Fiat 500 gains an L for Large

The latest Fiat 500 has proved to be a stellar success with plenty of them buzzing around our urban roads - and no wonder as they're economical and cute. But for some "cute" equates to "a bit too small" so to cater to the drivers who still want something that is easy to park and light on fuel but they just need a little more space, Fiat will be launching the 500L next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

The L is for Large - it has MPV-like passenger space, the feel on the road of driving a small SUV and more interior space than the babies of the range. Fiat is promising that it will seat five people within a car that's 414cm long, 178cm wide and 166cm high. Its design is developed from the 600 Mutipla, a forerunner to the idea of a compact people carrier.

Aside from a couple of photos showing off quite a smart design, the only other detail Fiat has let slip before Geneva is that there will initially be a choice of two petrol engines - a TwinAir and a 1.4-litre - and a 1.3-litre MultiJet II diesel. We're tipping this one to be pretty frugal on fuel, like the other 500s, and we can't help but wonder whether this will be the one that will eventually propel Fiat forward with hybrid and electric innovations. Only time will tell.

It will be produced in Fiat's Serbian factory and it is expected to go on sale across Europe in the last quarter of this year.

www.fiat.co.uk





By Georgia Lewis

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