2016 Fiat 500 Will Stay Retro, But Get Bigger: Report
Fiat's next-generation 500 hatch could fall victim to the US market's demand for size and space, growing well beyond its current diminutive proportions. According to industry paper Automotive News, Fiat is exploring options for satisfying
Fiat's next-generation 500 hatch could fall victim to the US market's demand for size and space, growing well beyond its current diminutive proportions.
According to industry paper Automotive News, Fiat is exploring options for satisfying the American market while maintaining the 500's ability to navigate tight European streets.
It is possible however that Fiat could develop a larger model to be sold alongside the regular tiny 500, just as the new 500L does in the current range.
While the new 500 could be offered in three-door form only, a larger five-door version would likely ride on the same platform that underpins the Dodge Dart and the largely identical Fiat Viaggio.
The report adds that the larger version of the 500 could even replace the Punto, debuting as a new rival for Ford's popular Fiesta.
While the 500 may may move even further from its 'bambino' roots, the carmaker is at least expected to retain the iconic hatch's retro styling.
And that's no surprise: like the reborn MINI Cooper and Ford's Mustang, Fiat's 500 has been one of the few success stories to come from the brief history-driven styling fad of the 90s and early 2000s.
The new 500 is expected to debut in late 2015 or early 2016, so expect spy photos and new details to emerge in the coming year.
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