Seems you'll be able to buy a pre chavved up 500 in the USA
http://www.italiaspeed.com/

at least they are not devaluing the Abarth brand with these Ripspeed esque modz

I bet there are a few yank that are unimpressed about them using the MOPAR name.

The Mopar tie in is a little puzzling. To me it makes as much sense as calling a Toyota IQ an Aston Martin Cygnet just because you slapped a new grill on it.

But then, as a friend is fond of saying 'people are idiots'.

I don't think Americans are very familiar with the term "chav" and i wouldn't associate the Mopar brand with it either to be honest. Let's be honest, there are much worse out there!

DraigFlag87 said:

I don't think Americans are very familiar with the term "chav" and i wouldn't associate the Mopar brand with it either to be honest. Let's be honest, there are much worse out there!

Click to expand...

No doubt. I've no idea what an American equivalent of a "chav " is, but the car looks all blinged up and sh*t. Either way Mopar have put their name on it.

Murano16v said:

No doubt. I've no idea what an American equivalent of a "chav " is

Click to expand...

I think it's a "jock" named after "jockstrap" which the football players wear. They wear sporty clothes, they think they are hard and they are cocky too so that's pretty much a chav!

DraigFlag87 said:

I think it's a "jock" named after "jockstrap" which the football players wear. They wear sporty clothes, they think they are hard and they are cocky too so that's pretty much a chav!

Click to expand...

Not really. I think the closest to a chav in automotive terms would be a ricer.

I've seen worse 500s on streets over here, that's quite tasteful in comparison.

Actually apart from the ride height being far too high ( is it just how it is or is it a US safety thing?) and the hideous fuel cap, it's quite nice. It's a photoshop, so not sure how the stripes work, would hope they'd look slightly different in reality, they seem a strange colour that doesn't match with black which i'd of thought to of been impossible, but they do seem to have the chrome in just the right amount though.

Doesn't look nearly as bad. Still don't like it, but it looks a lot better.

306maxi said:

Doesn't look nearly as bad. Still don't like it, but it looks a lot better.

Click to expand...

Agreed, but some people still need to learn that "less is more".

RobinPJ said:

Agreed, but some people still need to learn that "less is more".

Click to expand...

Definitely. I like my very plain BNW 500 with side strips and 16" multispokes. Simple is good.

RobinPJ said:

Agreed, but some people still need to learn that "less is more".

Click to expand...

indeed, so with that snowboard rack (?) it looks far too fussy, but as i said previously the amount of chrome is about right. so lose that rack and it'd look pretty good.

Ride height is far too high though, perhaps wide/squarer sideskirts would make it look better. the blue stripes are quite nice unlike the photoshop.

For those of you who think "less is more", you'll probably like the car i've got at the mo then, even i like it, and my car is plastered with crappy stickers!

maddogmorg said:

indeed, so with that snowboard rack (?) it looks far too fussy, but as i said previously the amount of chrome is about right. so lose that rack and it'd look pretty good.

Ride height is far too high though, perhaps wide/squarer sideskirts would make it look better. the blue stripes are quite nice unlike the photoshop.

Click to expand...

Personally I think the chrome over emphasises the vents and valence - and takes too much attention from the overall shape. A bit like putting neon flashing lights on a lace thong.

I much prefer the layout of the valence on Draigflag's courtesy car.

It is also way too much on tiptoe.

Doesn't look as bad as I first thought. Quite like the stripe, but don't get the chrome on the rear fake bumper grills, making a feature of something that already looks crap. Ride height does look a bit bonkers.

I have heard the term "Chav" before. I would definitely say the closest thing to that in the US is Ricer. I was completely unaware that they were going to be associated with Dodge at all. I honestly thought if anything they would be more of a GM association. But it's all good. I love Fiats. We have a 2004 Team Mopar Dodge SRT-4 that we Rally with along with a 1980 Fiat x 1/9 that we Rally-Cross with. So I personally have no problem at all with Fiat being associated with Mopar.

Mopar is the "Hot Rod" parts of Chrysler. Fiat will soon own 35% in Chrysler. Soon they will have a larger stake. The Fiats in the USA are Fiats and in some cases will share dealership locations with a seperate entrance. Most will be stand alone. Fiat is a Fiat for sure over here. The Chrysler dealers had first crack at becoming a dealer but it was NOT a requirement.

I'm also waiting on the Alfa's.

Chav = Ricer......learn something new every day!


BTW I 100% agree.....less is more!

I am so excited for the return of Fiat to America. Maybe they will get interested in Rally over here and help me out a bit? haha