The original movie with Michael Caine was priceless.

Oops, this is about cars… almost forgot….

Fiat is either or selling or “buying” engineering.

Fiat engines are rock solid, and the gearbox ratios are well selected. And they kick ass in diesels.

Didn’t know about the partnership with PSA on the Fiorino. In fact the first of those type of vans I remember is precisely the Fiorino.

I don’t think about one FWD or RWD platform. I see about 8 FWD and 4-8 RWD or a series of modular platforms that can be converted to FWD/RWD or AWD just changing some parts.

The Iveco heavy and medium truck cabins are VERY modular (smart italians) and can be EASILY configured for LHD or RHD, in some cases, just by swapping parts. Of course, I’m simplifying a lot.

Don’t see why cannot be done with cars.

The Suzuki SX4 is sold here too, while the Fiat Sedici is not.

And the platform sharing between the MINI and the 500 could be good for the 500, or bad for the MINI. Or make both more bland. OR both better. could go any way really.

Having been a passenger in a 500 i have to say it feels pretty solid. And less cramped in front than a V70 or A6. And it rides pretty nice for such a short and tall car, though it does tend to bounce a bit in the rear sometimes, which feels weird. This was the diesel version. I would definately be interested in the Abarth version when it’s released, supposedly with a 135hp turbo engine. Assuming the chassis can handle the power.

Most of my Fiat experience is from my dad’s old Tipo though, which pretty much disintegrated along the way. a 5 year old me was strong enough to break the window cranks, though i quickly learned how to crank them without cutting myself or ripping them loose. Pretty much everything except the engine, which worked just fine, disintegrated. Apart form the time he rushed to the fire station and blew out the oilpan on a speedbump.

Just being a grammar fascist, but that would be Silvio Berlusconi, or as I like to call him, the whack-a-mole of politics.