Fiat

IN THE REGION Vishay sells debt to buy shares Vishay Intertechnology Inc., a Malvern producer of electronic components, said it sold $150 million in convertible debt. The proceeds will be used to buy back shares, the company said. — Harold Brubaker   Institute helps nonprofit leaders The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Foundation started a Nonprofit Board Leadership Institute to provide collaborative training for nonprofit board chairs and their executive directors.

Specialty cars usually have the life expectancy of a mayfly. But with its retro, cute-as-a-button PT Cruiser, Chrysler demonstrated that you could significantly extend the life of a specialty car with a procession of variations on the same theme. First, there was the four-door wagon, followed by a PT parade of variants that included a turbocharged wagon, a convertible, and a turbo convertible. Now, Chrysler's corporate kin, Fiat, is doing the same thing with its retro cutie, the 500, a modern evocation of a diminutive Italian icon dating back to the '50s.

Looking like a cross between an imperial storm trooper's helmet and a Dustbuster, the innovative 2012 Hyundai Veloster exudes offbeat charm, but needs refinement. A noisy interior, poor iPod and phone compatibility, and troublingly large blind spots reduce the appeal of its great looks, good handling, and appealing price. The Veloster's striking styling will win it plenty of fans. The aggressive front end features slots, scoops, and LED running lights. A tapering roofline and scalloped flanks create an equally attractive profile.

DETROIT - Chrysler's almost total reliance on North America used to be a huge weakness, one that sent the company into bankruptcy protection. Now, it's a major strength. The region is generating profit for the company as losses in Europe and slowing sales in South America and China drain other carmakers. Chrysler Group L.L.C., which sells almost 90 percent of its cars and trucks in the United States and Canada, made a $436 million profit in the second quarter. It was a huge turnaround from a year earlier, when the company lost $370 million, mainly because it refinanced government-bailout loans.

Sometimes, readers have good ideas. (For example, I plan to use one fellow's suggestion that my car reviews say whether the vehicle uses regular or costlier premium fuel.) Sometimes, readers pat me on the back. And sometimes, they are quite annoyed. Like L.S., who recently responded to my report on the SRT, the high-performance version of Jeep's 2014 Grand Cherokee SUV. To wit: "I think it's obscene that a Jeep that costs $69K and gets 19 mpg [highway] rates [top marks from you]

Chrysler Corp., the only big U.S. carmaker without a significant overseas presence, is discussing possible business ties with three foreign automakers, chairman Lee Iacocca said yesterday. Iacocca declined to give details of the talks with Renault of France, Volvo of Sweden and Fiat of Italy, but he indicated that financially troubled Chrysler might make an affiliation within 10 years. "Everybody is talking to everybody," Iacocca said. Iacocca, speaking yesterday at a ceremony in Windsor marking the introduction of the company's 1991 minivans, declined to discuss the prospects for a merger.

Andrew Liston placed his hand on the rounded front fender of a 1930 Ford Fodor, then knocked on the deeply burnished metal and nodded appreciatively. "This is so thick, so heavy - now it's very light," said Liston. "You touch anything now and you get a dent. " Although they had stopped to admire the Ford, Liston and his wife, Adele, were actually looking for a 1932 Chevrolet with a rumble seat - "the car we went on our honeymoon in 58 years ago. " It was a second-hand car when they owned it, Adele Liston remembered.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5 L vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition: A spring fling showdown. Prices: The Volkswagen starts at $24,975 as tested (it was a preproduction model); the Mazda was $32,020 (no options). Conventional wisdom: Cute … and a little girlie. Marketer's pitch: The Beetle: "Still turns heads. Just faster. " The Mazda: "Thrills through all six senses. " Reality: Two different approaches to a fun step back in time. Retro showdown: The introduction of the Beetle last spring made me long for cars of yore.

Chrysler is now part of Fiat. General Motors, steering a different route through bankruptcy, will soon be largely owned by taxpayers. Nearly in the blink of an eye, two of Detroit's famed Big Three have joined the short list of America's largest corporate failures, alongside WorldCom, Enron and Lehman Brothers. What's a prospective car buyer to do - other than, like the rest of us, take a deep breath and mutter about fate or the grace of God? Actually, that deep breath is a good idea.

Art Museums & Institutions African American Heritage Museum 661 Jackson Rd., Newtonville; 609-704-5495. www.aahmsnj.org . Tue.-Fri. 10 am-3 pm. The Barnes Foundation-Philadelphia 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; 215-278-7000. www.barnesfoundation.org . Ellsworth Kelly: Sculpture on the Wall. $18; $15 seniors 65 and over; $10 students and children 17 and under. Sat.-Mon., Wed.-Thu. 9:30 am-6 pm; Fri. 9:30 am-10 pm. Brandywine River Museum Rte. 1 & Rte. 100, Chadds Ford; 610-388-2700.