Topic: Preview: 2014 Fiat 500L

[Autos_Editor]

Fiat is aiming to capture a little more market share with a more practical take on the iconic Cinquecento.

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[tpl]

They already did this. See below.  the whole justification for the Fiat 500 in NA is to be a tiny car. making a bigger one seems just plain dumb. If they want a car between 500 and Dart size then I am sure that Fiat have a couple  Punto for instance or the Panda Evo.
Before you know it the 500 will be jacked up, given slip'n'grip AWD and called an SUV

[inco]

From here it's actually much better looking than the original - I know, I know - yes I still love wagons.

[hemusbull]

Fiat 500L is a vigourous fight against Mini's contemporary Countryman. Fiat has one big advantage - the tradition of building the old Multipla from 1960s, based on the original 500. The newer one is based on the bigger Fiat Brava. Anyway, cute vehicle with fairly limited marked here for both competitors...

[redman]

They already did this. See below.  the whole justification for the Fiat 500 in NA is to be a tiny car. making a bigger one seems just plain dumb. If they want a car between 500 and Dart size then I am sure that Fiat have a couple  Punto for instance or the Panda Evo.
Before you know it the 500 will be jacked up, given slip'n'grip AWD and called an SUV

 
Sometimes when well proportioned cute items get stretched they loose their perspective and cuteness. I don't know if this is the case here as I have not seen this car life but have seem some the latest Mini debauchery's that just don't work.
As noted Fiat does have the Punto and Panda but I can only figure would like to ride the "Fiat 500" monicker as long as they can.

(BTW it looks like the steering and headlights were place on the wrong end of that classic Fiat Multipla)

[mixmanmash]

“Large” – Designed on a new “small-wide” platform, the 500L is 660 mm longer, adds 152 mm in length and width to increase interior space by and provide more leg and head room.

I'm confused by this statement.  Which is it?

[toolatecrew]

I like the looks just fine. They just need to cut the wheel gap somehow so it doesn't look like a 4X4. I'm still not going to buy one but I can see how getting a 4 door in this class of car would mean a lot in terms of market share.

[conwelpic]

saw this at the Toronto Auto Show

[Fobroader]

saw this at the Toronto Auto Show

Not exactly pretty, which is weird for the Italians. Between this and the Countryman its a toss up between who got hit harder with the ugly stick, IMO of course.

[Blueprint]

They already did this. See below.  the whole justification for the Fiat 500 in NA is to be a tiny car. making a bigger one seems just plain dumb. If they want a car between 500 and Dart size then I am sure that Fiat have a couple  Punto for instance or the Panda Evo.
Before you know it the 500 will be jacked up, given slip'n'grip AWD and called an SUV

Already built, seen on the web and probably on display at the next Auto Show.

-----

I sat in the 500L at the Montreal show, and it's surprisingly spacious in there. No joke on the visibility - this is one of the rare cars you can see out of in all directions.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It's a distinctive little bug, that's for sure.
I haven't seen one around. It's kind of unfortunate that AWD isn't being offered. The styling seems to at least hint at being a crossover.

[Noto]

I sat in the 500L at the Montreal show, and it's surprisingly spacious in there. No joke on the visibility - this is one of the rare cars you can see out of in all directions.

Many of you will remember my 'subtle' abhorrence to the Fiat 500 for its horrid B-pillar blind spot.

The 500L is better, but those B-pillars are still huge...and 2 thinner A-pillars is not necessarily better than a single one.  When I sat in it at the Auto Show, I wasn't much impressed by the outward visibility.

I still think the Fiat 500 must be publicly burned at the stake...I reserve judgement on the 500L until I actually drive one.

[Northernridge]

I sat in the 500L at the Montreal show, and it's surprisingly spacious in there. No joke on the visibility - this is one of the rare cars you can see out of in all directions.

Many of you will remember my 'subtle' abhorrence to the Fiat 500 for its horrid B-pillar blind spot.

The 500L is better, but those B-pillars are still huge...and 2 thinner A-pillars is not necessarily better than a single one.  When I sat in it at the Auto Show, I wasn't much impressed by the outward visibility.

I still think the Fiat 500 must be publicly burned at the stake...I reserve judgement on the 500L until I actually drive one.

That's optimistic.

[Noto]

That's optimistic.

 

[Northernridge]

I don't mind the 500L. Nice to see some different thinking in the small ute segment. I think it has a little spunky character inside and out. A detail: the steering wheels looks rectangular and not perfectly round.

Also nice review for a preview.

[Rupert]

   I don't know, I was around in the eary days and knew the older cars. It was a different time and pretty much anything with a motor was darned good and much better than walking in the rain and using public transport. They were rudimentary back then even, but still revered in a time when having a car was not so common and there were still folk about who never drove a car in their lives and a ride in one was an experience. I wrote rudimentary but that is not so. They were simple and  ingeniously designed and, as such, were elegant. Rudimentary might better be used for a Bond Minicar or Isetta or something; and yet even these were a design tour de force in times of fewer means. Acceleration to 60 mph for those vehicles...well how about all day...never for some. It did not matter.
   Anyway I like the 500 and sat in one and it carried ones thoughts back to the earlier and more simple times I thought and this new one does in a way also, I think again. Both vehicles are just fine and actually more than keep up with the traffic now. They will both have a following  and introduce new style and ambience and as stated before will do better than that if gas prices soar. They arn't simple anymore and perhaps their main contribution will be to enliven the Chrysler brand and it seems to be working. I like this little vehicle which gets down to the ground from increased elevation in a small footprint with aplomb and manages to put a smile on your face whilst doing so.

   Is this auto transmission available on the Fiat 500T now?

[Fobroader]

I like the Panda....the Fiat...no thanks.

[Scaerio]

This is made in the same town where Yugos came from.  FIAT purchased the old Zastava plant, totally renovated it, installed all-new equipment, and it is now their most modern factory.  They did the same thing with the old Polski-FIAT/FSM plant in Tychy, Poland (Pandas, Euro-spec 500s, and Ford Kas come from there).

[Blueprint]

It's a distinctive little bug, that's for sure.
I haven't seen one around. It's kind of unfortunate that AWD isn't being offered. The styling seems to at least hint at being a crossover.

The 500 Trekking will probably have awd.

[dkaz]

I'm sure some of you have seen the Fiat 500L's Motherhood music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVde5HPhYo