The Crank: Fiat needs more than the 500 to make it in Canada

By John LeBlanc BMW Canada sold about 4,500 Minis last year; the new 2012 Fiat 500’s closest true rival. And although the Mini has a nine-year head start, the 500’s mainstream pricing—and novelty—should have the 60-odd Canadian Fiat dealers left with no problem selling the same amount (if not more) annually. Despite the 500’s tight […]

First Drive: 2012 Fiat 500 Sport

[svgallery name=”2012_Fiat_500_hirez”] Promise Fulfilled The first Fiat in Canada after 27 years finally arrives By John LeBlanc SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Since Fiat took over the duty of managing Chrysler, fans of Italian-bred cars have been left with many questions. The arrival of the 2012 Fiat 500, the first car from the Italian automaker to […]

Road Trip: 2010 Fiat 500 1.4 Sport

[svgallery name=”2010_Fiat_500_road_trip_pics”] Driving la dolce vita Touring Tuscany in the Canadian-bound Fiat Cinquecento Story and photos by John LeBlanc SIENNA, Italy – Zipping by the vineyards that cover central Italy’s Chianti Hills like designer shag carpet, our Fiat 500’s tach freely swinging to its redline, we’re trying to coax the most from the small, Italian […]

Bailout Blues: Will Fiat ever deliver on its promise of new Chryslers?

By John LeBlanc With U.S. lawmakers taking Toyota to the wood shed this week, let’s take a look at another automaker with some, ahem, challenges: Fiat-run Chrysler.

Bye-Bye 2009: Best Driving Experience of the Year

Story and photo by John LeBlanc My best driving experience during 2009 had nothing to do with one of those fancy-pants press junkets that we auto writers are spoiled with on a regular basis (Mrs. Automotive Journalist’s words, not mine). Nope. Instead it was some personal driving time in and around the Italian Chianti region, […]

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