Abarth 500 ad, too hot?

The Fiat Abarth 500 was launched in the USA this week and the tiny hot hatch is already embroiled in controversy.

CEO for Fiat in the US, Olivier Francis, has set the cat among the pigeons by hinting a viral ad campaign for the new car might be broadcast on mainstream TV to promote the car, but there has reportedly been a backlash against such a move, based on the suggestive nature of the content.

The commercial, named 'Seduction', features 26-year old Romanian model, Catrinel Menghia, interacting with a young man smitten by her looks. Menghia's presence in the ad is a metaphor for the power of the Abarth 500 to seduce single blokes and make them feel somewhat inadequate (we think).

Ateco Automotive, the importer and distributor of the Fiat brand in Australia, has also considered putting the advertisement to air on free TV, but has received advice that the commercial would fall foul of advertising standards here — not for its explicit sexual nature, but the handbrake turns in the latter part of the ad!

Thanks to the power of the Internet however, we can bring you the advertisement to judge for yourself.

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