015"	- Quattroruote (Italy);
"Best SUV of the Year 2015"	- Coches.net (Spain);
"Car of the Year 2016"	- Autoesporte (Brazil);
"4x4 of the Year 2015"	- 4x4 Magazine (France);
"SUV of the Year 2015"	- 4x4 Tout-Terrain Magazine (France);
"Car of the Year 2016" awarded by a panel of specialist journalists in Greece;
"Best Buy Award 2016" in the Subcompact-SUV category for US Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy;
"4x4 of the Year 2016"	- 4x4 Magazine (UK);
"Car of the Year" and "SUV of the Year"	-  Motor24 (Estonia);
"Best Crossover Basta!"	- BilMagasinet (Denmark);
"Offroad Vehicle of the Year 2015" category subcompact SUV	- OFF ROAD (Germany)

Turin, 20^th April 2016

Alfa Romeo and Abarth Triumph at the “Motor Klassik Awards 2016”

The readers of the German magazine "Motor Klassik" have crowned the brand-new Alfa Romeo Giulia as "Future Classic" in the "mid-size" category and Abarth 595 in the "small" category, the latter for the second year running. Alfa Romeo 4C was the winner in the "coupé" class for the third time in a row. The title of "Classic Car of the Year" went to the rare 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring luxury sports car.

The award ceremony of the "Motor Klassik 2016" competition organised by the German specialised motoring magazine with a readership of over 22,000 experts, most of whom are classic car owners, took place at the Dyck medieval castle, a short distance away from Düsseldorf, yesterday evening.

The survey, divided by model category, aimed at identifying what current cars have the potential of becoming timeless icons - or "Future Classics", in their words. The accolade is an important indicator of the collectable car trends of tomorrow.

This year's champions were Alfa Romeo and Abarth and their winning models confirm the everlasting allure of Italian design and racing-inspired technology. This is what the readers of the German magazine thought by electing the new Alfa Romeo Giulia as "Future Classic" in the "mid-size" category and Alfa Romeo 4C in the "coupé" class, the latter for the third time in a row. Abarth 595 successfully reconfirmed the title won last year in the "small" category. Alfa Romeo also earned a "Classic Car of the Year" title with the 8C 2900B Touring, an extremely rare 1930s sports car and arguably one of Alfa Romeo's most beautiful cars ever.

Some eighty years separate the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B from today's Alfa Romeo 4C and Alfa Romeo Giulia but the models still have some crucial features in common. For instance, all three transfer the best technology developed for racing to the road. The chassis and the eight-cylinder engine of the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, in particular, derived from the successful versions used in competitions. Similarly, the modern Alfa Romeo 4C and Alfa Romeo Giulia have components originally developed for Formula 1.

An example is the carbon fibre (monocoque) cockpit which, together with the ample use of aluminium and special composite materials, allows the Alfa Romeo 4C to achieve an empty weight of just 895 kilograms and a weight-to-power ratio of less than 4 kilograms: a record even for a supercar.

Furthermore, the engine of Alfa Romeo 4C is a four-cylinder direct injection turbo with a displacement of 1750 cubic centimetres that delivers 240 HP.

The new 2.9-litre petrol BiTurbo engine developed for Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is the ultimate expression of the "meccanica delle emozioni" concept. Inspired by Ferrari technologies and engineering skills, the engine is entirely made of aluminium and delivers 510 HP of power and over 600 Nm of torque. Performance is exhilarating: top speed of 307 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds. The generous use of ultra-light materials (such as carbon fibre, aluminium and aluminium composite and plastic material) and the adoption of exclusive features, such as the Active Aero Splitter which actively manages downforce at fast speed, are also taken from the world of racing.

Abarth 595 also has racing car DNA. The name itself is homage to one of the most successful racing cars of the 1960s which contributed to the fame of car tuner and maker Carlo Abarth. The classic Abarth 595 reaped win and after win with its (modest to today's standards) 32 HP engine, while its modern counterpart unleashes up to five times more power for an exhilarating driving experience. Available in sedan or convertible, the Abarth 595 range features three trim levels ("Elaborabile," "Turismo," and "Competizione"), three power levels of the 1.4-litre T-jet engine (140 HP, 160 HP, and 180 HP) and two transmissions (five-speed manual or robotised sequential). Abarth 695 Biposto, known as the "smallest supercar," completes the line-up. Delivering 190 HP, the car secures the thrills and technology of a real racing car on everyday roads.

The third title for Alfa Romeo 4C, the second success for Abarth 595 and the first victory of Alfa Romeo Giulia add to the FCA prize record placing the brand at the top of the "Motor Klassik Awards" ranking. Titles won in the past include those of Alfa Romeo 159 and Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2009, and those taken by Fiat 500 in 2012 and 2013. Worth remembering is the 1930s Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 named "Classic Car of the Year" by the readers of "Klassik Awards" in 2012.

Turin, 6 April 2016

Abarth 595 Wins "Best Cars 2016" Competition in Spain

• The small Abarth triumphs in the "Best City Car of 2016" category.
• The prestigious title was bestowed by readers of Motorpress Ibérica magazines.

In Spain, the Abarth 595/695 was awarded the prestigious title of "Best Cars 2016" thanks to votes from readers of magazines Autopista, Automóvil, Coche Actual and Autovía issued by publishing company Motorpress Ibérica.

The awards ceremony was held at the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid in the presence of the most important figures of the Spanish automotive industry.

Divided into 11 categories, the contest is considered a benchmark by authorities for everything regarding the image that customers have of automobile manufacturers. And in the "Best City Car 2016" category, the jury awarded the Scorpion's small size car that allows all its customers to experience exhilarating driving.

Available in sedan or convertible, the Abarth 595 range features three trim levels ("Elaborabile," "Turismo," and "Competizione"), three power levels of the 1.4 T-jet engine (140 HP, 160 HP, and 180 HP) and two transmissions (five-speed manual or robotised sequential). The Abarth 695 Biposto, the "smallest supercar," completes the line-up. Delivering 190 HP, the car secures the thrills and technology of a real racing car on everyday roads.

The Spanish award joins the shelf alongside the German trophy recently won by the Abarth 595/695.

 Turin, 25 February 2016

Autobest 2016: Fiat Tipo rules Europe

The coveted accolade was awarded during a spectacular ceremony yesterday in Milan. According to the jury, Fiat Tipo is an outstanding product able to satisfy the average customer of Europe in terms of design, engines, perceived quality, comfort, versatility and excellent price-to-quality ratio.

The Autobest 2016 award ceremony was staged in the Teatro Vetra in Milan yesterday evening. The winner was the new Tipo, the most recent addition to the Fiat line-up which maximises value for money - this being a crucial concept in the Fiat functional family - and is packed with what customers genuinely appreciate, with a simple range and a transparent commercial offer. The remarkable potentials of the new model are confirmed by the over 15,000 orders received in little more than two months since its launch.

The new Fiat Tipo was elected by the Autobest international jury of 26 motoring journalists representing 26 European countries and covering 91% of the continent's total population. The jurors of the independent organisation established in 2001 awarded 1,492 points to the car for thirteen different parameters, including design, comfort, running cost-effectiveness, driveability, price, service network, spare parts distribution, versatility and buy-back value. In brief, a car must be the best buy for most European customers in order to win the coveted accolade.

The new Fiat Tipo came first ahead of the other four finalists - the new Opel Astra, the new Hyundai Tucson, the Honda HR-V and the Mazda CX-3 - making it the third Fiat model to win the award, which is a record among the brands assessed by Autobest: the first was Panda (in 2003) and the second was Linea (in 2008).

The Autobest 2016 award ceremony is the first after the jury was expanded to include eleven new members representing Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Turin, 12 February 2016

Abarth 595/695 wins the "Best Cars 2016" competition in Germany

• Abarth triumphed in the Mini Car category, coming first in the imported car category and third in the general ranking.
• The prestigious recognition was awarded by the readers of the "Auto Motor und Sport" group magazines.

The new year could not have started better off for Abarth. With Abarth 595 and 695, the brand of the Scorpion triumphed in the fortieth edition of the "Best Cars" competition, one of the most important international consumer surveys in the automotive sector.

The readers of the automotive magazines of German publisher "Auto Motor und Sport" in 15 countries were asked to evaluate 364 vehicles in 11 categories. Two rankings resulted: one general and one for imported brands.

Abarth 595 prevailed in the imported car ranking of the Mini Car category ahead of the other 15 candidates. The car also came third in the general Mini Car ranking being the only sports car to gain the podium of the 20 models in the running.

Abarth is always ready to surprise just like back in the 50's and 60's when the small, agile car created by founder Carlo Abarth commanded the respect of beefier sedans and was known to even overtake competitors packing larger engine displacements on the racetrack. Still today, Abarth 595 is confirmed as an extraordinary car that allows ordinary motorists to enjoy thrilling driving experiences.

Sedan or convertible, the Abarth 595 range features three trim levels ("Elaborabile", "Turismo" and "Competizione"), three power levels of the 1.4 T-jet engine (140 HP, 160 HP and 180 HP) and two transmissions (five-speed manual or robotised sequential). Abarth 695 Biposto, the "smallest supercar" completes the line-up. Delivering 190 HP, the car secures the thrills and technology of a real racing car on everyday roads.

Turin, 29 January 2016

Fiat Ducato elected "Best Motorhome Base Vehicle 2016" in Germany

The sixth generation of Fiat Ducato won the accolade awarded by the readers of the specialised magazine "Promobil", further confirming the success of the leading model in the sector and key reference for all European camper van manufacturers.

Fiat Ducato wins yet another international award: for the ninth time running, it was named "Best Motorhome Base Vehicle 2016" by the readers of "Promobil", the specialised German magazine that has been considered the barometer of the trends in the motorhome sector for more than 25 years. The undisputed number one model on the motorhome market in Germany has received the top score, leaving behind Mercedes Sprinter and VW T6.

Once again, Fiat Ducato, base vehicle of choice for a multitude of camper van variants made by different manufacturers, has prevailed over the competition put up by similar vehicles. Bernd Wachtel, Head of Bodywork for FCA Germany AG, will be collecting the prize at the ceremony which will be held during the CMT in Stuttgart from January 16 to 24. CMT is Europe's most important trade fair dedicated to caravanning, motoring and tourism open to the general public. Last year it attracted over 240,000 visitors.

The award complements the trust expressed by manufacturers and customers and is further confirmation of the efficacy of the modern, innovative approach adopted by the light commercial vehicle department of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for Fiat Ducato, which is simply the perfect base for becoming a camper van. For many years, the features of Ducato, for the building versions van, chassis cab and chassis cowl, have proven to be winning for motorhome owners: in its square, box-shaped cargo compartment, every centimetre can be cleverly exploited to make all the space available for holidays.

What is more, Fiat Ducato has a rich range of Multijet engines and gear-boxes - including the robotised Comfort-Matic gear-box available for the engines with 130 hp, 150 hp and 180 hp - and an excellent steering circle to facilitate manoeuvring. More strong features of the vehicle are the comfortable and car-like ergonomics and driving and its peerless comfort, guaranteed also by its excellent visibility, its comfortable "Captain Chair" style seats with integrated head restraints, its adjustable steering wheel and hydraulic power steering. Last but not least, Fiat Ducato is packed with active and passive safety devices to travel with confidence.

The Ducato base is leader in the motorhome sector and the chassis of choice for all European motorhome manufacturers: during the past ten years, over 500,000 families have safely and confidently chosen to travel and enjoy their holidays in a Fiat Ducato base camper van. With many years of experience under its belt, Fiat Professional offers a unique range of services dedicated to Fiat Ducato base motorhome users for organising their trips, exchanging experiences and intervening promptly wherever needed.

Turin, 8 January 2016

Jeep® Renegade is Named Best “4x4 of the Year 2016”

• The prestigious award given by 4x4 Magazine, the off-road specialist UK magazine
• A Trailhawk, the range-topping version in terms of performance and off-road characterization, was put through its paces
• According to the jury "Renegade is one of the most significant 4x4 vehicles to be produced in the last five years"
• Renegade ranked first in the "Mid-range SUV sub-£30,000" category

Jeep^® Renegade was named "4x4 of the Year 2016" by the UK's 4x4 Magazine, one of the most famous specialist publications in the world. The coveted title confirms the winning features of the small SUV which has become one of the best-selling models in its segment in many countries across the EMEA region. The 4x4 Magazine's jury, which was unanimous in its decision, put the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, the version that expresses the best in terms of performance and all-terrain characterization, through its paces on a tough off-road evaluation course.

Trailhawk is the top-of-the-range version: it combines the best of Jeep's off-road technology and the finest of FCA's engineering innovations. The car is equipped with a powerful 2.0 MultiJet 170 HP engine combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive Low which delivers a final drive ratio of 20:1. The jury of 4x4 Magazine concluded that the entire Renegade range was worthy of the award and declared that the model was "one of the most significant 4x4 vehicles produced in the last five years".

Furthermore, 4x4 Magazine named Jeep Renegade the best in the "Mid-range SUV sub-£30,000" category, while the iconic Jeep Wrangler took the "Hardcore" class for the fourth consecutive year.

Jeep Renegade, of which over 180,000* units have been produced so far at the revamped FCA Melfi Plant in Italy, represented the debut of the Jeep brand into a new segment. By entering the small-SUV category for the first time -  the fastest growing one in the EMEA region  -Jeep demonstrated that it is no longer a 'niche' brand and is able to compete successfully in the various segments. The array of Jeep Renegade awards also confirm that the Jeep brand can address the everyday needs of its customers while staying true to its DNA of genuine off-road brand. As first SUV manufacturer globally, Jeep delivers the best off-road capabilities in all segments it competes in.

Jeep Renegade award list includes:

• "New Car of the Year 2015"	- Quattroruote (Italy);
• "Best SUV of the Year 2015"	- Coches.net (Spain);
• "Car of the Year 2016"	- Autoesporte (Brazil);
• "4x4 of the Year 2015"	- 4x4 Magazine (France);
• "SUV of the Year 2015"	- 4x4 Tout-Terrain Magazine (France);
• "Car of the Year 2016" awarded by a panel of specialist journalists in Greece;
• "Best Buy Award 2016" in the Subcompact-SUV category for US Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy

Turin, 23 December 2015

*data updated as of November 30^th

 

The New Fiat Doblò Cargo named "Light Van of the Year"

• The endorsement to the fourth generation of the Fiat Professional commercial vehicle was awarded by UK's premier specialised publication.
• "What Van?" judges were impressed by the new Fiat Doblò Cargo's excellent driving dynamics, robust durability and expansive range.

The New Fiat Doblò Cargo has been named "Light Van of the Year" at the "2016 What Van? Awards" held by UK's premier title offering Light Commercial Vehicle buying and selling advice.

At the awards ceremony held in London, the "What Van?" judging panel - an expert editorial panel comprising decades of experience in the industry - was impressed by the new Fiat Professional vehicle launched last February and emphasised its class-leading attributes such as its excellent driving dynamics and comfort, its segment-leading load and volume capacities as well as its solidity, robustness and breadth of range.

Now in its fourth generation, the New Doblò Cargo therefore confirms the all-round qualities of the model, which has amassed more than 1.4 million sales since it was launched in 2000, and which has won the "What Van?" accolade four times previously. Fiat Professional's new vehicle features a fresh exterior design, as well as a series of technical and functional enhancements that ensure superior performance levels (torque response has improved by up to 40% in city driving) and excellent road handling and driving comfort - courtesy of its sophisticated independent wheel bi-link rear suspension (segment-leading).

With a payload of up to one tonne and a load volume of up to 5.4 m³, the New Doblò Cargo has impressive carrying capacity, both in terms of weight and size, which makes it ideal for commercial use. Its engine range provides low running costs and emissions, while a large number of variants are offered, from vans to special vehicles, including versions that have been converted for specific uses. In short, this makes for an excellent range of choice for any business looking to either expand or make changes to their fleet.

Depending on the market, the New Doblò Cargo is available in four body styles (Cargo, Combi, WorkUp and Load platform), two height variants and two wheelbase lengths. The engine range comprises six turbo diesel engines - 1.3 MultiJet II (75 and 90 HP), 1.6 MultiJet II (100 and 105 HP), a 90 HP 1.6 MultiJet II with robotised gearbox and a 135 HP 2.0 MultiJet II - and three petrol power trains: a 95 HP 1.4, a 120 HP 1.4 TurboJet and a 120 HP 1.4 TurboJet (petrol/methane). Furthermore, the range has been extended with the new "EcoJet" version - dedicated to the 90 HP 1.3 MultiJet II and the 105 HP 1.6 MultiJet II versions - engineered to lower fuel consumption and reduce running costs even further (by up to 15%).

Sold in more than 80 different countries, including North America where it retails as the RAM Promaster City, the New Doblò Cargo is produced in the Tofaş plant in Bursa (Turkey), one of the world's best automotive factories, which has received a World Class Manufacturing Gold Medal.

Turin, 17 December 2015