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.

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Fiat Teases New 500X Small Crossover During 500L's Presentation, will Base a Jeep Model as Well

 
On Tuesday, we brought you a raft of images and videos of the new Fiat 500L following the presentation of the small MPV to the members of the international press in Turin, Italy.
However, as it turns out, the 500L wasn't the only new Fiat to be shown at the media conference as the upcoming 500X small crossover made a very brief appearance on the stage as well.
The 500X will be the fifth model in the 500 range after the 500 three-door hatchback, the 500C convertible, the Abarth-branded performance versions, and more recently, the 500L five-door minivan.
From the quick look we get of the car, the 500X appears to blend elements from an SUV and a hatchback with styling details that clearly evoke the 500 city car.
We already know that the 500X shares its underpinning with the 500L minivan, while Fiat's sources have said that the crossover model will measure around 4.2 meters (about 165 inches) in length making it the largest model in the Fiat 500 family.
The 500X will replace the Suzuki SX-4-based Sedici in Fiat's European range and will be offered in both front wheel- and all-wheel-drive flavors.
The powertrain lineup will likely be shared with the 500L and include Fiat's 0.9-liter two-cylinder turbocharged TwinAir gasoline and 1.3-liter MultiJet turbo diesel.
The Fiat model will also form the base for a small crossover from Jeep that will be more compact in size than the Compass and Patriot. It will be built alongside the 500X at the Italian company's Mirafiori plant in Turin.
Production of the Fiat 500X is expected to start next year with Jeep's B-SUV to follow in the second quarter of 2014.

'Hvala' to Luca C. for the photo tip, and thanks to Rino902 for the heads up on the video!

Photo Credits: Omniauto & Automoto

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