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Events

FIAT STRIKES THE RIGHT CHORD WITH GUITAR PRIZE

It was music to band member Nick Hughes’ ears when he discovered he had won a limited edition Fender guitar in a Fiat-backed competition. Nick, from the rock group The Crane Brothers, also took the opportunity to look at a new Fiat 500 when he collected the special edition guitar from the Fiat Marylebone flagship showroom in London’s Wigmore Street. Earlier this year The Crane Brothers were picked from a short-list of hopefuls to headline Fiat’s 500 PicNic event in the city’s Alexandra Park, and the guitar was part of that prize. It was presented to Nick by Tony Dittli, managing director, Fiat Marylebone and Neil Whitcher, marketing manager of Fender Musical Instruments, who supplied the guitar. It features custom artwork, designed especially for Fiat. “Winning the prize was a great honour for us,” says Nick. “It was good to work with such an exciting, lively and family-orientated company as Fiat, and to play a part in recognising such a cool and iconic car as the Fiat 500.” “We’re used to handing over desirable objects here at the Fiat flagship, so it was a great pleasure to host the presentation of a superb guitar,” adds Tony Dittli. “Nick is always welcome back here if he wants to soundcheck a Fiat 500.”

The Italian connection: Motoring Meets Art

Fiat continues its sponsorship of the arts with the opening of a dynamic installation show by Italian maestro Fabio Pietrantonio. Industry and art make strange bedfellows but throughout modern history such a marriage has led to a happy and fulfilled life. Take Hoover or Courtaulds for example – both industrial giants, both sponsors of the arts. And now Fiat joins this elite band of industrial philanthropists with its recent and current involvement with artistic endeavours. In 2007, Fiat aligned itself with the enigmatic London artist Tracey Emin when it approached her to create individual designs for the bodywork of four of its Fiat 500 vehicles. The results were stunning and created a first for the worlds of motoring and art: in the past, artists had worked on one car but never a fleet. And now in 2008, Fiat has gone a step further as a patron of the arts with the opening on October 13, of Stop Breathe Respect, an intrinsic exhibition by dynamic Italian artist Fabio Pietrantonio. The exhibition is being held at the Fiat Flagship Store on Wigmore Street in London and will run from 9.30am to 7.00pm weekdays (6pm Saturdays) each day until October 24 with a private invitation-only viewing on the evening of October 16. Turin-born Pietrantonio has exhibited in many international locations but this is his first in the UK. Not only does the ‘marriage’ between the motor industry giant and the dynamic artist underline the Italian connection, it also emphasises the former’s dedication to the environment and its search for the ultimate eco-friendly vehicle, for Pietrantonio works with natural resources. His work is expressed through materials such as wood and stone, his colours are from natural pigments, and his textures are derived from many sources, but most often fabrics which have begun life as seeds and petals from flowers. Stop Breathe Respect is portrayed through a series of mediums – from installations to sculptures, wall hangings to etchings. The 42 year old, who started his artistic experiences by organising parties and happenings with particular themes in Ibiza in Spain, Porto Cervia in Sardinia and in Milan, planning the artwork of all the decorations, reached prominence in 1990 when he participated in several solo exhibitions all over the world. “We are very excited to have been given the opportunity to bring Fabio and his highly creative works to London and to transform our Flagship Store into a veritable art gallery for 12 days,” said Andrew J. Humberstone, Managing Director Fiat Automobiles Group UK Ltd. Having exhibited on four continents Pietrantonio’s art has garnered a huge following from all walks of life but it is this opportunity to demonstrate to a British audience his passion for the environment, and indeed for life, which excites him most. The artist questions ‘what is respect?’ and invites his audience to stop, breathe deeply and offer an answer... He invites people to visit his website (www.stopbreatherespect.com) and upload notes, images and videos during the exhibition or from home, to spread the message of ‘respect’. “The web site,” says Fabio, “will be kept alive forever, as it is an interactive art piece in itself.” “I am delighted to be exhibiting in London,” he added. “The artistic scene here is eclectic and exciting and British people are very receptive. As an artist I am inspired by the beauty of nature and I aim to harness its spiritual harmony and preserve it forever through my works and especially via the message of Stop Breathe Respect.”

Fiat Drive Eco Event London Flagship Store

Here at Fiat we take environmental issues very seriously. That’s why we held a Drive Eco event at our Flagship Store in London on the 17-28 June 2008. It was our chance to show you how you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Also, for the first time in the UK we showed our new Panda Aria concept car. We’re very proud of it. It demonstrates perfectly, both inside and out, our commitment to the environment.

Win a years worth of Free Fuel

The Fiat Flagship store, offers a very special environment where you can see and experience the fantastic Fiat range, kit yourself out with exclusive Fiat designer products and this Saturday put yourself in the running to win a years worth of Free Fuel! Visit the Fiat Flagship on Saturday 7 June, between 11am and 4.30pm to meet the Magic Promotional team, pick up your free Magic CD (for the first 100) and enter the fantastic competition to win a year worth of free Fuel.

500 WORKPOP EXHIBITION DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS

22 international designers were competing to create an accessory for the new Fiat 500 and we can now reveal the winners. The three winning designs chosen by the public are: 1. Thermos Flask - Torsten Neeland 2. Buonviaggio pillow - Matteo Ragni 3. Usb Light - Gallina / Rizzini Renowned designer RON ARAD, and the committee chose as winners: 1. Spider - Roberto Giacomucci 2. Emergency kit - Design Trip These five selected concepts will go forward to prototype stage and will be exhibited in the Fiat flagship in September. An ultimate design will then be chosen to be manufactured for the high-style Fiat & Guzzini catalogue

500 WORKPOP EXHIBITION DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS

STUDENT HEIDI WINS NEW FIAT 500

STUDENT Heidi Korb has won a Fiat 500 and £5,000 in cash in Virgin Radio’s competition to build a model of the London Eye from random objects. The Fiat 500 which was launched on the London Eye in January was presented to Heidi at Fiat’s stylish new Flagship Store in Wigmore Street, W1. “I was stunned and gob-smacked when I found out that I had won a Fiat 500. It was so unexpected,” said the 31 year old from Brentford, Middx. “After I was presented with the car, I spent the whole weekend finding any excuse to drive it. I love it.”

STUDENT HEIDI WINS NEW FIAT 500

PPQ’s FREEDOM TO PARTY

British design duo PPQ are renowned for their innovative parties attracting famous names from the worlds of art, music and fashion. So it was no surprise when they chose Fiat’s Flagship store as the venue for their London Fashion Week after show party in February. A striking and modern location the Fiat Flagship store provided the perfect edgy yet sophisticated atmosphere for PPQ’s fashionable ‘Freedom to Party’ guests.

PPQ’s FREEDOM TO PARTY