Fiat 500 By Gucci: Jennifer Lopez Stars In Automaker's New Campaign (VIDEO)

Jennifer Lopez is taking yet another spin in a Fiat 500, but this time she's doing it with even more style.

The new J.Lo commercial for the Italian automaker brings the movie and pop star downtown from her native Bronx to the ritzier streets of Manhattan to show off a new collaboration between Fiat and the storied Gucci fashion label.

The Turin-based auto manufacturer, which is the parent company to Chrysler, says the Fiat 500 by Gucci represents an "important partnership between two brands that have always expressed Italian genius and creativity across the world."

The small car boasts "true Italian style" and is "brimming with fashion references," the company says, including chrome accents, a Gucci-logoed Frau leather interior and a simulated velvet dashboard.

Gucci and Fiat are also pushing the car's connection to the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification, though we don't think we'd see Giuseppe Garibaldi riding shotgun around Manhattan with J.Lo.

The car, which will be available in U.S. dealerships early next year, starts at $23,500. That's less than a Gucci crocodile tote ($29,900).

What do you think? Does a fashion partnership make sense for Fiat? Let us know in the comments.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated Fiat is based in Florence. It is based in Turin.

Comments

[Genatco Ltd]

04:29 PM on 11/21/2011

SubCompact is an understatement which 18 wheelers seldom see while bigger is much safer bearing steel crumple zones are crash requirements of the Fiat 500c design. Like to see the insurnace industry head on crash test results. For quick jots around town its a bit pricey.

[Edward Standley]

06:26 AM on 11/20/2011

Leather trim, fake velvet and some chrome. Gee, how "elegant".

[innerview]

10:31 PM on 11/19/2011

I just rented one from Avis in Canada last week. Very small and maneuverable, feels bigger than it is until you try to accelerate, then it just feels slow. Cruises at highway speeds just fine, but leave lots of passing room. Uses very little gas wth 1.4 liter engine. Great to park and easy to fit into small places. Would rent again for city driving, but sounds like the Gucci option is ugly. Not sure about winter driving, because of light weight. I guess if you slide off the road, tow or three extra people could lift you out of the ditch!

[last man standing]

09:48 PM on 11/19/2011

Yea right, Jennifer Lopez is going to be driving around in this thing that reminds me of a Yugo.

Maybe be she’ll have one in the trunk of her limo in case she gets a flat or something.

Starting at 23k for a stripped down one? This thing is DOA!

[Contact1972]

10:24 PM on 11/19/2011

I haven't had the opportunity to drive one but it was comfortable and a great city car.

[Edward Standley]

06:30 AM on 11/20/2011

The base model is $16K+, still not good when you compare the car to Ford Fiesta, Chevy Cruze. Some consumers might shell out cash based on "cute", but not many in the current economy.

[Tom95134]

03:30 PM on 11/19/2011

Some way I got the impression that the FIAT 500 was supposed to be Chrysler's entry into the small car market in the United States with a reasonably priced product.

[Tom95134]

03:27 PM on 11/19/2011

First of all, I think the price on the basic FIAT 500 is outrageous. It's like riding in a shoebox. BUT, to spend $23,500 for a snazzy version? Obviously, some people have way too much money. Maybe this is what the 99%ers and OWS is trying to say.

[Samuel Nelson]

02:24 PM on 11/19/2011

cool.

[hkurte]

02:04 PM on 11/19/2011

What a great commercial. Go Jennifer.

[RRRead]

01:58 PM on 11/19/2011

It's funny how FIAT is trying to become a luxury brand in the U.S., when they are in fact an "economical" automaker in the rest of the world.

[Summer77]

01:24 PM on 11/19/2011

So did Jenny from the block give one to everyone on the block?

[KenInd]

01:23 PM on 11/19/2011

Chrysler could partner with Sears...and produce an 'American icon'.

[bluejaykira]

01:14 PM on 11/19/2011

It's a cute car but after owning a Fiat I would NEVER buy another one! It would break down in the middle of the road and then suddenly start up again and nobody could ever find anything wrong with it! That was a real nightmare car!

[dididangerlove]

01:51 PM on 11/19/2011

Wow - I had a Fiat in the '70s and it ran like a little tank. I loved it and am considering buying another one. They need to start producing them here.

[bluejaykira]

05:00 PM on 11/19/2011

Guess I just bought a lemon!

[Contact1972]

10:26 PM on 11/19/2011

My dad had a Fiat in the 70's as well-that car was fast, sporty and ran forever. Loved it.

[MichaelAKD]

03:13 PM on 11/19/2011

i had an old fiat when i was a kid, not built well but then again look at the fine quality cars put out at the same time classics like the chevette, pinto, t1000, all jags from 1980-2000 and so many others. BUT that was then and to compare vehicles from 30 plus years ago to the ones being produced today is like comparing a model A to veyron.

[bluejaykira]

05:01 PM on 11/19/2011

Very true but once burned...

[kakzy]

12:53 PM on 11/19/2011

My daughter has one.. it is a really adorable car..

[WhippetGood]

12:48 PM on 11/19/2011

The car is adorable and works well in Italy where the streets are tiny and narrow, but I can't imagine driving such an itty bitty car on US highways (or the Autostrade for that matter). My Audi TT looks like an SUV next to the 500.

[Boobuzuela]

12:43 PM on 11/19/2011

$24k for that *****box? You've got to be kidding me.