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2014 Fiat 500L Trekking takes the hatchback into the big leagues

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:10:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Fiat

Didn't think it was possible to pull and pry at the diminutive Fiat 500 with enough gumption to make the Italian hatchback qualify as a large car (according to the EPA, at least)? Witness the Fiat 500L Trekking, seen above. It's a full 26-inches longer than the regular 500, and it's grown six-inches taller and wider.

All that stretching means there is 42 percent more interior room in the 500L than the standard car, which means it's a good thing the only engine available is Fiat's 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo four-cylinder engine, as seen in the Abarth, with 160-horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. A manual gearbox is standard, and a dual-clutch automatic is optional, each with six gears.

The Trekking model features unique front and rear fascias and 17-inch alloy wheels to set it apart from the base 500L, and the black wheel arch and body-side sill moldings make it look more aggressive. Want to know more? Check out the high-res gallery above and scroll down below for the press release.

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2014 Fiat 500L Trekking takes the hatchback into the big leagues originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Fiat 500L rounds out the model range

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:07:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Fiat

Fiat has pulled back the curtain on the North American 500L ahead of the five-door's debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show. Engineers have drawn and quartered the base 500 to create a machine that's a full 26-inches longer and six-inches taller and wider. The result is a crossover with 42-percent more interior room than its tiny three-door counterpart. Power comes from a version of the same turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo four-cylinder engine that powers the 500 Abarth and Dodge Dart. The 160-horsepower mill is paired to the buyer's choice of either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmission, and offers 184 pound-feet of torque.

The 2014 Fiat 500L will come in standard and Trekking configurations, with Trekking models like the one above offering differentiated front and rear fascias as well as a two-tone interior, bulging fender arches and standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Designers also graced the trim with black exterior accents for a more aggressive look.

Inside, the 500L will offer Chrysler's Uconnect 5.0 infotainment interface as standard equipment, though Trekking models can be had with the 6.5 system and its larger touchscreen audio. Expect to see both trims show up in Fiat dealers toward the middle of next year. Until then, check out the full press release below.

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2014 Fiat 500L rounds out the model range originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seven-seat Fiat 500XL leaked ahead of Paris debut

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Fiat

The Fiat 500 continues its program of aggrandizement, going from the five-seat 500L and 500X to the seven-seat 500XL - that is, if these patent drawings and snapshots from Fiat's Centro Stile are accurate pictures of the future. The 500 is 11.6 feet long, appending the L added exactly two more feet, and the XL is said to be another six inches longer in the rear overhang to make room for that third row. The Small U.S. Wide (SUSW) platform it sits on will, so it is said, find its way under "a future B-segment Jeep crossover."

While the Fiat 500L is on its way to dealerships this year, the 500XL (if that ends up being its production name) isn't expected to hit showroom floors until later in 2013. It is believed that it will not be coming to the U.S., the rumor being that Fiat doesn't think Americans are ready for a tiny seven-seater. We might see all of them at the Paris Motor Show next month and get a handle on which 500 will go where.

Seven-seat Fiat 500XL leaked ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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