New Fiat 500L Minivan: More Than 60 HD Photos and Videos, U.S. Sales to Start Next Year

Here’s a fresh gallery of photos and an assortment of new videos of the Fiat 500L that will be available for order in Italy and other major European markets starting from this month (July, 2012), with first deliveries scheduled for the beginning of October.

During the course of 2013, the second addition to the Fiat 500 family will go on sale in more than 100 countries around the world, including the United States.

The five-seater 500L (the 'L' stands for Large) is a tall B-segment model with MPV-like practicality and an SUV-esque raised ride height that promises to be a more roomier version of the 500 city car while maintaining the latter's chic styling.

Some of its rivals in Europe include the Ford B-MAX and Opel / Vauxhall Meriva small MPVs.

Underneath the 500-inspired sheetmetal you will find a development of the Punto platform which Fiat calls 'Small Wide'.

At 4,140mm long (163 inches), 1,780mm (70 inches) wide and 1,660mm (65.3 inches) tall, it's 594mm (23.4 inches) longer, 153mm (6.0 inches) wider and 175mm (6.9 inches) taller than the three-door 500.

It's also 32mm (1.3 inches) longer, 99mm (3.9 inches) taller and 9mm (0.4 inches) slimmer around the waist than the more upscale and expensive Mini Countryman.

According to the Italians, the Fiat 500L can "easily accommodates five passengers 2 meters tall (6.6 ft) with their five suitcases without ever compromising passenger room". The 500L has a boot capacity that approaches 400 liters (~14.1 ft³).

In Europe, the small MPV will launch with a choice of three engines. These include Fiat's 0.9-liter two-cylinder TwinAir turbocharged petrol with 104hp (105PS) and a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated petrol rated at 94hp (95PS), plus a 1.3-liter turbodiesel delivering 84hp (85PS).

Next year, Fiat will enhance the range with a 'Natural Power' model fitted with a Turbo TwinAir engine converted to run on compressed natural gas.

The Italian automaker has not said which engines will power the North American specification model.

The 500L is produced at the former Zastava plant in Kragujevac, Serbia. Fiat's future plans for the 500L include the presentation of a longer model with seating for seven (not for North America) and a crossover model called the 500X.

PHOTO GALLERY