U.S. Fiat 500 to Get New Platform

The Fiat 500 is the car that will reintroduce Fiat to the U.S. market and the Italian automaker has big plans for the small vehicle. The American version of the 500 - due to be released next year - will be different from the one sold in Europe, being underpinned by a new platform, Inside Line reported.

The U.S. 500 will look just like its European brother but will use the Fiat Group’s upcoming A platform, sharing it with the future Fiat Panda and Lancia Ypsilon.

The fresh platform offers multiple advantages, such as higher impact security, an improved noise, vibration and harshness level and reduced weight, propelling the U.S. 500 in front of its old continent twin.

The Euro-spec 500 will not receive the new platform, as this would require assembly line changes, thus increasing the car’s production cost. The U.S. car does not require additional investment, because it will be built at a production site that has been designed to use the new components. The car will be assembled by a Chrysler plant located in Mexico City - this will eventually reach a production output of 130,000 units annually.

Fiat plans to gain a strong position on the U.S. market and has established a complex plan in order to achieve this - recently, the company announced the Appointment of Laura J. Soave as Head of Operations for North America. Soave will be responsible of all the company’s operations, including its financial situation. She will report directly to Fiat and Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, and will develop the sales, marketing, dealer network and service departments.