Fiat Chrysler has started production of a version of the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio convertible with automatic transmission in the hopes of appealing to more American buyers.
The latest model will look the same as its predecessor on the outside but will feature a revamped interior, USA TODAY reported. The Fiat 500 Abarth with a six-speed automatic transmission should be available later this summer.
The automaker's Toluca, Mexico, plant has begun work on the new model, which will also be powered by the Abarth turbocharged 1.4-liter engine producing 157 horsepower and 183 pound-feet of torque.
The Abarth has been a popular model for Fiat Chrysler, and the version with automatic transmission is expected to boost sales in the U.S., where fewer consumers tend to want to drive a stick shift.
"Abarth sales increased more than 16 percent during this year, and we expect this sales success to continue with the launch of this new automatic transmission," Jason Stoicevich, Chrysler Group's head of the Fiat brand for North America, said in a statement quoted by USA TODAY.
Sales for Fiat's lineup increased 18 percent in May and have risen 17 percent so far for the year, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The new 2014 Fiat 500L was marketed earlier this year with a campaign that featured hip-hop star Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. The ad starring the American rapper showcased the four-door car's larger size compared with the earlier Fiat 500.
The 500L broke the mold for the brand by having room for five adults as well as cargo, according to USA TODAY.
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