Photo: Fiat
While some Fiat 500 Abarth models are sold with automatic transmissions in Europe, the US market strangely benefits only from the 6-speed manual gearbox that comes as standard.
However, in an interview with WardsAuto, Fiat North America president Tim Kuniskis said that he considers introducing the automatic model to attract more customers, especially women.
"I think (with) Cabrio, maybe we’ll get a couple more women. I don’t think it will change radically," said Kuniskis. "I think when we’ll see more women is when we have the automatic, and we’re planning to add the automatic in the Abarth at some point, only because we’re getting that feedback from customers."
In Europe, 75% of small-car buyers are women, compared to only 45% in the US, that being the reason for Fiat not bothering with adding an automatic transmission as optional.
"I think (with) Cabrio, maybe we’ll get a couple more women. I don’t think it will change radically," said Kuniskis. "I think when we’ll see more women is when we have the automatic, and we’re planning to add the automatic in the Abarth at some point, only because we’re getting that feedback from customers."
In Europe, 75% of small-car buyers are women, compared to only 45% in the US, that being the reason for Fiat not bothering with adding an automatic transmission as optional.
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