By: IOL Motoring Staff
Paris Motor Show - Fiat is stretching its 500 heritage into new territory with this crossover.
If you like the cute and cuddly appeal of the 500 hatch but you now have pavement hopping aspirations and kids to haul around, the new 500X might be right up your alley.
As you can see, it's significantly bigger than the regular 500, with its 4.25 metre length making it a good 70cm longer than its little sibling.
It's not completely limited to tar use though as more rugged four-wheel drive versions will be available and even the front-wheel drive configuration will be offered with the option of a more advanced traction control system for particularly slippery surfaces.
In Europe, a wide range of petrol and diesel engines and gearboxes will be available, including Fiat Chrysler's latest nine-speed autobox. The most affordable models come with an 82kW 1.6 petrol while further up the range you get versions of Fiat's 1.4 MultiAir II turbopetrol offering up to 127kW and a normally aspirated 2.4 that musters 137kW. The turbodiesel options range from a 71kW 1.3 MultiJet right through to a 104kW 2-litre.
URBAN OR BUSH BABY?
As with the little 500, the X allows buyers to mark their spot with a variety of personalisation options. Two basic versions of the 500X will be offered - one with a 'metropolitan' style and the other focusing on the more rugged side of life and from there customers will be able to choose from 12 body colours and eight different wheel designs.
Inside the 500X, your portal to information and entertainment is Fiat's Uconnect system, which offers two touch-screen sizes (5.0 or 6.5 inch) and smartphone integration through numerous apps.