A beauty with character, the new car explores a brand-new dimension of being 500, where a mature, elegant, all-Italian style "clothes" - like haute couture - the substance of a car that is comfortable, high-performance and always in touch with the world: this is the X side of beauty, and this is the soul of the Fiat 500X.
A descendent of the 1957 Fiat 500 - the stylistic reference of the rounded lights and the classic logo with the chrome-plated moustache on the front end is clear - the new Fiat crossover extends the 500 family, comprising the 500, 500C, 500L, 500L Trekking and 500L Living models: cars diverse in vocation and character, but which all share the same roots: the iconic Fiat 500.
Built at the updated SATA plant in Melfi (Potenza) and sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, including the United States, the new Fiat 500X will be available in two different versions with two different souls - one more "metropolitan", the other ideal for leisure use -, equipped with efficient diesel and petrol engines, three types of transmission - manual, 9-speed automatic or twin-clutch 6-speed automatic - and with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive with "Traction Plus" configurations.
The Fiat 500X is a crossover not only in its very nature, but also because it appeals to a wide range of customers, male and female, of different ages, with different needs and tastes. In this sense, the "X" symbol represents a crossroads between several very different segments, each inhabited by the young and the mature, lovers of beauty and connoisseurs of character. These people are dynamic, with an active social life and they cultivate different passions and interests. What they have in common, however, is the desire to enjoy a satisfying driving experience and express their own personality through a distinctive style. For all of them today, there's one clear, comprehensive response: the Fiat 500X.
The 500X comes in two versions: the first - available in Pop, Popstar and Lounge trim levels and featuring distinctive, elegant styling - is sure to win over young, dynamic, metropolitan customers. The second version - available in Cross and Cross Plus trim levels and boasting a more off-road look and technology - is the ideal solution for those who love leisure and the outdoors, but don't want to compromise on the unique style of the Fiat 500.
The new Fiat 500X crossover will be available from 2015.
Engine versions
Depending on the EMEA market, the 500X is available with various combinations of engine, gearbox and transmission to meet all usage requirements, every one offering both respect for the environment and maximum efficiency in terms of performance, consumption and emissions.
Available at launch will be the 140 HP 1.4 Turbo MultiAir2 (front-wheel drive and 6-speed manual gearbox), the 110 HP 1.6 "E-torQ" (5-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive), the 120 HP 1.6 MultiJet II (front-wheel drive and 6-speed manual gearbox) and the 140 HP 2.0 MultiJet II (9-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive).
The range will then be topped off with the 170 HP 1.4 Turbo MultiAir2 (9-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive), and the powerful 187 HP 2.4 litre Tigershark MultiAir2 (9-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive) petrol engines.
The 140 HP 1.4 Turbo MultiAir II engine will also be available with front-wheel drive and 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. In particular, the innovative automatic and sequential dual clutch transmission ensures greater driving comfort and a sportier feeling, in terms of gear shift speed, offering increased efficiency and optimised consumption. Conceptually, it consists of two transmissions in parallel that permit extraordinarily rapid gear changes, releasing one clutch and engaging the other simultaneously.
The following turbodiesel power units will also be available: the 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet II (5-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive), and the 140 HP 2.0 MultiJet II (6-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drive).
Nine-speed automatic transmission
The 500X crossover is the first Fiat car to offer nine-speed automatic transmission. This transmission, available with the 170 HP 1.4 Turbo MultiAir II petrol engine and the 140 HP 2.0 MultiJet II turbodiesel, offers many advantages, including great pick-up capacity and smooth delivery of power. Electronically controlled, the new nine-speed automatic transmission features specific mapping, with the option to switch to manual-sequential mode.
4WD and rear axle disconnection system
The new Fiat 500X is available in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations. A particular feature of the new Fiat crossover's four-wheel drive is the adoption of a rear axle disconnection system that reduces energy wasted through drag when four-wheel drive operation is not required, thus ensuring more efficient fuel consumption. The only vehicle in its segment to offer this feature, with the exception of the Jeep Renegade, the 500X's rear-axle disconnect seamlessly switches between two- and four-wheel drive for accurate torque management with no need for input from the driver.