Having been a leading seller in its segment across Europe for five years, Fiat is launching a new 500L, and the first deliveries take place from September.
The Italian carmaker says the roomiest 500 of all now boasts even more technology, character and personality. It adds that these characteristics combine in the three distinct versions of the car: urban, cross, and wagon, offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines to delight different people and serve their individual needs.
Fiat claims all three share outstanding safety features and a flexible internal configuration, enabling customers to create up to 1,500 internal customisations. The 500 style is even more obvious in this updated version, of which Fiat says 40 per cent of all components are new.
Fiat believes the new 500L combines all the style and excitement of the Fiat 500 with the spaciousness and functionality of an MPV.
The new model is designed to reinforce the family feeling of the model. The exterior style expresses all the distinctive elements which have characterised the model throughout its history, ever since its iconic 1950's forerunner.
The most obvious visual links are the "moustache and badge" combo set on the trapezoidal nose, the upper headlights with chrome-plated elements and the lower cluster, now with LED daytime running lights, which pick up the graphics of the two "zeros" in 500. Fiat says these elements ensure this new car is clearly identifiable as a Fiat 500L, even in the dark.
The interior of the new Fiat 500L is completely new, starting with an updated dashboard to give a more high-tech and iconic look. Fiat claims the passenger compartment offers comfort, convenience, versatility, and is filled with light, while being rich in distinctive 500 touches, such as the bright "500" signature on the dashboard.
The area behind the restyled multifunctional steering wheel, now with added chrome accents, has an updated design with two circular instrument gauges on either side of a 3.5-inch colour graphic display. Fiat claims this combination of new steering wheel and dashboard improves the visibility of the instrument cluster, which is further enhanced by white backlighting. The driver also benefits from an innovative TFT colour digital display, with a full set of useful information.
Fiat tells us that the engines most suited for the specific needs of customers were picked for the different identities of the model. The petrol engine line-up includes the 1.4-litre 16V, delivering 95hp, and the 1.4-litre 16V T-Jet, delivering 120hp. The offering is completed by two diesel engines: the 95hp 1,300cc 16V MultiJet, also available with Dualogic transmission, and the 120hp 1,600cc 16V MultiJet. All engines comply with the Euro six standards and combine optimal performance with impressive fuel economy.
