Fiat adding midlevel 500 turbo model for 2013

Fiat is adding a midlevel model, the 500 Turbo, to its U.S. lineup for 2013.

Tim Kuniskis, head of of the Fiat brand in North America, said the model was developed to address consumer demand for more power and performance in the 500 line.

The car will get a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine rated at 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. It will have larger brake rotors, sport-tuned springs and shocks and a rear spoiler.

What? No turbo diesel? Even the 80s Toyota 4WD wagon I had on high school got nearly 40mpg. All the complaints about fuel economy, but nothing of significance done about it...

Pricing will start at $20,200 when it goes on sale in the United States this fall.

It's paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and gets 34 mpg on the highway.

The 500 Turbo will be equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine rated at 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.   The car also has a Beats by Dr. Dre audio system. By comparison, the base 500 is rated at 101 hp and 98 lb-ft from a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter four-cylinder, which costs $16,200. The Abarth pushes out 160 hp and 170 lb-ft from a turbo I4 and starts at $22,700. Fiat sold 3,710 units of the 500 in July and 24,416 units this year.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120817/OEM04/120819874/1306