|
|
|
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
09-22-2008, 04:16 PM
|
#1 (permalink) |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Posts: 59
|
New Fiat Dino?
Looks like there might be a new cousin in town...
Fiat to launch an Elise named Dino | Automotive & Motoring News | Car Magazine Online For the Lazy  Fiat to launch an Elise named Dino By James Foxall 19 September 2008 00:11 Fiat is planning a massive product offensive over the next three years and could re-launch the evocative Dino badge on a Lotus-derived sports car, CAR has learned. Not to be confused with the Dino of Ferrari fame, Fiat's version was all about affordable, stylish transport – and we could see the badge on a new Elise-based sports car due in three years' time. Fiat has entered into an agreement with Lotus so that it can develop its own version of the British company’s next Elise roadster. Fiat is basically repeating what Vauxhall did with the VX220; piggybacking a highly successful sports car and developing a mildly different version. Fiat's new Dino sports car is due in 2011 The new Fiat sports car will hit showrooms in 2011, CAR has discovered. It had been thought it would use the newly resurrected Abarth badge. However the Italian firm’s CEO Lorenzo Sistino told us: 'I think it would be great to go into the small two-seater roadster market again – and it would be brilliant if we could bring back the Dino badge, too.' Fiat launched its first model with the Dino badge in 1966. Echoing modern platform sharing techniques, it was a convertible built around the same basic chassis as the firm’s 124 Spider. Why is Fiat teaming up with Lotus? To secure its long-term future, Sistino says it must open new areas of the market. 'Discovering and creating niches is our goal at the moment,' he told us. 'We want to open as many new sectors as we can because that is one very effective way of differentiating ourselves from our rivals. It also enables us to attract buyers away from other competitors. 'We are keen to enter some of the niches that currently exist because we think we possess the right knowledge and skill sets to do very well in them. At the moment we are also working on a city car that will rival the Smart.' |
|
|
|
09-24-2008, 04:57 AM
|
#2 (permalink) |
|
Not Dead Yet
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 5,896
|
Just saw this myself.
Lotus has been marketing the Elise and VVA platform to other manufacturers for years but suddenly we are seeing a lot more publicity about it. I think that other companies are finally waking up to the financial advantages to using these platforms as the basis of their new vehicles not to mention the much shorter turn-around-time on R&D.
__________________
former Lotus Sales Robert (aka Sith Lord of LBL) 74 Elite 502 05 Elise (Snuffalupagous..RIP  : Laser Blue, Black Leather, Touring Pack, Hardtop )The Wallaby Will Ride Again |
|
|
|
09-24-2008, 05:32 AM
|
#3 (permalink) |
|
Houston, TX
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 340
|
This just further validates the amazing engineering & design that a relatively small firm, Lotus, offers!
__________________
"Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you´re racing, it’s life, anything that happens before or after is just waiting." (Steve McQueen, 1971) Daily driver -- '07 Graphite Grey Exige S with all factory options. 
|
|
|
|
|
09-24-2008, 10:31 PM
|
#4 (permalink) |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
|
Coming Together..
The much awaited team up between Lotus and Fiat bringsforth long overdue change to the car industry.In much anticipation we will be looking forward to what this companies can bring into the table in the months to follow..
teamfans |
|
|
|
|
09-25-2008, 02:09 PM
|
#10 (permalink) | |
|
TWRD & Blip advertising
 Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Marina del Rey, CA
Posts: 3,835
|
+100
 Quote:
__________________
Jacob Join Lotuscar.ning.com for LA Lotus social events 05 Exise, 2bular 6 inch exhaust. BWR double adjustable Penske shocks, Hypercoil springs, HIDs, BWR front sway bar, Light weight PC680 battery w/BWR brace, BWR Black badges and wheel centers, Custom SCC paint job, SCC OEM Exige mesh kit and Exige rear clam details, LSD, Lotus sport clutch and light weight fly wheel. Sector front splitter. Stebel horn. Multivex Mirrors. Volk CE28 wheels |
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
