If you thought the 500 looked good, just wait for the 500X. That’s what the new SUV version will be called – and it’s the next step in Fiat’s growing 500-badged family, following on from the 500L MPV.
It shares the same chassis – based around the latest Panda’s – and will be similar in size. But it’ll be even better looking, with a sweeping coupe-like shape as our illustration shows.
Most versions will be front-wheel drive, yet there are rumours that Fiat will offer a 4x4 model, too, just like the Panda. Expect a starting price of around £14,000 when it arrives in 2013.
The rivals
Peugeot 2008
Coming 2013
At the Beijing Motor Show, Peugeot unveiled the 208-based
Urban Crossover Concept – a Juke rival with a focus on city drivers. It gets the company’s latest design language, with swept-back headlights, a bold chrome grille and a prominent bonnet badge. The car is feasible for production, too, using the same platform and engines as the new 208 – ranging from an efficient 1.4-litre e-HDi to a flagship 1.6-litre turbo. When the Urban Crossover Concept goes on sale next year, it will be called the 2008 and cost from £13,000.
Renault SUV
Coming 2013
The first of a raft of new SUVs from
Renault is based on Nissan’s Juke. The as-yet-unnamed car is inspired by the Captur concept seen at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and will be offered in front and all-wheel-drive form. Engines are likely to be shared with the Juke, meaning a 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre turbodiesel. Renault is also working on a larger Qashqai-based SUV, and has shown an even bigger X-Trail-based concept called the Hi-Cross.
Jeep SUV
Coming 2013
Jeep also has a new baby SUV on the way. It will be based on the platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and take its design cues from the Renegade concept, with two or four-wheel drive and Fiat Multijet diesels The supermini-sized SUV could arrive as early as next year and is part of Jeep's ambitious plans to quadruple its sales in the UK.
Ford Ecosport
Coming 2014
The Fiesta-based
Ecosport has been developed by Ford’s South American division, and debuted in Delhi earlier this year. It’s aimed at emerging markets, with a tweaked version likely to come here and sit below the Kuga. Engine options will include Ford’s new three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo.
MG Icon
Coming 2015
The
Icon crossover concept could become the first modern-era MG roadster. Its designer, Brit Steve Harper, told us: “We asked, what would the MGB GT be like today? This could be it.” The front has shades of the MGB, while the platform will also underpin next year’s MG3.
SsangYong XIV-2
Coming 2015
The
XIV-2 concept hints at SsangYong’s future. It has a clever ‘sardine-tin’ fabric roof, and if it gets the green light, it’ll join Korando crossover and Rexton and Rodius seven-seaters.
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With that low roof, plus five doors and raked rear window, there is no way this 500X could be built on the Panda chassis, which has the same wheelbase as the 500 and only fits two people properly in the back by being boxy. The 500, with its egg shape, is already realistically only a 2+2. I believe that the Lancia (Chrysler) Ypsilon uses a lengthened form of the 500 chassis and I'd guess that the new, wider, Panda chassis will be extended for the 500X, so creating a further modification of an essentially common floorpan.
You also mention a new Renault, built to compete with the Nissan Juke; this will mean that the Juke, the Qashqai, the new Renault and the Dacia Duster, coming soon, will all be built using the same chassis and engines. interesting.
Love the shape,can't wait for the Abarth "ss" version !!!!!
I looked it up and the 500L is not based on the Panda/500 chassis. It's 2ft longer!
It's based on the wide version of the 'GM/Fiat small platform' which is also used by Corsa/Punto/Mito/Doblo/Meriva/Fiorino and others...:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G...
I expect this 500X would also use this chassis. There have been no 4WD vehicle based on it yet from what I can see though.
That makes sense uncle p. The 500L is indeed built on a modified Punto chassis and this is going to be used for a whole raft of Fiat group and Chrysler products. I wish commentators would stop mentioning the Panda chassis and confusing me!
Apparently Fiat has once more postponed the 2013 refresh of the Alfa Mito and told them to concentrate instead on this 500X. Good, if it looks even a bit like the image it will be very attractive.
For the past few years Fiat has concentrated totally on Chrysler, now it looks like Europe is at long last being given a go.
There will supposedly be a whole new Mito in 2014, plus various other new cars.
Good!
Height looks very restricted.
They all look like fun. The Fiat 500 turbo in a 4WD makes a lot more sense than in FWD, plus I think the SUV is far more attractive than the snubby looking car.
The SUV craze is about driving on a higher platform which is better for B Grade roads and rain and also driver visibility. I wonder what will happen once everyone has a SUV and we're all on the same height? Will we then opt for double deckers? :)
All of these look quite funky. Which is probably what's needed in a market sector led by the Juke! But the exception is the dull Peugeot: it looks like a tweaked Tiguan. I'm totally underwhelmed by their new 'design' direction so far: the 508, 208 and now this...
from the roof slope on the 500X no one but children are going to be able to set in the rear seat.
Have a 6ft daughter who would find the rear seats far to claustrophobic for her to ever consider buying for me personally.
AWD is an awesome idea, maybe they should offer it as a optional extra right across the Fiat 500 range, absolutely prefer love the charm & classic shape of normal bog standard Fiat 500, my wife will be buying one within the next year.
Sign me up!
But then so are 99% of other SUVs