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NEWS
SPY PICS: Jeep and Fiat SUV collaboration
B-Segment SUV to be named Fiat 500X and Jeep JuniorWork continues apace on a small SUV for Fiat and Jeep, as these Automedia spy photos show.
Captured testing in the Alps, the mule pictured looks like the 500L on which it's based, but will feature different sheet metal when it comes to market. The Jeep version – reportedly to be known as the Jeep Junior – will be built on the same production line at Melfi, Italy, as the Fiat model, which will be badged 500X.
According to Automedia, the platform is a modification of Fiat's 'Small Wide' architecture, offering higher ride height, but distinctive frontal styling treatment to set the Jeep and Fiat derivatives apart. Both cars will run the same drivetrains, inherited from the 500L, which may mean the 0.9-litre TwinAir turbo gets a run, but for the Australian market it's much more likely the base engine will be the 1.4-litre Multi-Air Turbo and/or 1.6-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel.
However, the TwinAir powerplant should not be ruled out altogether, when Ford is planning to introduce its EcoSport with the 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder EcoBoost engine next year.
The Fiat/Jeep twins will go into production in 2014, according to Automedia. Judging by the 'mule' status we would guess that it will be later in the year, rather than sooner. Plans are afoot for the Jeep to go into production first, with the Fiat to follow. While the Jeep is aimed at global markets, it's not certain that the 500X will be sold outside Europe. Combined production is forecast to reach 1600 units a day, if all goes well.
– with Automedia
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