Fiat will have an extensive stand packed full of attractions at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Essential, smooth shapes combine with the colours of the Italian flag, a unifying visual element that is immediately recognisable. The stand is divided into three themed areas, each distinguished by one of the colours in the flag: the green area illustrates Fiat’s commitment to the environment; the white area aims to attract the public with the spirit of the ‘new Fiat’ embodied in the Fiat 500; and the red area reflects the passion for racing under the banner of the Abarth scorpion.

We can start with the cars displayed in the green area of the stand, which underline that the protection of the environment is an essential aspect of the development of all Fiat Automobiles models. First of all, the Fiat Panda Aria concept car, an ‘environmental manifesto’ that confirms the brand’s determination to analyse novelties in its search for innovative ways to limit polluting emissions and CO₂ levels, achieving a record result of 69 g/km. Then the Fiat Panda Panda Climbing and Fiat Multipla Natural Power 360° Special Edition, ambassadors of the broad, comprehensive Natural Power range of cars with petrol/methane dual fuel engines. And finally, the Grande Punto and Bravo equipped with the brand new 120 bhp and 150 bhp 1.4 T-Jet engines: the best example of Fiat’s research in the field of conventional engines developed specifically to reduce the environmental impact.

This constant commitment won Fiat Automobiles acknowledgement as the best European brand for the abatement of CO₂ emissions in 2005, from an independent source (European Federation for Transport and Environment). And in 2006 the Group achieved an 18% reduction on 1995, and that same year, 55% of all the cars sold by the Group had emissions below 140 g/km, while 13% were below 120 g/km. On the basis of these results, and regardless of decisions taken by the European authorities, Fiat Automobiles is committed to reaching the lowest average pondered level for CO₂ emissions for its cars by 2012. Fiat aims to achieve this goal by the implementation of a programme of targeted intervention to its engines, transmissions and cars. The programme also envisages the structural adoption of Stop&Start, which reduces fuel consumption by over 10% in the urban cycle.

At the Frankfurt Show, the public will be able to examine other devices and systems conducive to eco-compatible driving. For example, the brand is the first carmaker to propose sophisticated software that analyses driving styles and offers advice on how to drive in a more ‘eco-friendly’ manner. The customer’s driving style can be recorded through the USB port of the versatile Blue&Me^® system and transported to a digital environment using a USB pen drive. There the customer can analyse the consumption and emissions of all his trips in detail, receiving advice about how to drive so as to have less impact on the environment, and becoming part of a community that believes in eco-responsible driving.

The second area of the stand is dedicated to the brand new Fiat 500, which is making its first appearance at an international show after its exciting launch in Turinon July 4. The car, which is a true manifesto of the ‘new Fiat’, is presented in a highly original manner. A reproduction of the Fiat 500 has been created, five times larger than life, on which a circuit has been prepared – with a soundtrack, lights and special films – where five examples of the new model circulate continuously: two in the Sport specification with the 100 bhp 1.4 16v engine, two in the Lounge specification (with the 1.3 Multijet and 1.4 16v engines) and finally a Fiat 500 Pop powered by the 1.3 Multijet.

With colourful bodywork that is perfectly in line with the spirit of the new model, the five Fiat 500s will create an entertaining merry-go-round, which the public can also take part in, driving one of the cars. A unique, exciting presentation that will certainly draw the crowds: it isn’t every day that you can see the facia of a car reproduced realistically on a scale of 5:1.

And finally, the third focal point of the Frankfurtstand is the Abarth world, the maximum expression of sportiness, technology and tradition. Painted all in red, with an aggressive but refined setting, this area hosts the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 and a prototype of the Grande Punto Abarth with the ‘essesse’ (Super Sport) booster kit, making its world debut.