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Fiat 500X Cabrio Reportedly Coming After 500X Mild Hybrid

Let’s be frank here for a moment. If the badge doesn’t read Wrangler or Bronco, the soft-topped SUV is pretty much bound to fail from a commercial standpoint. Nissan, for example, stopped selling the Murano CrossCabriolet after four model years. Land Rover, on the other hand, discontinued both the Evoque convertible and three-door coupe.
Fiat 500X for the U.S. market 22 photos
Photo: Fiat
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Even with hindsight, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will reportedly go down this route with the 500X Cabrio. Automotive News Europe learned about this version from suppliers last month, and according to them, production will be handled by the Melfi plant in Italy where the Renegade is also made.

The 500X Cabrio won’t be alone in the compact segment either. VW still offers the T-Roc Cabriolet, which has scored consistently worse than the fixed-head body style in the motoring media for obvious reasons. The open-air crossover is a whopping 5,675 euros more expensive than the more conventional sibling, which isn’t exactly a good deal in the compact segment.

Turning our attention back to the Italian newcomer, suppliers told the cited publication that body panels, door frames, and the doors are shared with the Fiat 500X. The roof and rear window are apparently inspired by the 500C city car, which has a full-length soft top and very underwhelming engines.

Speaking of powerplants, mild-hybrid assistance is reportedly coming to the 500X this year, most likely for the 2022 model year. I can’t imagine what engine will get the integrated starter/generator unit, but knowing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the fuel-sipping drivetrain will feature an automatic transmission. Over in the United States, a nine-speed auto is the only choice available and the 500X comes as standard with an all-wheel-drive system.

In related news, head honcho Olivier François gave an interesting hint about the future of Fiat as far as crossovers are concerned. Speaking to Auto Express in May 2020, the big kahuna of the Italian brand let it slip that a blend of the X and L is the way ahead. But it is not for the near future.”
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Editor's note: Fiat 500X for the U.S. market pictured.

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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