Before Fiat and Chrysler worked out the final deal, a group ofsecond-year students at the Turin-based IED were asked to design a car capable of combining to the platforms and the values of the two brands.
First up is the Biov that is the work of by Roberto Testolin. The idea behind the small pod-like automobile is the creation of an affordable and ecological vehicle positioned in the A segment that’s aimed at young and eco-conscious buyers. The car’s body panels are made of lightweight plastic materials that are said to reduce the car’s “production complexity” and “engineering costs”.
The second and comparatively more realistic proposal is the Jeep Pygmy by Vasily Kurkov. The odd-looking three-door SUV is based on the platform of the Fiat Panda Cross 4×4. According to the designer, the exterior styling blends European and American aesthetics while the interior that can seat two, is said to combine retro features with high-tech details.

VW is presenting the fourth consecutive concept model of the Up! family at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.
E-Up! concept, measuring 3.19 meters in length, 1.64 meters in width and 1.47 meters in height with a wheelbase of 2.19 meters,  is smaller than a Fiat 500. However, VW’s designers managed to squeeze in 3+1 seats which means the front passenger seat is positioned 50 mm forward, thanks to the instruments being pushed further up front.
The mini’s rear seat backrest is split 40/60. With the backrest on the driver’s side folded down (that’s the 40 percent section), stowage capacity is increased from 85 to 180 liters while with both seats down, capacity grows to 320 liters.
The E-Up! is motivated by an electric motor that can deliver a peak output of 60kW / 80Hp and a constant 40kW / 53Hp, along with a maximum torque of 210Nm (154 lb-ft). VW says that the E-Up! can hit 50km/h (31mph) from standstill in 3.5 seconds and 100km/h (62mph) in 11.3 seconds while the mini’s top speed is 135km/h (84mph).
Energy is provided by a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 18kWh that weighs in at 240 kg (530 lbs). The car’s total weight including the batteries is 1,085 kg (2,392 lbs).
Volkswagen reckons that a full recharge of the batteries at a 230V household plug would take a maximum of five hours while at a charging station, an 80 percent charge could be achieved within an hour.
The E-Up! is also equipped with solar cells on the roof that not only supply energy to the car’s electrical system, but furthermore help to cool the interior when the vehicle is parked by supplying energy to the ventilation system.

Fiat has released new images and details of the 2010 Punto Evo ahead of the vehicle’s world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Punto Evo was designed as the “evolution” model of the Grande Punto and is expected to come with a number of exterior and interior updates. The new Punto Evo promises a range of style, safety and innovative features.

Exterior updates include the new front and rear bumpers, while the interior features a new updated dash, improved seats, enlarged storage compartments and better instrumentation.

The Punto Evo will be available with a wide variety of powerplants, including a 1.3L including MultiAir petrol units and second generation 1.4L Multijet diesel units. The new dual-fuel methane and gas engines will also available to Punto Evo buyers as an option.

The Punto Evo sets new standards in the area of safety by equipping the vehicle with 7 airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Other safety equipment includes a Hill-Holder system, adaptive fog lights, ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution and ESP. Stop and start technology will be standard across the Punto Evo range. Other features on the Evo include seven airbags, stability control, hill-start assist, and adaptive headlights.

Following its debut in Frankfurt, the 2010 model year Punto Evo will go on sale in the European market during the second half of October.

The Korean tyre manufacturer decided to use the skills of its in-house designer and former Fiat Advanced Design employee, Rob Dolton, to demonstrate what tomorrow’s SUVs could be like. The result is a three-door crossover with a fully-electric drivetrain Fortis that comprises of four 100hp chassis-mounted motors, one for each wheel.

The electric motors are powered by a Lithium ion battery pack that can be recharged at home, work or at a recharge station.

The Fortis boasts ground-breaking tyre technology. The tread pattern can be adjusted at will to provide optimum performance for both on and off-road.

The tyre threads feature special metal biters that optimize off-road performance when employed, while for on-road use, the tyre cavity is inflated thus expanding the rubber areas to cover the metal biters.

Dolton also found a way to make use of used tyres as the vehicle’s bumper sections, doors, bonnet, front wings and rear hatch are all manufactured from recycled tyre rubber.

The German tuning house Novitec is one of the most famous tuning companies that is known for tuning Italian cars like Ferrari, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and others. The German boutique has recently debuted its latest work the GranTurismo S. They have taken the V8 440HP GranTurismo S and increased the power up to 600HP by adding a supercharger. Novitec Tridente also equipped the car with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels.

Other changes were also made including a water-to-air intercooler, a new intake system and larger injectors plus new mapping for the engine electronics. On the exterior the tuned Maserati GranTurismo S is featured with body kit (available in body color or visible carbon-fiber) that includes a front spoiler, rear wing, skirt and rocker panel extensions.

As a result now it takes GranTurismo S only 4.5 seconds from standstill to reach 100 km/h (62mph) and 14.6 seconds to 200km/h (124mph). Furthermore, top speed grows from 295 to 315 km/h (196mph).

The Automotive News has reported that Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A are planning to sign a deal by the end of April according to which the American-Italian automakers will produce seven new vehicles for the North American auto market. The vehicles to be produced by product-sharing agreement are two Alfa Romeos, one Fiat and four Fiat Group based Chrysler LLC cars. Partners are planning to built the vehicles at the North American plants of Chrysler LLC and sell them through Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships throughout the states.

According to the information the three Fiat models that will be produced in U.S. are the retro-styled mini-car Fiat 500, the sporty Alfa Romeo MiTo that is aimed towards the MINI Cooper and the Audi A3 / VW Golf sized Alfa Romeo 147 replacement that is unofficially named 149.

The report also reveals that Chrysler LLC will use three Fiat Group cars as the base for its new models. The American Automaker is planning to produce a Chrysler or a Dodge five-door hatchback which will most likely be based on the next Fiat Panda mini-car and have the same platform as the 500.

The Alfa 149’s so called C-Evo platform is going to be used to build a possible replacement for the Dodge Caliber, the Dodge Avenger, as well as Chrysler Sebring mid-size sedans. And finally a B-Segment sized hatchback will be created based on the Alfa MiTo will lend its platform and its 1.4-liter and 1.8-liter turbocharged engines.