Chrysler’s tie in with Fiat is now showing its benefits as the Italian car maker’s products arrive in the US, and according to Motor Trend alongside launching the first official images of the Abarth the company has confirmed it will be making its debut at the auto show on November 16th.

The Abarth 500 has been developed by Fiats in house tuning arm, which gives the little 500 a power boost alongside some sporting flair. The breathed on models get some sport tuned suspension and 17-inch wheels along with flared wheel wells. The model destined for the US should look almost identical to the models found over the pond in Europe.

It is powered along by the usual 1.4-liter I-4 engine, but brings with it a turbocharger that boosts power up to 135bhp. With the 152 lb-ft of torque may not look much on paper, but considering the small form factor of the 500 will have it bristling along. In Europe if that power is still not enough customers can pick up the Esseesse package, which provides an impressive 160bhp and 170 lb-ft of torque.

Chrysler have stated that the Abarths hitting the US market will use the same 1.4 turbocharged power plant, but hasn’t yet disclosed full US specifications. Representatives have stated though the US Abarth will be sticking close to the spirit of the European version of the car, and also the Esseesse version has not yet been confirmed for the US.

Do you like the look of the Fiat 500 Abarth?

The first is the ever-popular Ford Focus, which has been doing well in Europe for years, but has now started to emulate that success across the pond. The model that you should choose has to be the 2012 Ford Focus ST. There is a sedan version, but we feel that it lacks something when compared to the hatchback. The 2.0-liter engine produces 246hp, but that’s thanks to the turbo that Ford has kindly supplied.

Next we have the 2012 Chevrolet Spark. The carmaker has been doing very well in the small car segment, and the Spark shows that they are not just committed to large sedans. There are a number of engine versions, but you are advised to go with the turbocharged version, as the standard engine will feel a little bit gutless.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is yet another small hatchback on this list, but choosing the right version is tough, as there have been so many. Again, if you want a little more power, then you should hold station, as a more powerful Abarth sports will soon be released to the market.

For those who want a hatchback for its looks, then you should go with the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. We have discussed this car on a number of occasions, and a recent test drive proved very positive. The design is audacious, which is just what we like, as we cannot stand things being too predictable.

What other 2012 hatchback cars should be on this list?

However, we have a feeling that the 500 Cabrio is going to either going to be a firm favorite or a total mismatch with consumers. The design you might agree is slightly unusual and the size is just enough to fit four people inside.

Key features include an electric powered fabric roof which can be opened whilst driving, although those sitting in the back seat won’t be able to benefit from windows, as the main ones are situated on the front seats only. One thing that does distinguish the 500 Cabrio from other vehicles on the market though is customization. As Autoblog reports, the compact little runner comes in a choice of three different soft top colors, 12 varieties of interior colors and fabrics and wait for it, a whopping 12 different colors for the exterior.

Based on this white model though and the design, we want to know your thoughts on the 500 Cabrio. Do you think it is pretty or rather ugly? There is an included picture gallery over at Autoblog so you can check out some more images.

The Avenger sedan, Journey SUV, Grand Caravan minivan and the Challenger sports car will have more changes than the two models above, these will be getting a mid-cycle update to the exterior and interior. Chrysler and Fiat has to be confidant with these changes considering the target they have set themselves?

Retail sales have already started to increase, and having a goal is key to success. However, the automaker still needs to increase fleet sales, as according to an article on Bloomberg they will remain flat. Rebecca Lindland from IHS Automotive added to this by saying “While fleet can sustain you for some amount of time, it’s not going to be able to be your lifeblood.”

Getting the pricing right on these new models will be key to Chrysler’s success, to low and they will not make a profit, to high and they will not sell in the kind of numbers that they have projected.

We have to remember that Soave has done much more than building up hype for the limited edition Beetle – she was the VW head of advertising and communications and held down a number of positions at Ford Motor Co.

Laura Soave’s first job will be the introduction of the Fiat 500 in the US, if she has as much success as she did with the Beetle – then Chrysler would have made a great move. We are not going to lie to you and say that this will be easy for her, the Fiat brand is not that known in North America – so will take some persuading to get the brand awareness out there. For the full press release visit Autoblog