Styling Tribe's Fiat 500 Sema release

[Tribe]

So, i'm not too sure how much of you were aware but Fiat fans in the U.S. have been in an uproar because Fiat used pop star Jenifer Lopez to advertise the 500's return to the states. The fans are upset because it immediately placed feminine connotations on what kind of person would drive a Fiat. We, at Tribe Agency, won a fiat and decided to do our own release at SEMA. We customized it a bit to suit our tastes, but thats what we do in America haha. All modifications on the car are prototypes but judging by the the positive responses we received, we are almost positive these will become widely accessible aftermarket options for the 500. We apologize in advance to the purists... if it's any consolation, we didn't touch the engine... simple, easy, and harmless cosmetic modifications only.

Barry Meguiar leaning on the fiat.

We lowered it using KW coil overs, wrapped the exterior in Wraptivo Vinyl, put it on rotiform wheels with nitto tires. We love it and many who saw it at the show loved it too.

 

[rockaroller]

Looking very nice indeed... like the mat color.

 

[RobW]

nice job looks really cool

 

[RUI]

Yes it looks very cool...I love the wrap

 

[loveshandbags]

...We lowered it using KW coil overs, wrapped the exterior in Wraptivo Vinyl, put it on rotiform wheels with nitto tires. We love it and many who saw it at the show loved it too.

Just has a wee look at the commercial and it was a little girly for my taste. I would be interested to know about the wheels e.g. the size of the wheels, tyres, etc. I have never heard of nitto and it sounds like a good way of manning up the 500. Like the Sport kit on the US 500 - IMHO it will attract a new audience for the 500. Great to see someone having a go at doing something different.

 

[wigit]

rotiforms are so 2010 even on a 500

 

[RobW]

So, i'm not too sure how much of you were aware but Fiat fans in the U.S. have been in an uproar because Fiat used pop star Jenifer Lopez to advertise the 500's return to the states.

why would that put fans off?

Alfa used Uma Thurman to advertise the Guilietta in the uk and I haven't been put off the car because of her driving it
Quite the opposite, her character matches the car well

 

[loveshandbags]

why would that put fans off?

Alfa used Uma Thurman to advertise the Guilietta in the uk and I haven't been put off the car because of her driving it
Quite the opposite, her character matches the car well

Alfa did well picking Uma. 'Kill Bill' gave her the 'cool' factor. She has appealed to both sexes.

 

[306maxi]

why would that put fans off?

Alfa used Uma Thurman to advertise the Guilietta in the uk and I haven't been put off the car because of her driving it
Quite the opposite, her character matches the car well

I wouldn't say her character matches the car. What character? Does the car wear a yellow jumpsuit and use a samurai sword?

Uma was used in there because she's someone who is universally regarded as pretty and she is merely in the advert whereas the US advert is really desperate and tacky and they go out of the way to make the fact that they've had Ho'pez appear in the ad a major part of the advert, it's as much of an advert of Ho'pez as it is for the car.

Lopez isn't even universally attracted or liked. Her sort of music would annoy a lot of people I would imagine. Uma, well she's kind of there just being attractive and the advert doesn't come of as being desperate.

If I were working for Fiat USA and I was told to make some sort of campaign with a celebrity at the heart of it, I'd choose someone like Natalie Portman or Liv Tyler. Someone who is universally seen as attractive and who a large number of the population aren't going to simply find annoying.

 

[loveshandbags]

I wouldn't say her character matches the car. What character? Does the car wear a yellow jumpsuit and use a samurai sword?

Uma was used in there because she's someone who is universally regarded as pretty and she is merely in the advert whereas the US advert is really desperate and tacky and they go out of the way to make the fact that they've had Ho'pez appear in the ad a major part of the advert, it's as much of an advert of Ho'pez as it is for the car.

Lopez isn't even universally attracted or liked. Her sort of music would annoy a lot of people I would imagine. Uma, well she's kind of there just being attractive and the advert doesn't come of as being desperate.

If I were working for Fiat USA and I was told to make some sort of campaign with a celebrity at the heart of it, I'd choose someone like Natalie Portman or Liv Tyler. Someone who is universally seen as attractive and who a large number of the population aren't going to simply find annoying.

For me Uma initially isn't someone that jumps out at you like one of those Miss World contestants. She has an alluring appeal and is not too worried about breaking her fingernails, etc. Her image is that she can be one of the boys and someone that you can have a bit of fun with. She is also someone who can protect herself with that samurai sword.
I would struggle to pick someone to 'represent' the 500 but your latter suggestion is pretty good.

 

[Venters]

Elton john.

 

[306maxi]

Elton john.

 

[RobinPJ]

 

[306maxi]

For me Uma initially isn't someone that jumps out at you like one of those Miss World contestants. She has an alluring appeal and is not too worried about breaking her fingernails, etc. Her image is that she can be one of the boys and someone that you can have a bit of fun with. She is also someone who can protect herself with that samurai sword.
I would struggle to pick someone to 'represent' the 500 but your latter suggestion is pretty good.

I think the moment you choose someone to represent the car and match the character of it you risk alienating people. Hence why I chose two celebrities who are rather attractive, but not annoying.

 

[Turtle]

The colour is OK, but the wheels/stance looks great! I'd love to get a set of wheels made up like that, but I've no idea what size/width would work best. The Tribe 500 has 17" 7.5 ET?? Rotiforms - I think 17's would be too big personally, and would much rather stick with 15's or 16's at a push. Is there a simple way to work out what width/offset I can run without rolling the arches/rubbing the inner arches etc.

 

[306maxi]

The colour is OK, but the wheels/stance looks great! I'd love to get a set of wheels made up like that, but I've no idea what size/width would work best. The Tribe 500 has 17" 7.5 ET?? Rotiforms - I think 17's would be too big personally, and would much rather stick with 15's or 16's at a push. Is there a simple way to work out what width/offset I can run without rolling the arches/rubbing the inner arches etc.

It is not recommended to deviate from the manufacturers specified offset as changing the offset tends to knacker bearings........

 

[loveshandbags]

The colour is OK, but the wheels/stance looks great! I'd love to get a set of wheels made up like that, but I've no idea what size/width would work best. The Tribe 500 has 17" 7.5 ET?? Rotiforms - I think 17's would be too big personally, and would much rather stick with 15's or 16's at a push. Is there a simple way to work out what width/offset I can run without rolling the arches/rubbing the inner arches etc.

It is not recommended to deviate from the manufacturers specified offset as changing the offset tends to knacker bearings........

:yeahthat:
On the A500 (same as a F500) the upgrade option from the 16s is a 17 shod with 205/40 with an E35 offset. The Assetto Corse up the profile to 50 i.e. 205/50 x 17. Some individuals run 215/45 x 17.
If you take the above sizes as the maximum size you could work out the max tyre size for a 16 that would clear the arches.
Also if the width of the rim is increased from a 6J (16inch) & 6.5J/7J for a 17inch to a 7.5J I think the offset would change from E35 to E27 ?
In the Tribe car there's an awful lot of tyre wall showing. I reckon it might only be a 16 inch.

 

[Turtle]

I need to read more about offsets etc. to educate myself a bit better before buying anything. I think sticking close to the standard offset and going a bit wider (7/7.5J) with a low profile tyre is the way to go. I wouldn't go any larger than a 16" wheel.

I did think there was a lot of tyre wall myself, but if you look closer you can see there isn't that much - it's hard to see because the wheel is gloss black and they tyres shiny.

 

[306maxi]

Just because you use a wider wheel just means you're going to stretch the tyre more. If you really want the full effect you'd want a wider wheel and tyre.

 

[loveshandbags]

I need to read more about offsets etc. to educate myself a bit better before buying anything. I think sticking close to the standard offset and going a bit wider (7/7.5J) with a low profile tyre is the way to go. I wouldn't go any larger than a 16" wheel.

I did think there was a lot of tyre wall myself, but if you look closer you can see there isn't that much - it's hard to see because the wheel is gloss black and they tyres shiny.

I re-looked at that picture on a better monitor and it does look like it's at least a 17inch. Looking at the rear of the 'Tribe' 500 it looks a lot wider than a standard esseesse wheel but it could have spacers on judging how the wheel appears to come past the arches. I would be curious to know if it experiences any rubbing judging by this input. Maybe the OP will put me out of my misery.:devil:

I have been using this site to check out different wheel sizes for a 'cheap' winter tyre option. The 'more complex section' is pretty nifty. As you know having better grip with wider tyres does not translate into better handling.