Well you see I just made the mistake of thinking that Fiat would do things the logical way. How many people want something that's called a 500, is based on a widened Punto platform, looks like a 500/Qubo/Doblo and has a Panda interior.
Spoon please.
General 4-door Fiat 500....any news?
- Thread starter Super Uwe
- Start date
Currently reading:
General 4-door Fiat 500....any news?
Well you see I just made the mistake of thinking that Fiat would do things the logical way. How many people want something that's called a 500, is based on a widened Punto platform, looks like a 500/Qubo/Doblo and has a Panda interior.
Spoon please.
Fiat presents the first official images of the 500L, the new model which will have its world preview at the International Geneva Motor Show on 6 March this year.
500L - the L stands for 'Large' - is the new addition to the 500 range, which, following the Abarth and Cabrio versions, furthers the brand's strategy, with the aim of extending its offer by introducing models in a position to satisfy different types of customers.
With the 'L', the 500 expands and grows together with customers, to accommodate new experiences and needs once more.
With MPV passenger space combined with the feel of a small SUV on the road and the restrained dimensions and efficiency of a B segment car, the new Fiat model defies the conventional distinctions between the various segments, combining the typical characteristics of different categories in order to create a distinctive alternative to the traditional B and C segments.
With the 500L, the Fiat brand demonstrates its creative spirit once more: a marriage of functionality and emotion, it features a 5-seater single-volume structure which is 414 cm long, 178 cm wide and 166 cm high. It is a further development of the concept of 'cab forward' introduced by Fiat with the 600 Multipla, a precursor to the concept of the compact people carrier.
Produced at the Fiat factory in Kragujevac, Serbia, 500L is a 'first car' for those who won't settle for anything less than Italian style, the versatility that comes from a functional design and engine technology that sets the bar in terms of efficiency.
The Fiat 500L will be introduced to Europe in the last quarter of 2012, with an engine range which will initially comprise two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre) and a turbodiesel engine (1.3 MultiJet II) and the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology from Fiat Group Automobiles.
Turin 2 February 2012
500L - the L stands for 'Large' - is the new addition to the 500 range, which, following the Abarth and Cabrio versions, furthers the brand's strategy, with the aim of extending its offer by introducing models in a position to satisfy different types of customers.
With the 'L', the 500 expands and grows together with customers, to accommodate new experiences and needs once more.
With MPV passenger space combined with the feel of a small SUV on the road and the restrained dimensions and efficiency of a B segment car, the new Fiat model defies the conventional distinctions between the various segments, combining the typical characteristics of different categories in order to create a distinctive alternative to the traditional B and C segments.
With the 500L, the Fiat brand demonstrates its creative spirit once more: a marriage of functionality and emotion, it features a 5-seater single-volume structure which is 414 cm long, 178 cm wide and 166 cm high. It is a further development of the concept of 'cab forward' introduced by Fiat with the 600 Multipla, a precursor to the concept of the compact people carrier.
Produced at the Fiat factory in Kragujevac, Serbia, 500L is a 'first car' for those who won't settle for anything less than Italian style, the versatility that comes from a functional design and engine technology that sets the bar in terms of efficiency.
The Fiat 500L will be introduced to Europe in the last quarter of 2012, with an engine range which will initially comprise two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre) and a turbodiesel engine (1.3 MultiJet II) and the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology from Fiat Group Automobiles.
Turin 2 February 2012
Gawd, what a load of drivel.
The 500l looks absofreakinlutely nothing like the 600 multipla and doesn't have any hint of a cab forward design about it.
ukmike2010
New member
The 500L is actually longer than the modern Multipla and almost as high, so it isn't really sitting in the same segment as the 500 (other than the way that Minis come in all sizes these days). It is quite a big car.
I'm not sure they should have attached the 500 name to this car but marketing no doubt took over. The IDEA suffered I believe because although it was a decent car, the name didn't register with anyone.
I think the 500L is a pretty funky looking car, but then I have had Renault 4s, Fiat Multiplas and Pandas in my history - and was looking at the Citroen C3 Picasso.
I'm not sure they should have attached the 500 name to this car but marketing no doubt took over. The IDEA suffered I believe because although it was a decent car, the name didn't register with anyone.
I think the 500L is a pretty funky looking car, but then I have had Renault 4s, Fiat Multiplas and Pandas in my history - and was looking at the Citroen C3 Picasso.
It looks ugly! And I liked maxis post for the big shouty rant
OP
OP
Well there you go then!
It may well be 500 by name but it really doesn't share anything remotely with the 500 IMHO, not even the front really (OK, the headlights are similar, but in a weird distorted kind of way). Only a complete sucker for marketing spiel would believe otherwise.
The interior as we've seen in my Fiatblog link also looks nothing like a 500 either; as Maxi quite rightly points out it looks more like a Panda rather than anything else!
I really, really wish Fiat had made the effort to make a proper 5-door version of the 500. I know it was always going to be a long shot with the new Panda coming out as well, but I still strongly believe that there is a demand out there for one.
Anyway, we'll never know...
It may well be 500 by name but it really doesn't share anything remotely with the 500 IMHO, not even the front really (OK, the headlights are similar, but in a weird distorted kind of way). Only a complete sucker for marketing spiel would believe otherwise.
The interior as we've seen in my Fiatblog link also looks nothing like a 500 either; as Maxi quite rightly points out it looks more like a Panda rather than anything else!
I really, really wish Fiat had made the effort to make a proper 5-door version of the 500. I know it was always going to be a long shot with the new Panda coming out as well, but I still strongly believe that there is a demand out there for one.
Anyway, we'll never know...
Ugly, ugly, ugly! My applause to Fiat's R&D dpt.Well there you go then!
It may well be 500 by name but it really doesn't share anything remotely with the 500 IMHO, not even the front really (OK, the headlights are similar, but in a weird distorted kind of way). Only a complete sucker for marketing spiel would believe otherwise.
The interior as we've seen in my Fiatblog link also looks nothing like a 500 either; as Maxi quite rightly points out it looks more like a Panda rather than anything else!
I really, really wish Fiat had made the effort to make a proper 5-door version of the 500. I know it was always going to be a long shot with the new Panda coming out as well, but I still strongly believe that there is a demand out there for one.
Anyway, we'll never know...
ahmett
Prominent member
Ugly, ugly, ugly! My applause to Fiat's R&D dpt.
You meant style departmnet = )
I still think its ok .
I understand what you mean, but there's a difference between "Cab forward" and the old 600 Multipla. That kind of of "Forward Control" as it's called in the truck world, as seen in the old VW Transporter (Microbus) is something that is highly unlikely to be seen again.
For one thing, what the VW and 600 Multipla were both rear engine, which in most cases will mean air cooled. If you think about the original Beetle and Transporter they had certain things in common:
1/ Noise. They'd be unlikely to pass environmental tests.
2/ Noise. The clunking of the gearchange as it tries to move gears behind you
3/ Noise. The sound of your teeth chattering in the cold from the lousy heater
Oh, nearly forgot :
4/ Nothing between you and the back of the 44 tonne truck you're about to run into.
Modern cab forward designs have included Dodge and Chryslers
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Sebring[/ame]
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Neon[/ame]
Two interesting little words in the top right corner of this one below
.[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_200[/ame]
If you look at the likes of the Neon and Sebring I think the 500L qualifies as a "Cab Forward" design. Just my opinion like.
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2005
- Messages
- 1,248
- Points
- 210
Fiat are desperate for new cars in their depleted range and this just looks, well, really desperate.
