Fiat 500L Stretches Out

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Mini Countryman is probably blushing profusely.  Fiat has dropped some more images and specific details on the upcoming 500L, which a 500 with more of everything.  More doors, more width, more height, more cargo room, and more cute than you can handle.

Now if I were being a smartass (and that's never known to happen) I might say that the "L" in 500L stands for "Long", as in "Holy hell, the Fiat 500 looks really akward when you stretch it out that long."  Fiat says that the L stands for three different hip marketing words: Large, Light, and Loft.  The first is fairly obvious: this is a Cinquencento, only large.  The L sprouts two extra doors, which are supported by a 312mm growth spurt in wheelbase and a 600mm increase in total length.  It's also 150mm wider, 177mm taller, and 255kg heavier (in 1.3 Multijet Turbodiesel form.)  To put that into perspective, it's pretty much a wash dimensionally with a Mini Countryman: 14mm longer, 5mm narrower, but slightly more than 100mm taller.  Although it looks like a 500, the 500L is actually based on the larger platform of the Punto.

So what about Light?  Clearly it's not light; it's a good bit heavier than the normal 500.  This refers to the car's eco-friendly nature, both in construction and emissions.  On that front, none of the three engines available at launch on the 500L will emit a lot of anything.  There are two gas engines: a 95bhp 1.4L MultiAir 4-cylinder, and Fiat's innovative 0.9L TwinAir Turbo, good for 105 horsepower.  There will also be a 1.3L MultiJet turbodiesel, with 85 horsepower.  C02 emissions for the range will be low, with the TwinAir only putting out 112g/km.  Oddly, next year the TwinAir engine will be available with a setup to run on Methane.

The PR-speak used to describe a cutely styled 5-passenger hatch is starting to make my head hurt, but Loft is supposed to describe the open, airy feel of the cabin.  This is primarily a function of the expansive glass roof and large "greenhouse" (window area) of the 500L.  Unlike the relatively spartan 500 interior, the 500L will have more amenities.  Showing the continuing influence of the Fiat-Chrysler merger, the 500L will come with an optional 9-speaker Beats by Dre stereo system and Chrysler's well-regarded UConnect media interface system.  Perhaps coolest of all, though: the built-in coffee maker.  Made by LaVazza, the miniature espressor maker is mounted at the back of the center console, and uses individual coffee "pods" (sort of like Kourig cups) to make a fresh cup.  Doesn't get more Italian than that.

The 500L will be sold world-wide, including in the US, where Fiat really needs additional models.  It will be joining the 500, 500C convertible and Abarth as a more practical entry.  I see it perhaps being a tough sell elsewhere in comparison to the Panda, but we'll see.  The 500L will eventually be joined by the 500X, a pseudo-crossover, to further muddy the waters.  I'm normally not all that interested in people carriers, but knowing how much fun the normal 500 is to drive, this could be interesting - the easy-going fun to drive nature of the 500 combined with some practicality might be a good formula.  My question is: when's the Abarth version coming along?  Deliveries will start in Europe in October, and the US will be receiving the 500L in 2013.