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NEWS
LA MOTOR SHOW: Fiat 500X – 500 magnified
Crossover SUV sharing its platform with the Jeep Renegade is Fiat's 'Countryman'Fiat is following the same path as MINI for its reborn 500, taking the original Fiat 500 concept from 1957 and enlarging the footprint, increasing performance and expanding the range.
In the latest move, the new 500X is bigger still, quicker again – and now with all-wheel drive.
Fiat President and CEO Olivier Francois plays word games with a twist of double entendre. He explains the power of the letter X in 500X.
"It can mean X factor, a chromosome, a spot, refer to my former wife or adult entertainment," he jokes.
The Fiat 500X is an all-wheel-drive crossover, larger than other 500 models and is on an all-new platform, which it shares with new Jeep Renegade. Powertrains and the AWD system are also shared with Renegade.
The 500X will be built at Fiat's Melfi plant in southern Italy and will be distributed to more than 100 countries. Francois confirmed right-hand-drive is available. European markets will receive the larger 500x in February, with the US taking deliveries from spring 2015. Francois did not confirm timing for Australia.
He would not confirm pricing but indicated that it will compete against the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman in more than offering AWD capability.
Powertrain choices are two: a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (119kW) and a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (134kW). Expect a turbocharged diesel to be offered in Europe and selected markets also. Engines are geared through a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic it shares with the new Chrysler 200.
For a 500, this is a big variant. The wheelbase stretches to 2570mm with 1548mm front and rear tracks. It measures more than 4.2 meters in overall length and chubs out at 1346kg. For chrissake, this up-sized 500 rides on 16-inch wheels with 215/60 boots. Or you can go larger in the shoe with 17- and 18-inch options.
The all-new Fiat 500X is a big move, in more ways than one.
Full coverage of the LA motor show on motoring.com.au
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Written byTodd Hallenbeck
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