2/15/11 Fiat 500 email.

[sjmst]

sonicsby5 wrote

This thread is hilariously nerdy, I love it.  Way to go all CSI on that image!  "Let's get that bezel over to Trace..."

Hey, this not Lamborghini Chat. We are not buying a fire snorting Italian Bull. We are fans of a cute and cuddly pup. of COURSE it gets nerdy.  

[Giallo Edizione]

sjmst wrote

<Hey, this not Lamborghini Chat. We are not buying a fire snorting Italian Bull. We are fans of a cute and cuddly pup. <i>of COURSE it gets nerdy.  

It's not? We're not?.... Good heavens, I've made a terrible mistake...

[Giallo Edizione]

Now if the graphite could look a little more like this I can be convinced:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motors/phil_lanning/3412781/Honey-Ive-shrunk-the-Ferrari.html

[sjmst]

Secret Bezel wrote

Now if the graphite could look a little more like this I can be convinced:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motors/phil_lanning/3412781/Honey-Ive-shrunk-the-Ferrari.html

I want that.

[Mike S]

Snorting bull or prancing Volvo moose, it still makes a statement. This is on my Volvo wagon.

[Jim McKenzie]

Very cool and reminds me of the "Prancing Donkey" the X1/9 guys use on their ca

[RacerRon]

You guys should get a "Ferrari Trainer" plate for your Prima like this one I had made up for my X1/9.

[sketch]

I love badging from the era that manufacturers deemed "five speed" an exciting enough option to advertise!

[Fiat500USA]

sketch wrote

I love badging from the era that manufacturers deemed "five speed" an exciting enough option to advertise!

Maybe some of the "old timers" will remember the Fiat ad in the 70's where it said only 5 cars had 5 speed transmissions and 2 of them were Fiats?  I can't remember exactly, and I can't find the ad in my collection.  Anyone remember?

[sketch]

Oh man... I have no idea, but I think I know someone who can help!

[RacerRon]

I don't remember the Fiat 5-speed ad. I do know that several Fiats had 5-speeds in the early 70s. The X1/9 didn't get one until 1979, and that was because of complaints about the 4-speed buzzing at 4,000 rpms at 60 mph.

[sjmst]

I called the fiat number. They said they get lots of calls about that!. THEY have no idea what the “graphite instrument panel” means. Isn’t that something. The FIAT info line doesn’t know what a car already built looks like.

[Giallo Edizione]

sjmst wrote

I called the fiat number. They said they get lots of calls about that!. THEY have no idea what the “graphite instrument panel” means. Isn’t that something. The FIAT info line doesn’t know what a car already built looks like.

Best kept secret ever!

[Minuszka]

This question has been asked back in November, after the initial info came out. I asked ciaofiat back then. So it was 3 month ago, plenty of time to gather some information and provide an answer...

[Gavin]

I still think we will get the dash in body color with a separate small outline in graphite around the speedo...

but I have the best of all worlds as I am getting the gray prima, so if the dash is graphite, well that will look great on the gray model. :)

Gaviin

[sjmst]

Gavin wrote

I still think we will get the dash in body color with a separate small outline in graphite around the speedo...

but I have the best of all worlds as I am getting the gray prima, so if the dash is graphite, well that will look great on the gray model. :)

Gaviin

I think you are right, Gavin. Makes no sense to have only those with a gray car have a matching dash. Or, if it is not an exact match to gray, have it be slightly off.

[sam500]

Yet another bezel-related conspiracy...errrr, observation!

Looking through the 500 iPhone App, the "Instrument Panel" (as in Graphite Instrument Panel Bezel) very much refers to the Speedo and EVIC. If you look at the menu, it even shows a "speedo" image on the left hand side!

[sketch]

Told you so :P

[FiATL]

Just got off the phone with Maria discussing where my car is being delivered and asked again about the bezel.  She stated that this is one of the most hotly discussed questions.  She's heard that it is body colored but has also heard it is graphite and said, "Looks like we'll see when the first cars get delivered."   Having worked for an auto manufacturer in a past life, this really doesn't surprise me.  We would often have to talk to the consumers who were product geeks as they usually knew before we did what was upcoming.  Odd but not a shocker.  

Hoping Bianco 286 is chugging its way to Atlanta...with a white dashboard. (Fingers crossed.)

[sjmst]

I am betting on body colored dashboard, and graphite around the guages.