Fiat 500L revealed

500, Panda and a bit bigger

Understandably, as this is based on the Panda platform, the rear appears to share a lot of the look of that car. I did wonder from Auto Express's pictures showing a mock-up of this car whether grafting the 500 front onto a large Panda would work. From the angle in this publicity shot, I guess it is more successful than I might have though, but this might be the only angle from which it works well.

It is hard to tell without something to give it scale, though. This car is set to replace the Multipla, and that's a heck of a lot bigger than the 500. Will that detract from the current 500?

By alan_jenney on 2 February, 2012, 4:06pm

It's not based on the 500/Panda

It's based on the Punto. Do check your sources. All it gets from the 500 is the looks and some of the engines. Much like the Countryman.

By giulivo on 2 February, 2012, 5:23pm

First I've heard...

That this is based on the Punto/Corsa platform, everywhere else has suggested it's on the revamped and extended Panda platform, do you know something that we all don't?

I am all for this version, the 500 is simply too much of a compromise if it is your only car, this ticks pretty much all the boxes of what i'm looking for.

By JFalck on 2 February, 2012, 9:16pm

Very Classy

I'm a fan of the Mini 4-door and this is another very good-looking addition to this particular segment, the Fiat 500 was always overdue a 4-door version with added practicality and this will satisfy most peoples needs, making it the perfect city car! Great job again by Fiat, will be a big hit worldwide I'm sure.

By Kevin1982 on 4 February, 2012, 12:14pm

Perfect fit

Very nice. I wish people would choose stylish, sensible cars like this instead of oversized MPVs and SUVs that they don't really need.

By CrystalBall on 5 February, 2012, 1:27am

Classic 1950's Fiat Multipla returns?

Fiat could rebrand it as a 1950's classic 600 Multipla?

By IvorBiggen on 6 February, 2012, 8:47am

7 Seats

Where are the extra 2 going to sit, looks far too short to accommodate 7 people!!
I loved the Multipa, such a fantastic car, short , space for 6, and good load carrier with seats away, it was hard to beat, !!

By rosscompel on 7 February, 2012, 6:26pm

What is it?

Are you sure this is the 500L? Looks very like the new Panda to me - but that's no bad thing.

By Sherdy on 8 February, 2012, 7:31pm

I like

And I didn't think I would.

By Richard_H on 6 March, 2012, 1:04pm

This is how the Mini Countryman should have looked like.

By aeolus on 6 March, 2012, 1:31pm

Stuart_K

The new 500L looks like another step up for Fiat design and quality. Pity then, that AE have been negligent in showing the Golf cabrio in the first photograph .... or is this just further a sign of your VW fixation? Come on guys, please play fair and retain credibility.

By Stuartflyboy on 6 March, 2012, 8:46pm

F**k me, that's ugly!

This has got to be one of the worst-looking cars I've seen launched in recent years - excluding Nissan's Juke, of course. It looks like it was designed in Heaven by Ray Charles, then slipped from his grasp, being caught in the very top of the ugly tree and bouncing off every branch on the way down.

By snappyuk on 6 March, 2012, 10:09pm

Hmmm

That's what I'd expect a 5 door MINI to actually look like, perhaps they should have sold the design to BMW to add to the already nasty, bulbous MINI range? As a Fiat, and a 500 family member, I don't think it works at all. Not sure what it is trying to be or appeal to. Could just as easily be some daft Citroen faux-mini MPV like those Picasso things they insist we endure...

By JamesRiley on 7 March, 2012, 8:10am

Punto!

Auto Express: it's based on a heavily modified Punto platform, not a Panda one. This is fundamental, and you are once again fundamentally wrong. And the video was dismal, all about the presenter and not the car. Please get serious!

By Alexan14 on 7 March, 2012, 3:25pm

What the bleeding hell is a MPV??? Garbage-speak, and crap invented by dunder-headed dimwitted faux designers, and you Auto Express are perpetually sucked in by this bulldust spewed out of PR depts. Its a city car in fact, and is the 5-door version of the tiny 500, which obviously would need to be stretched to get an extra pair of doors in the body. Puleeze, review the car within the context of its segment. I know only babies are cute, but so is the 500. The 500L will vapourise into the milleu as an also-ran.

By barina47 on 8 March, 2012, 4:13am