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Fiat 500: First details about next-generation range emerges

Fiat has revealed some details about the next-generation 500, the first variants of which will be released in the middle of 2020.


In an interview with Autocar, Olivier François, the head of the Fiat brand, has confirmed the next-generation 500 range will expand to include a hatch, a wagon, an all-electric variant, and a crossover.

The ungainly 500L people mover will be axed.

 

500 and 500 Giardiniera

In addition to the regular 500, the company will add a Giardiniera five-door wagon to the range.

Adding a five-door body to the lineup not only gives buyers a more practical option, but also fits with Europe's love affair with wagons and the growing trend away from three-door models to five-door variants.

François confirmed the 500 range will carry premium price tags. This strategy reportedly ensures the new 500 will feature "no compromise on content, on feel or refinement", but also helps to offset the high production cost of the upcoming all-electric 500.

 

500 Electric

The magazine believes the electric version of the 500 will come with a small pair of reverse-hinged rear doors, giving the car extra practicality, but without moving the vehicle too far away from its classic size and shape.

According to François the electric 500 will have a modular battery system with a range rating of around 100km as standard. This can be upgraded "by renting, buying or leasing" extra battery cells.

The Fiat boss states "only the A- and B-segments can generate hundreds of thousands of EV sales", and believes the electric 500 can make a real change as the company "sells one in three small cars [across Europe] with the 500 and Panda.”

 

500X

The Jeep Renegade-based crossover has been a qualified success, and has been renewed for a second generation.

According to Car Sales Base, the 500X has averaged 96,647 sales annually on the Continent over the past three years putting it comfortably ahead of its Renegade twin-under-the-skin, which managed an average of 73,746 over the same period.

The 500X has been considerably less popular outside its home market, though.

In 2018 just 238 500X crossovers were sold in Australia. Although to be fair, the Jeep Renegade was equally unpopular with just 163 sales last year.

Stateside figures from Good Car Bad Car show the Renegade (97,062) handily outsold the 500X (5223) by a factor of 18.

 

500L

Although the 500 range will grow in its third-generation, the 500L will not be part of the adventure.

The misshapen small people mover, which is available in both five-seat and extended-length seven-seat variants, is largely unloved.

Last year 50,224 were sold in Europe, while 1413 found new homes in the US.

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