Lumina APV Redux: Fiat 500L

by Matthew Guy

Published: February 20th, 2013

Our own Alex L. Dykes postulated that the 500L is what happens when Fiat stays in America for awhile – and he’s right. The feature that stuck out immediately are the massive side windows between the front doors and the windshield, looking for all the world like that area of the original GM Dustbuster minivans.

Unlike at the Chicago show, the doors of this 500L were open, revealing an interior that will be familiar to current Fiat 500 owners … but on a +1 level. The gauges are certainly more comprehensive than those in the regular 500 and the centre stack incorporates a screen seemingly intended for nav and entertainment. Neither pricing nor engines were discussed – here’s hoping that reports of the 1.4L staying in the 500 are true and the 500L is powered by the rip-snortin’ Abarth engine.

#2013CanadianInternationalAutoShow #500L #Fiat #MatthewGuy

Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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4 of 27 comments

MRF 95 T-Bird on Feb 20, 2013

Renault Espace in particular the 1st gen had the same dustbuster look.

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- Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Feb 20, 2013
  
  you brought that up. There's something weird in terms of Renault x Chevy designs. Take a look at Renault's last generation Mégane and Chevy's US Cobalt. Then take a gander at Renault's new Logan and Chevy's Brazilian Cobalt. The similarities are too great to diguise. Though I couldn't say who's apeing whom. I wonder what's going on there...
  
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- Lorenzo on Feb 20, 2013
  
  @Marcelo de Vasconcellos I knew a maintenance man who worked in two adjacent factories simultaneously, moving back and forth to make appearances in both places, and getting two paychecks for one shift. If a car designer could arrange to work from home...
  
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Gearhead77 on Feb 20, 2013

I just saw it up close at the local auto show and it looks better in person from almost all angles except the front. Still ugly from that view.

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