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Fiat 500X Wows the Paris Motor Show

After the Nuova Cinquecento, Fiat pushed a multi purpose vehicle variation of the 500, but now the times has come to meet the third one in the flesh. Say hello to the Fiat 500X, a five-door B-segment crossover with the looks of the 500 city car and a bit of the practicality of the Fiat 500L mini MPV.
Fiat 500X at the Paris Motor Show 37 photos
Photo: Original photo by autoevolution
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The 500X embodies the Italian brand's wish to grab a slice of the ultra competitive small crossover segment that's full of Nissan Juke, Opel Mokka, Honda HR-V, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008 and Jeep Renegade. The latter is the 500X's American brother, which will be sold in Europe next to the little Fiat.

Engines and transmissions

Fiat will start deliveries of the all-new 500X in the 2nd quarter of 2015, with customers offered an extensive range of petrol and diesel-fed powerplants. Available either as a front-wheel drive, Traction Plus-equipped front-wheel drive or a full-on all-wheel drive variant with disconnecting rear axle for better fuel economy, the 500X is offered with a choice of four gearboxes.

These are an entry-level five-speed manual, as well as a six-speed manual for more potent powerhouses, a six-speed twin-clutch automatic or the nine-speed automatic transmission one can also find on models such as the 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Cherokee and platform brother Jeep Renegade. As for the engines, the range boasts with four petrols and three diesels.

Front-wheel drive petrol-powered models are either equipped with a 110 hp 1.6-liter E-torQ mated to the five-speed manual gearbox, or a 140 hp 1.4L Turbo MultiAir II with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed twin-clutch transmission. AWD petrol models, which are equipped with a nine-speed automatic as standard, are powered either by a 170 hp 1.4L Turbo MultiAir II or a 184 hp 2.4-liter Tigershark engine.

As for the front-wheel drive diesel range, that consists of the 95 hp 1.3-liter MultiJet II turbo diesel coupled to a five-speed manual and the 120 hp 1.6-liter MultiJet II turbo diesel equipped with a six-speed stick shift. The four-wheel drive diesel option is the 140 hp 2-liter MultiJet II turbo diesel, which will be available with a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic. All engine and transmission versions will be offered in Europe, with the exception of the 2.4-liter Tigershark, which will be only offered in Russia.

Chassis technologies

About that Traction plus thingy, it's available on FWD variants and it's basically a system that offers drivers a little bit of extra capability in low-traction situations. It was developed to avoid additional costs and slightly worse emissions associated with a conventional four-wheel drive system. In comparison, the 4WD-kitted 500X boasts with a rear axle disconnection system that switches between two and four-wheel drive for torque management without requiring driver input.

Boasting with MacPherson rear suspension, the Fiat 500X promises fair driving dynamics and soft-road capability. Electronic stability control, Brake Control assisted braking system and a fuel-saving eco:Drive system are other highlight features of the Fiat 500X. Additionally, the so-called Drive Mood Selector is a gadget that lets you toy with the engine, transmission, steering and brakes for more comfort, better driving dynamics or better traction in low grip conditions.

Customizing combinations available at launch

4.25 meters long, 1.80 meters wide and 1.60 meters tall (4WD models measure 1.62 meters), the all-new Fiat 500X is boasting with seating for five and 350 liters of boot space. Two distinct variations of the Italian B-segment crossover will be offered: one was designed to appeal to those that want a metropolitan outlook, while the other features more rugged styling.

There's a choice of 12 exterior colors and eight types of 16, 17 and 18-inch alloy wheel designs. Front fog lights with adaptive cornering, lane departure warning, blind spot assist, LED daytime running lights and a parking camera are also available. As for interior amenities, buyers will be offered a choice of 5 or 6.5-inch media systems. The Uconnect units are touchscreen and feature Bluetooth, USB connectivity, sat nav, voice guidance, DAB radio and many more useful features.

The 2015 Fiat 500X will be built at the SATA plant in Melfi, Italy, next to the 2015 Jeep Renegade and will be sold in more than 100 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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