schuey,s naming rights.

LordClyde · 24 Oct 2004, 08:05 (Ref:1133501)

I see FIAT as major BACKER OF FERRARI F1 , have named a model they manufacture , after MICHAEL SCHUMACHER.

Hobson · 24 Oct 2004, 09:03 (Ref:1133569)

There was a car dealer near me selling a 'Michael Schumacher' edition Fiat Seicento the other week.

kdr · 24 Oct 2004, 10:33 (Ref:1133670)

i'm not sure that i'd want schueys name on a mere fiat. slightly off topic but similar...can you imagine the goldmine that yamaha are sitting on when they bring out the "valentino rossi r1 specializione"?!

Marbot · 24 Oct 2004, 10:54 (Ref:1133680)

Apparently Fiats Stilo is the car of choice,available in red only, with Bridgestone tyres and a full tank of Shell optimum!

**garcon** · 24 Oct 2004, 21:13 (Ref:1134229)

Sadly that's about the only features that mark it out as anything different. Which means it's just as unforgiveably

as any other Fiat Stilo. Hardly a fitting tribute to a seven times World Champion.

Dixie Flatline · 26 Oct 2004, 02:33 (Ref:1135913)

Er, forgive me for being stupid, but doesn't Fiat pump millions of dollars into Ferrari each and every year to sponsor their annual conquest of Formula One?

**garcon** · 26 Oct 2004, 12:39 (Ref:1136409)

Fiat sp own Ferrari outright, so they have every right to do as they wish, of course. I'm not sure how many millions Fiat actually pump into the F1 team, Fiat are technically skint so I would imagine most of Ferrari's F1 budget comes from sponsorship. But that's by the by.

Naturally, Michael's contract with Ferrari will include some naming/image rights (though you can be sure he gets a cut). I just wish they'd done something a bit more fitting. If they can't bring themselves to do a special edition Ferrari, why not a decent Alfa?

The answer, of course, is marketing. Ferrari and Alfa are both doing ok in their sectors (though maybe not too great in the UK in Alfa's case). Fiat is the volume brand, it's supposed to be the one making the bulk of the money, but (not to put too fine a point on it) Fiat is dying on its arse. Hence, spruce up a Stilo with red paint and bodywork (but nothing expensive like performance upgrades, mind) and stick Schumacher's name on it in the desperate hope it might get a few more out the door.

The Stilo was supposed to be the car to save Fiat. But they blew it. It's ****. It's even **** compared to a Peugeot 307. And that's saying something. Fiat's only hope now is the new Panda, which is a great little car - back to what Fiat do best, small, simple, practical, cheap. If they can sell Pandas by the million across continental Europe they may fend off the predators. Such a shame the only other good car they make - the Multipla - has been irrevocably spoilt when the designers bottled it and gave the thing the new bland corporate nose.

By the way I'll move this to the road car forum and leave a redirect...

dcp2685 · 26 Oct 2004, 14:06 (Ref:1136572)

Why not something like a:

Ferarri Modena TGF 550

hrug:

Mathias · 4 Nov 2004, 13:35 (Ref:1144737)

Tee hee.

Back to the Seicento - put your Joo-Janta Expletive-Sensitive Sunglasses on and have a gander at this.

**garcon** · 4 Nov 2004, 13:48 (Ref:1144754)

Talking of shameless publicity...

Mathias · 5 Nov 2004, 13:54 (Ref:1145544)

Nothing to do with me. Oh, no.

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