At the
Los Angeles Auto Show Fiat has handed a North American
debut to the 500L which gets specific changes for this
market; it has also given a world première to the 500L
Trekking version which aims to give the minivan a more
pumped up and capable feel. Unlike the 500 which is
built in Mexico, the 500L and 500L Trekking will arrive
in North America CBU from Serbia.
Under the bonnet of the
500L is the MultiAir Turbo engine providing the highest
output-per-litre and best-in-class standard horsepower
(160 hp) and torque (184 lb.-ft.) in the segment. The
500L also features a six-speed manual transmission, or
segment-exclusive six-speed dual dry clutch transmission
(DDCT).
All-new Fiat 500L Trekking: the adventurous side
of the 500L
The premiere of the Fiat 500L Trekking aims to
give this model more distinctive and rugged looks as
well as a two-tone interior. It gets new unique front
and rear clips as well as flared wheel arches overlays
and larger 17-inch wheels.
“From Gucci to Abarth, our Fiat 500 and now all-new Fiat
500L illustrate the different personalities and
capabilities the Fiat brand can deliver from the same
basic sheet metal,” said Tim Kuniskis. “And with the
rugged personality of the Trekking, we will attract a
wider cross section of customers while keeping intact
all the great benefits of the Fiat 500L.”
Making the 500L
Trekking distinct is the addition of aggressively styled
front and rear fascias with Nero (black) accents for a
bolder look. Unique Nero wheel arch and body-side sill
mouldings aim to give the 500L Trekking a more
adventurous look, while larger 17 x 7-inch aluminum
wheels aim to hint at the urban-utility vehicle’s
handling capabilities.
A two-tone Nero/Marrone (black/brown) interior
environment continues the 500L Trekking’s theme. At the
centre of it all is Chrysler Group's Uconnect 5.0 system
which features a 5-inch intelligently and intuitively
designed touchscreen interface, handsfree calling and
Bluetooth-streaming audio, as well as voice-command
control of the radio and a media hub for seamless
integration of portable devices. For more capability,
the Fiat 500L Trekking can be specified with the premium
Uconnect 6.5 system with its larger 6.5-inch touchscreen
radio, with dealer-activated navigation with intuitive
map graphics and a premium media hub with SD card
reader.
The U.S. market specific 500L and 500L Trekking models
are produced at Fiat Automobiles’ manufacturing plant in
Kragujevac, Serbia, and will arrive in the North
American dealerships in mid-2013.
ItaliaspeedTV:
Fiat 500L, 500 Abarth Cabrio and
500e debut at LA Auto Show
/
Fiat 500L on the road /
Fiat
500L and 500c explained by Head of Product Marketing
Matt Davis
