The Fiat 500X, a compact crossover that completes the Italian manufacturer's family of models based on its popular 500 supermini, has been revealed at the Paris motor show.
It will go on sale in the UK in the second quarter of 2015 and sit alongside the regular 500 and larger 500L derivatives in Fiat's line-up.
Two versions of the new model have been created, mirroring a strategy adopted with the 500L and 500L Trekking. One is intended as a chic urban car, while the other has more rugged design themes.
The 500X gets the same retro-inspired styling as the rest of the 500 family, but also includes a more prominent front-end grille design, with chrome trim used around the front bumper. Tinted windows, roof rails and a boot-mounted lip spoiler also feature.
Designed at Fiat's Centro Stile design hub, the new 500X sits on a modified version of the SCCS platform that underpins the Fiat Punto and Vauxhall Corsa. It measures 4.25 metres in length, while the rugged version is 2cm longer. Both versions are 1.80m wide and 1.61m in height.
Boot space is put at 350 litres, and Fiat is playing up the "extensive use of high-grade materials, top-quality finishes and practical storage compartments" inside the car. Personalisation plays a large role in the 500X's appeal: a choice of 12 different body colours and eight designs for the alloy wheels will be offered. Wheels come in three sizes – 16in, 17in and 18in.
The engine range comprises four petrol engines and three diesels. Front-wheel drive, petrol-powered models are either equipped with a 108bhp 1.6-litre engine with a five-speed manual gearbox or a 138bhp, turbocharged 1.4-litre with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed twin-clutch transmission.
Orangewheels
actually...
streaky
FIAT's got it right at last!
I agree. At last Fiat has successfully translated the 500 design language to something bigger (better than Mini have managed). Now it needs to go back and restyle the "hideousity" mentioned by Orangewheels. Then Fiat should move on to a new design theme.
marj
Looks good
KrisW
SCCS? Is it still 2005?
SCCS ended with the FIAT-GM marriage, and both Opel and FIAT have developed new small-car architectures since. In FIAT's case, 500x's "platform" is called "Small, US-Wide" and can be wider, longer, and with a different rear suspension possibilities to the previous small-car design.
But, more to the point, why not stop talking about "platforms" altogether? Modular design means that that the same components can be used across different sizes of car -- and also, different components can be used across the same size of car in order to meet cost targets - look at how VW uses cheap rear suspension in some Golf models; same "platform", inferior performance.
catnip
This looks a decent car of
Shrub
Best looker in the class?
Will86
Surprisingly nice
abkq
500 future problems
androo
It's okay
bomb
If...
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