Fiat 500X Exposes Some Chest Hair With 'Adventure Edition'
Calling the Fiat 500X rugged is like calling Star Wars actor Adam Driver sexy. While both have happened, neither of those ideas were conveyed via particularly reputable outlets. Likewise, the general public probably doesn’t agree with those statements — and the few that do are assuredly women.
Unlike the Star Wars franchise, Fiat owes the majority of its modern-day “success” to the fairer sex — a phrase I’m absolutely positive no one uses anymore. Still, both are trying to broaden their appeal by tweaking their product. Let’s stick to discussing automobiles.
While the breakdown fluctuates from year to year, roughly 60 percent of all Fiat drivers are women. But the brand does market to men, sometimes in ways we can’t quite comprehend. It also builds vehicles that seem specifically targeted at gentlemen, like the 500 Abarth and new 500X Adventure Edition.
Even though Fiat Chrysler Automobiles didn’t come right out and say it in the press release, it did use words like “rugged” and “adventurous when describing the Adventure Edition’s styling. If that isn’t a dog whistle for male consumers, we don’t know what is.
We’re positive most dudes shopping for something in this category will stick with Jeep’s Renegade, but the 500X might get the odd duck who’s interested in rounder styling. It may also help reel in women who are really into camping and added visual flair.
The Adventure Edition, based on the Trekking trim, tacks on 18-inch aluminum wheels, black roof rails, orange mirror caps and unique graphics on the body-side, cross bows, and front and rear splash guards. Interior additions include a molded rear cargo tray and front and rear slush mats.
While the wheels, splashguards, and slush mats can all purchased separately, bundling them together on the Special Edition actually ends up being the cheaper option. Plus, you get all of those hip graphics for free. Available in Bianco Gelato (White Clear Coat), Nero Cinema (Black Clear Coat), Grigio Graphite (Graphite Grey) and Grigio Argentino (Grey Metallic), the Fiat 500X Adventure Edition is already on sale.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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It’s always amusing to see a dozen comments slagging a brand, followed by an ad for that brand.
It must be exhausting to be so insecure about one's gender that one has to pick their car based on a fear that someone will think they're not [XY] enough. I've got a great big burly hairy-chested square-jawed manly F150 and a compact and perfectly-formed Fiat 500. The F150 gets 13MPG, has zero lockable storage space, and handles like pickled crap. The 500 gets 40 MPG, is big enough for three people to go camping, and handles like pretty much every small Fiat ever (i.e. particularly well for a small economy car, which is why Enzo Ferrari preferred to drive small Fiats instead of his own company's rolling codpieces). I've owned dozens of cars, of all varieties, and the 500 is near the top of my favorites list. In the DC area, Fiats are everywhere, driven by pretty much an even split of genders. Fantastic little cars, and the leagues of blowhard mancar fanboys have yet to give me a single decent counterargument to why I should not be grinning my face off while zipping through city traffic, carving up curvy roads, and carting my camping gear out to the mountains on the cutest li'l roof rack ever.