Fiat 500X Breaks Loose Before Planned Paris Premier
Fiat’s next product is scheduled to make its official debut during the Paris Motor Show early next month, but now a leaked image is offering a look at the car ahead of that event.
The front fascia draws influence heavily from the 500 sub-compact, but is grafted onto a beefier body clad in chunkier trim pieces and with a raised ride height.
While the image shown here is the only one that leaked, the car is supposed to offer seat belts for five and an available touch screen in higher-trim models. Fiat’s latest product will share its platform with the upcoming Jeep Renegade. The X is expected to come with a variety of engines worldwide including a 0.9-liter two-cylidner turbocharged mill or a 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder among others. The company hasn’t said what will power the U.S.-spec car, but the 1.4-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines it could be packaged with are likely candidates.
Like the Renegade, a nine-speed automatic transmission will be available in the upcoming mini crossover although it might not be mated to each of the engines packaged in the car.
The 500X will join the 500 and 500L in this market shortly after its Paris debut and could help to bolster the brand’s sales here. Last week Fiat stopped production of the 500L because of flaccid sales.
[Image source: World Car Fans]
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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Plastic fender liners and telling people this is offroad capable... Yeah this'll work, bring on the Ferrari plug-in hybrid SUV.