First batch of U.S.-bound Fiat 500s coming with manuals

Fiat dealerships are just about ready to swap your money for the keys to a brand-new 500. If you are planning on being one of the first to park one in your driveway, we hope that you know how to drive a manual transmission – the first units being shipped to dealers in February will all be equipped with manual transmissions.

If you can’t handle the three-pedal setup, you’ll be forced to wait a bit longer for your Fiat 500. Examples equipped with the six-speed automatic will begin arriving in March and April. Then again, you may have to wait that long regardless of your transmission preference, since currently, only 20 percent of the 130 Fiat dealerships are ready to open. The first one, Motor Village in Los Angeles, is set to open its doors later this month.

The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman

Not so. How about movies with cars? That fits. Cars are so ingrained into American culture that they have become a sticking point in movies as well. So much that there have cars that have debuted in recent films. What are some of the more popular cars that have appeared in movies? Or, what are the more recognizable vehicles from movies?

Flashback to the early versions of the James Bond films, when Sean Connery played Bond, and many moviegoers remember his incredible car. The Aston Martin DB 5. It was riddled with all kinds of different gadgets to help him defeat his enemies. Now, flashback again to the 1960's, when rock star Elvis Presley ruled the airwaves. Not only was he popular in the music industry, he was also a movie star. In almost all of Presley's movies his 1955 pink Cadillac Fleetwood was featured in plenty of shots. That was the only car he kept until he passed away.

One of the most famous vehicles in all of TV and movies was the Batmobile. Owned and driven by Batman, it is one of the most popular vehicles in cinematic history. Many kids growing up had Batmobile hot wheels, replica toys and sometimes even a homemade Batmobile out of a wagon. The Batmobile has evolved over the years from the comics to the movies and has been redesigned when new Batman movies are released. Many replicas of the Batmobile are on display at theme parks across America to market the Batman ride.

Another famous car from the movie industry was named "Bullit" from the movie "Bullit." The car was driven by Steve McQueen in one of the longest car chase scenes in movie history. The car was a Mustang Fastback and it instantly became one of the most popular makes and models in the automobile industry overnight. Fast cars were also made famous and popular in other movies from the '60s and '70s such as "Italian Job," "Gone in 60 Seconds," and "Grand Prix." Movies in the modern era that feature fast cars are "Minority Report," "The Fast and Furious," and "I, Robot." All of these movies prominently feature fast paced cars that Americans have grown to become fixated with.

The movie industry has helped the automobile industry grow throughout history. Some of the most famous scenes in film have happened in cars. Car chases have always been a popular part of the movies. They can be serious or comical, like the one in the movie "The Blues Brothers." Probably one of the most comical movie scenes involving a car is from the movie Naked Gun. Actors O.J. Simpson and Leslie Nielsen, two of the cops in the movie, get stuck in their squad car when parked at a weird angle.

Original Batmobile Spotted at Car Wash?

It’s no secret that Southern California is home to one of the best car cultures in the world. You can find a cruise or car show pretty much any day of the year, and it’s always amazing to see the vehicles that show up. It’s even incredible to see the kinds of cars that are simply out and about performing normal, everyday tasks. In addition to the usual Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, you can sometimes catch some truly unique cars out in the wild.

Take, for instance, this original Batmobile that was out getting a wash and wax at the Car Spa in Newport Beach this weekend. It’s the fourth of four original Batmobiles built by George Barris back in 1966 and is known as the “dragster” version because of its 427ci Holman and Moody V8 under the hood and dual parachutes attached to the rear. The car was built to serve as an exhibition model and actually raced at several drag strips around the country back in the 1960’s. It also comes with a working saw blade that drops down at the front and can actually shoot flames out the back. We tip our hats to the fine gentleman that actually drives this thing on the street.