Small car, big project

Vehicle Line Executive for the Fiat 500, Joe Grace, talks about bringing the iconic car to North America and the collaboration between engineers in Turin and Detroit that helped make it happen.

Timing is everything, the old saying goes. With the recent North American introduction of the subcompact Fiat 500-just as the specter of $4/gal gasoline becomes reality in many parts of the U.S.-the timing, it would seem, is impeccable.

As of May 16, the national average gasoline price had climbed to $3.960, according to statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. So a new A-segment hatchback with a base price of $15,500 that offers 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway (five-speed manual version)-not to mention unique styling inspired by an Italian classic-could expectedly be well-received in such a market climate.