FIAT 500L at geneva motor show
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FIAT 500L at geneva motor show


the 'fiat 500L' compact SUV


fiat announces the '500L', to be officially previewed at the geneva motor show 2012 in march.

the 'L' in the vehicle's name stands for 'large'. it is the third model in fiat's '500' line-- which currently also comprises
the 'fiat 500 abarth' performance sports car and 'fiat 500 cabrio' convertible-- designed to offer under a single aesthetic
a range of different vehicles to satisfy diverse market segments and needs.

at 13.6 feet long, 5.8 feet wide, and 5.4 feet high (414 x 178 x 166 cm), the multipurpose vehicle seats five,
offering 'the feel of a small SUV on the road and the restrained dimensions and efficiency of a B segment car,'
in the words of the italian manufacturers.

the 'fiat 500L' will be available in europe in late 2012 with either fiat's inhouse 'twin air' or a 1.4-liter petrol engine
or the company's multijet II turbodiesel engine.



side view



the '500L' joins the 'abarth' (left) and 'cabrio' (right) in fiat's '500' line

jenny db
02.03.12  
11
Why???...
mscx   02.03.12
Like mscx wrote and i add WTF?!?!!?!?!

If it was called Panda, I would accept it... Using the 500 name is pretty much trying to pass the success into this one, when itīs looks like a huge failure... imo.
What?   02.03.12
Total agree with What?
There was a break version of the original 500 called Giardiniera
http://www.museo500.com/museo500/sales/image/giardiniera/giardiniera.html
And you can even find some interesting proposals on the web
http://www.groenlicht.be/2008/04/05/fiat-500-giardiniera-rivaal-clubman/
But this????
mscx   02.03.12
Holy moses, this is bad design. I can predict a total flop for Fiat this time.
What a shame they can't even hire decent designers.
Oh well, will keep my Mini then...
ARCHIC   02.03.12
I like it. Try designing for the MPV segment my friends-- it ain't easy.
Likewise I'm sure it's doubly not easy to get something this big to still keep the Fiat look, which I think it does.
Which by itself is impressive.
Charles M.   02.03.12
i think the concept of the 500 line is awesome, let's just get that out there. great. amazing. the Future of Car Design (okay, it has to go much further to be the Future of Car Design, but add interchangeable components and we're getting there IMHO). i agree with charles m. that this car still looks cute and is identifiably part of the new fiat 500 series, which is something for a 13-foot 5seater.

that doesn't mean that given the choice i wouldn't still take the abarth in a. heartbeat. ;)
ttttio   02.03.12
@Charles M
The fact that "it is not easy" doesn't justify bad design (in my opinion but I respect yours).
Fiat manage to mess every single aspect of 500's body design that kept the original spirit - front lights, back lights, the C pilar, the line above the door's handle... and what's the deal with the small window next to the A pilar (Citroen C3 Picasso...)???
Don't call it 500 then...
mscx   02.03.12
With 5 aboard, the L won't get out of its own way. Or is this just more cargo capacity?

It's so disappointing the 500 is struggling in the U.S. the Mini is a triumph, why not the 500? J Lo was a poor choice for celebrity, admittedly. The ad campaign needs to be funny and hip, not sexy and mainstream. Leave "sexy" inferred, a subcurrent. Italians take themselves to damn seriously to be in charge of marketing to Americans. This is the era of defiance, Signori.
Tom P   02.03.12
the "L" stands for "lame"
iRIO   02.03.12
this is cinquecento % NOT 500.

what went wrong in the process to end up with this?
buzzoff   02.06.12
Come on, this is a total rip off of the Mini Countryman! Shame!
actavist   02.07.12
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