Fiat USA May Expand Lineup Beyond 500L

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Fiat 500L may be joined by another Fiat product, but the brand’s North American head said that it won’t necessarily resemble the 500 vehicles.

Speaking to the Detroit Free Press, Fiat’s Tim Kuniskis said

“We won’t bring you a commodity car…”Style, for sure, will be No. 1,” Kuniskis said. “Any car we sell has got to be something different.”

Author Mark Phelan notes that while Mini has boxed itself into a corner because of its reliance on brand heritage (i.e. many different variants of the same shape), Fiat has produced a wide variety of vehicles over the years – how about a revived 124, 131 or X-19? Personally, I’d love to see the much praised Panda come over, complete with the TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder engine. But it ain’t gonna happen.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Ciddyguy Ciddyguy on Mar 19, 2012

    Um, guys, the 500 IS essentially the Panda, but with a completely different body on it. Both, and the Ford KA, which all share components are built at the same Titchy Poland plant. That being said, I'd love to see the Panda come over but it's likelihood may be nil due to the similar, though bit larger 500L coming instead.

  • Ajla Ajla on Mar 19, 2012

    Please bring us the Strada.

    • Chipper Carb Chipper Carb on Mar 20, 2012

      I agree, as the owner of a 2003 Ranger with such bad gas mileage I can't think of any better replacement. Please Fiat, bring us the Strada!!!

  • Rental Man Rental Man on Mar 20, 2012

    I keep on forgetting. Not that it would solve any Strada issue. If Ford cannot bring us the Ranger from Australia and Asia what is stopping Mazda from brining sister Mazda BT-50. Mazda has no F-150 sales to worry about. They just need traffic to stop at their product starved dealers.

  • MRF 95 T-Bird MRF 95 T-Bird on Mar 20, 2012

    A Spyder/Barchetta would be a nice addition to the Fiat line. A 2 seater roadster to compete with Miata but priced way less than a Boxter, TT or SLK.

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