Fiat Is Readying An Expanded Family Of New ‘500’ Models

Fiat is planning to cash in on the popularity of the 500 with a new, and expanded, range of its stylish city car.

According to Autocar, a recent high-level meeting at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Turin design center last month, led by Fiat chief executive, Oliver François, saw the car manufacturer commit to its flourishing city car business as well as a selection of larger vehicles.

“Fiat has a double mission. Urban mobility is core today, but at the same time, it means family transportation. In southern Europe, this is especially true,” François said.

Also Read: Fiat’s Next-Generation 500 To Be An All-Electric “Urban Tesla”

“For our future product plan, we need the right balance between the two dimensions: the Fiat 500 family and family transportation. There will be no big cars, no premium cars, no sporty cars because they have no legitimacy. We will be present in the C-segment [Ford Focus class] but not much more. All models will sit within 3.5m and 4.5m (11.4 feet to 14.7 feet). This is where Fiat will play. We need more EVs. And we need more 500 models that look legitimate enough to take higher pricing,” the chief executive confirmed.

Leading the charge will be an electric successor to the 500. This model is expected to abandon the three-door design of the current model in favor of a compact five-door arrangement that includes small suicide rear doors like the BMW i3 and the classic Mazda RX-8. In addition, Fiat will drop the 500X SUV from its line-up and effectively replace it with a successor to the classic 500 Giardiniera estate.

Fiat is also planning an all-new Panda, which is set to arrive in 2021 with styling inspired by the Centoventi concept. An all-electric variant will be offered roughly two years after the car’s launch. Another model said to be in the works is a replacement to the Tipo expected to take the shape of a small SUV that could be based on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade and forthcoming Alfa Romeo Tonale.