Fiat 500 Collects Car Of The Year 2008
Fiat was officially presented with the European Car of the Year 2008 award last night (28 January 2008) at a special
ceremony in Berlin after 57 of the 58 judges placed it in their shortlist and now fewer than 33 judges gave the Fiat 500
the top spot.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO Fiat Group, receives the award 'Car of the Year 2008' from Ray Hutton, president of the jury.
With the presentation of the award to the Fiat 500, Fiat has now won 12 European Car of the Year titles.
"We have gone a long way in a short space of time," said Sergio Marchionne, C.E.O. of Fiat Group Automobiles at the
ceremony. "And I am proud to be able to underline that Fiat was the fastest growing car brand in Europe last year. The
500 is not a final target for the brand, but just the first stage in the ongoing development of the 'new Fiat', which is
why we see the 500 as not just a car, but as a 'travelling agenda' of what we want to achieve."
The judges praised the Fiat 500 for its seamless blend of styling backed by intelligent design and high technology to
produce a small car that is a pleasure to own, safe to drive and environmentally friendly.
The Fiat 500 will make its Australasian debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show on 29 February before taking
part in the Celebrity Challenge at the 2008 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 16 March 2008. New Zealand
deliveries will start in late March, following the announcement of pricing and specifications this month so that
prospective owners could order their cars.
ENDS