Fiat Unveils Cabrio, Wagon, EV Variants for U.S.

Fiat SpA will introduce a trio of variants of its tiny 500 city car for the North American market beginning early next year. The company unveiled all three models on Wednesday at the Los Angeles auto show.

First up will be a cabrio edition of the sporty 500 Abarth model, which will debut in the first quarter of 2013. The car's canvas top retracts along roof track running above the side windows. Drivers can partially drop their tops at speeds as high as 60 mph and fully retract the top at 50 mph.

The convertible package includes Abarth's 160-hp engine, five-speed manual transmission, lowered suspension, quicker steering ratio, three-mode electronic stability control and numerous powertrain modifications.

Cabrio buyers also qualify at no addition charge for a one-day performance driving class with instructors from the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Fiat's second new vehicle will be the 500e electric model, which will go on sale in California in the second quarter next year. The EV is propelled by a 111-hp electric motor and battery that can be recharged from a 240-volt power source in less than four hours. Fiat says the EV will have a range of about 80 miles.

The third model expected to be the best seller among the group is the 500L wagon. The five-passenger vehicle, which went on sale in Europe in July, is 26 inches longer, 6 inches wider and 6 inches taller than the standard 500.

The wagon rides on Fiat's new "small-wide" platform. The company says the 500L is 42% roomier than the standard 500 and is classified as a "large car" under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rating system.

The wagon is powered by the same 1.4-liter, 160-hp turbocharged engine used in the 500 Abarth performance model. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch transmission.