Fiat introduced the Fiat 500 as a small hatch. Then it grew into a 500C cabriolet; then the sporty 500 Abarth; while the 500L MPV made its world debut at 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Still growing bigger and meaner, the all-new Fiat is making its New York debut as a crossover, dubbed 500X.
Expecting a lunch in 2013, the Fiat 500X will battle in the mushrooming crossover market against the MINI Cooper Countryman, Buick Encore and Ford EcoSport.
Following the style of Fiat 500L, the 500X will draw on a widened adaptation of Italian automaker’s small car architecture that presently underpins the Punto. However, it is expected to be the longest in the Fiat 500 family at 13.7 feet.
Fiat’s Mirafiori facility in Turin is expected to manufacture the 500X, and the same facility rolls out the 500L. Production is expected to commence in December 2013, with an expected annual capacity of 280,000 crossovers. The 500L will also hit the US market early as next year.
Power plant options available for the 500X include a two-cylinder 900cc TwinAir, four-cylinder 1.4-litre petrol and a turbocharged 1.3-litre Multijet II diesel motor.
For the Fiat-Chrysler venture, the new Fiat 500X is a crucial model that will provide the basis for a new compact crossover from Jeep brand, which is currently only known as the B-SUV. Though Europe is the chief market for Jeep, a US trim could roll in sometimes soon.