Fiat 500 Abarth, Cabrio and EV to Go on Sale in the US

Fiat's US takeover started with the regular 500 model and, as far as the Italian carmaker is concerned, it will continue not only with Alfa Romeo but also with the hottest iterations of its already-popular city crawler. The Abarth flavor, together with the Cabrio and a totally green variant powered by a battery pack are scheduled to go on sale in the US sometimes in 2012, with public appearances to take place this year.

The Cabrio will be first presented at the New York Auto Show this April, a report by The New York Times informs. The EV version of the 500 is currently in development, but all three new editions are scheduled to meet the public in 2012.

All models will be manufactured in factories across North America and will present few modifications as compared to their European counterparts, as well as technical differences to comply with local regulations. The 500 is currently manufactured in Mexico, while the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine fitted on it is made by Chrysler in Michigan.

Besides bringing more 500 versions Stateside, Fiat is also planning an entirely-new B-class model specifically designed for the United States. Italians remain tightlipped when it comes to the new vehicle, but voices from within the company hinted that it is already under development and it is internally known as Project L-Zero.

The car will most likely be unveiled in 2013 and will be assembled at one of Chrysler's local facilities. However, it's yet unknown whether it will be offered as a sedan or as a hatchback.