Following in the footsteps of other carmakers, Fiat decided to promote its newly launched 500 Convertible in Germany by hanging a full-sized model of the car on the ceiling of a main terminal at Frankfurt’s Rhein-Main Airport. There are also a couple of signs on the walls that say “Happy to Meet You” though judging by the photo after the jump, people seem to be more ‘happy’ in finding their way out of the terminal than to stare at a car hanging over their head… The new 500 C that features a sliding ragtop with a rear-glass window went on sale in Europe this spring.

Engine options are carried over from the fixed-top 500 and include a 1.3-liter turbocharged diesel producing 75HP and two gasoline engines, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder with 69HP hp and a 1.4-liter four-pot churning out 100HP, available with either manual or robotized Dualogic transmissions.

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Current or soon-to-be owners of the Abarth Grande Punto and Abarth 500 sport hatchbacks will now be able to enhance their cars with a new set of bucket seats that were created in collaboration with Italian specialist, Sabelt. The lightweight, body retaining sport seats are available in two versions, in Frau black leather with fretworked black Alcantara, or black “F1″ technical fabric. Both seats are finished with red thread seams, a distinctive embroidered Abarth name, and the Scorpion Logo on the backrest tilt wheel.

In Britain, the ‘Abarth Corse by Sabelt’ seats are offered throughout Abarth’s 16-strong dealer network and are priced at £2250 per pair (leather) or £1760 per pair (fabric). They will initially be available on the Abarth Grande Punto, followed later in the year by the Abarth 500 version.

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When the American Foundation for AIDS Research kicks off its seventeenth annual Cinema Against AIDS Gala later this month at the Cannes Film Festival, they’ll be shooting to raise major coin and in the process, hopefully break their record of $7 million taken in at last year’s event. Big names like former President Bill Clinton, actress Sharon Stone, movie producer Harvey Weinstein and singer Annie Lennox will be on hand to help the foundation achieve its goals, along with the special one-of-a-kind car you see here.

Melding the best elements from the Fiat 500C unveiled in Geneva this past March and the Fiat 500 Diesel Edition unveiled last fall in Paris, the Fiat 500C by Diesel features a special dark green metallic paint job and special detailing inside and out, topped by the Italian automaker’s retro folding fabric roof. The plethora of Diesel logos and special denim interior trim are motivated by Fiat’s 100-horsepower 1.4-liter engine in the place of the fixed-roof Diesel Cinquecento’s 75hp 1.3-liter unit. Only one example will be made, and the bubble bauble will go home with the highest bidder at the charity event on May 21. Details can be found in the press release after the jump, and a pair of high-resolution photos in the gallery below.

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Fiat has just issued these first official pictures of the new 500C convertible ahead of its Geneva show debut. You’ll quickly spot that this isn’t a full cabrio version – instead Fiat has revived the rollback soft top for its new fresh-air Cinquecento.

The Fiat 500C lands in showrooms in spring 2009, with UK deliveries pencilled for June. This cabriolet pays homage to the open-top 1957 model, with its simple rollback roof sliding back between the existing cant rails, and was created in-house at Fiat’s design centre in Poland.

Closest rival to the Fiat 500C? Easy. It’s aimed square at the Mini Convertible, but with a price tag more mini than Mayfair – kicking off at some £9000.

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Since the announcement of the Chrysler-Fiat partnership last week, speculation has swirled about what models would come out of the American-Italian venture. Automotive News got the skinny on what’s on the way, and according to their unnamed sources, we can expect seven new vehicles in North America – four under the Chrysler brands and three as Alfa Romeos or Fiats.

The plan covers vehicles on four platforms, spanning from a micro-car to a mid-size sedan, with plants in North America being tasked with building most of the new models. Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico plant, which current builds the Dodge Journey and not-long-for-this-world PT Cruiser, will begin producing the Fiat 500 under the alliance.

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