When Chrysler picked up the exotic brand with the Italian flair in hopes to successfully reintroduce it to the United States, many of us didn't know what to expect. Would shoppers immediately throw themselves into Chicago-area FIAT car dealers? Would the entry-level 2012FIAT 500 catch the eyes of consumers? The automaker's first year on the market did not turn over any obvious answers to these questions - until recently.

According to FIAT executives, 500 models are starting to move off of dealership showrooms and lots - despite the slow start over the last year. An article in the Detroit Free Press revealed that the public debut of the 2012 FIAT 500 Abarth at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show helped to spark consumer interest in the Italian brand and lineup.

Let's be honest - the sexy advertisements broadcasted at this year's Super Bowl didn't hurt either. You know what we're talking about: the ones featuring Romanian model Catrinel Menghia. In one commercial, she is bent over fixing her shoe and is ogled by a rather nervous-looking man. Menghia catches him and begins to scold him in Italian, but then begins to seduce him. Now that we think about it, who could blame anyone for paying more attention to FIAT after watching the advertisement?

In another commercial, Charlee Sheen is apparently on house arrest but still wants to enjoy his FIAT, so he takes it for a spin in his mansion. The lovely Catrinel Menghia enters the room, and Mr. Sheen asks, "what do I get for good behavior?" Again, kind of hard not to resist.

Naturally, our team here at Fields FIAT of Highland Park is very excited that consumers are taking notice of the lovely brand - even if it came with the help of another type of model.