There will only be six automakers by 2010. 

That's the word from Sergio Marchionne.  The CEO of Fiat, a sometime manure distributor, says that the world auto market demands vast corporations capable of producing more than five and a half million automobiles a year--only five companies presently have that capacity.

 
The inevitable is coming. The Fiat Cabrio 500 is well on its way, as it has again been spied testing in Italy.

With the minicar's introduction more than a year ago, and the launch of the Abarth 500 as well as a several limited edition models shortly after, it was only a matter of time before the Italians decided to chop the roof off the cute little car to make a cabriolet.  

Information is still speculative, but it's almost certain that the engine choices will still remain the same: the 70 horsepower 1.2-liter and a 100 horsepower 1.4-liter the gasoline engines, or the 75 horsepower 1.3-liter Multijet diesel. The styling will presumably remain similar as well with only minor changes. To keep the car simple and the costs low, the roof could very well be manual folding fabric soft-top, and provide only seating for two instead of the usual four. 

So with the tester Cabrio already roaming Italian streets and the launch of the even higher performance Abarth SS scheduled for next month's Paris Motor Show, it wouldn't be surprising at all if a long-wheelbased 'Giardinetta' wagon were already in the works.

+ Motor Authority: Spy shots: 2010 Fiat 500 Cabrio

Continuing the current trend of green vehicles, Fiat has announced that it will unveil its new green label at the Paris Motor Show with fuel-efficient versions of the 500, Bravo, and Croma.

To make it's already fuel sipping cars even more economical, Fiat has implemented a series of changes. From a stop-start system, to longer gear ratios, to lower ground clearance and low-resistance tires, The Italian automaker was able to lower carbon dioxide emissions by a bit on the green label models versus their standard counterparts.

Along with the green label cars, Fiat will be bringing the Florino Qubo, a passenger derivative of the Florino Combi delivery van, to the Paris event. Built at Fiat's Tofas joint venture factory in Bursa, Turkey, The Qubo will have a much more refined interior as well as a sleeker look than the Combi. Qubo prices start at around $18,825 (from European figures) and Fiat hopes to sell around 20,000 of these each year.

+ Automotive News Europe: Fiat to unveil green label in Paris

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Looking not a little like something from the automotive Black Lagoon, to call these images of what looks to be the next generation Fiat Doblo “Funky” would be to majorly understate the case. Don’t be fooled by the cobbled together camouflage however, this mule looks very close, in proportion at least, to what we can expect from the final product.

While the Doblo has flourished in Europe as a small commercial vehicle, more and more European families are choosing the added space and versatility of the utile Fiat – or one of its competitors from Citroen, Renault, and Volkswagen – as an easy way to haul kids and stuff. Fiat is hoping that its tall and narrow lugger will help to steal even more of the billowing market share from those major players when it comes to dealerships.

Our spy shooter even speculates about Fiat bringing the next gen Doblo to the U.S. as part of that company’s new North American strategy. Perhaps hoping that the charmingly unhip vehicle could carve out a similar niche that has been found by the much-loved Dodge (née Mercedes-Benz) Sprinter van, it’s conceivable that Fiat could be taking aim at the need for a smallish, commercially viable, and fuel efficient vehicle. Certainly not the craziest thing we’ve ever heard. Read on for the shooter’s own words.

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Trying to expand on the premise that has made it the small car darling of Europe since its launch – including being named European Car of the Year for 2008 — Fiat is working on two separate convertible themes for its 500 city car.

The Italian company will likely offer both a full convertible and a cabrio “coach” version that would likely employ the same sort of large removable roof panel that made the original Cinquecento so lovable. The 500 in these new spy images would seem to have the full cabrio top fitted, though our spy shooter in the field describes the mule as being the coach version – we’ve got a call in to get the full story.

Update – Trust your spies. We received clarification that the windows and pillars on the spied car are fixed, indicating a folding top but not a full-fat convertible...just like we were told in the first place. Sorry to doubt you CarPix. 

Despite that small hiccup of information, it’s clear that a drop-top of some kind is coming from Fiat. Look for the car to come with the same engine range as its hard top brothers, and cross your fingers that Abarth gets involved as well.    

Update -

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The Tata conglomeration has been dealing some major business over in Italy recently. At a recent forum promoting cooperation between Italian and Indian companies, the group not only had talks with the Italian defense and aerospace company Finmeccanica about supplying helicopter parts, but they also spoke with Fiat about a possible partnership.

The joint venture between Fiat and Tata Motors, Fiat India Automobiles Pricate, revealed that the Fiat 500 is scheduled to hit the Indian market on July 18.

The Fiat 'Nuova' 500 is based on the Fiat Panda and has most of its styling cues from the original 1950s Nuova 500. Though new for India, the car had already launched in July, 2007.

The addition of the Fiat 500 to India is rather fitting as the country is one of the largest small-car producers in the world. They alone account for three-fourths of the domestic car market.

Other manufacturers such as Renault Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai, also have plans to release their own small cars onto the market. With even Tata launching the Nano soon, priced at $2500, India is set for an influx of small cars in the next two years.

+ Automotive News Europe: Fiat to launch neo-retro 'Fiat 500' concept car in India

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While the standard Fiat 500 Abarth only makes 135 horsepower from its 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, a new version has managed to squeeze out 25 more in the new 500 Abarth Opening Edition.

The Opening Edition is fitted with a fiddled edition of the original 1.4-liter and now produces 160 hp when the revs hit 5750 rpm with its 169.6 pound-feet of maximum torque (according to European figures) helping out at 3000 rpm. When mated to a 5-speed transmission, the car will have a 0-60 time of just under 7.4 seconds, and a top speed of 131 miles per hour.

Fiat and BMW announced today that they would be working together with platforms and components to be shared between the Mini and Alfa Romeo brands.

Friedrich Eichiner of BMW brand development said that the company was “currently examining with Fiat group possibilities for the joint use of components and systems”, though both companies have agreed to wait on divulging further specific details.

Supplier sources have hinted that the third-generation Mini and next-generation Alfa Romeo MiTo will share a platform, and that the automakers will work together to develop a new family of gas and diesel engines.

+ Automotive News: Fiat, BMW plan small-car alliance

New Fiat 500s may be more expensive than their historic counterparts, but one dubbed Dark, Dark, Dark sold for the mind-boggling price of nearly $400,000 at a charity auction in London recently. This particular Fiat was one of four 500s that were designed and painted by Tracey Emin, an acclaimed English artist.