Yep, I agree entirely. I guess it has to do with the fact that supposedly the L wasn't meant to be part of the "500 family" initially, whereas this was born specifically with that intent.
Lots of vanilla in the world, and its a big piece of the pie anymore. They would be stupid to not try to tap into some of that. Let the Renegade be the niche player ( wildly successful too I bet ) and let the 500x be the player in the fields of vanilla. Makes sense to me.
I like how this one looks! Looks well proportioned, sleek...ATRACTIVE!
But this is what the ugly 500L should have looked like. So why is FCA forcing customers to have to choose between style, room, capability, efficiency...instead of just coming up with one model that can package everything into, and let customers pick different versions...?
Maybe FIAT is trying to use up ALL the letters in the alphabet...?
Maybe there are not the same class? Maybe they will conquer two market segments in EU with them? 500L is the best selling small MPV in Europe and 500X is destined to be the best selling small CUV.
Maybe FIAT should stop thinking about auto making as an artisanal cottage industry like cheese making, olive oil, and even wine making, and think of it as an industrial sector, where manufacturing efficiency and consistency of quality is considerably more critical to customers than giving them endless choices of textures and flavors.
As much as FCA may think building endless iterations off one common platform is more "efficient", in the end it will find that so many nameplates and models will prove both very expensive to manage and to market, and will prove confounding to customers.
Popping new models without budgeting the required time and money to market each one, is like the deadbeat dad who has dozens of children, barely supports any of them, but expects them to become famous doctors and lawyers.
They don't really. FIAT in NAFTA is only using one nameplate: the 500, with several declinations (much like MINI). There's no Bravo, Punto, Panda, Siena, Palio, UNO, etc.
Want a 2dr? Get the regular 500
Want a mini MPV? Get the 500L
Want a mini CUV? Get the 500x
Seems pretty straightforward to me. The overall market size for those vehicles is pretty small, but more time will give them better insight on how to penetrate it more efficiently and how to expand their potential customer base. For example, I'm sure the 500X - having been designed with the US in mind from the beginning - will do better than the other two stable mates.
The rest of FCA has NAFTA well figured out I think.
As far as I am concerned way to little of the Fiat line up is offered here, I have no idea why someone would want to deny American consumers any model I very much think the Panda would do well, and want the opportunity to buy the small pickups. I am sure the spider will be offered..... but 3 model... 5 if one counts the Rams is such a small slice of FCAs total product offering I find it odd to even claim that they are stepping on there own models.
Don't forget we are looking at pictures of the Euro market 500X. There's still time for FCA's marketing people to screw up the NAFTA version before it gets here. The usual gimmicks are nonsensical option groups, drab color choices and lame advertising. Consumers won't know what's the real deal.
As far as the 500L, it wouldn't kill them to clean up the front end styling a little. The X front looks cleaner and so they should clean up the L to match it. FCA should also offer the longer MPV version of the L here as well. Just offer it in a couple of trim levels, it doesn't have to be all of them.
New member here. I just wanted to say that this is how you do platform sharing. The Renegade and 500X went in two completely different styling directions, and I like them both. I think the 500X (as pictured in this thread at least) is really attractive.
However, I am one of those people who likes the 500L. Or perhaps it should be, "I am the person who likes the 500L". For me, the utility is part of the attraction. I want to love cars like the Soul or Sonic hatchback, but you can't even fit a stroller in the back of one, so where's the utility? The 500L has room for people, room for stuff, and a bulldog, so-ugly-it's-cute* style. I think of it as a Mini Countryman that you can actually afford.
*Cuteness may not be visible to some observers of the 500L.
I like the "idea" of the 500L. I tend to like the styling of the 500X a wee bit more, but unless it has/had the same interior space utility as the 500L then the 500X wouldn't be worth the trouble (too me). I've never even driven a 500L, but would be willing.
However ... or should I say "furthermore"? I'd like to see an Abarth* version of the 500L. But my same ol' usual phrase fits even better : the US version ought to have a proper JTD diesel option to make the car more useful. Every YouTube test I've seen of the US 500L says that the Turbo 1.4L coupled with the DDCT means the driver has to over-rev the car to get it to go - that you simply "get used to having to do that" (my paraphrase). That's a bothersome idea to me; when the solution seems to be "at hand" by offering a Diesel. ( Whether a FTP JTD diesel, or a VM Motori small I4 ). The car doesn't seem to be a speed demon by any stretch, so what would be lost by having a capable engine that offers good Launch and Mid-range speed (regular, legal turnpike speed in the USA is just about identical no matter what State you drive) - So it doesn't compete with the Challenger for the top-end speed claims ... so what?
* - Brakes, Suspension, Aero and Cosmetic pieces { An Abarth with a Diesel wouldn't bother me; although it's not an Abarth forté ... but Hell's Bells, if FCA were game to supply a 'tuner' version of one of their SDE's that might be interesting}
If it comes in the light green or olive green that is offered on the regular 500s, shut up and take my money. The forest green they offer on the 500L looks too "Mini" to me. The regular 500 comes in a number of unique colors and Fiat really ought to offer them across the 500 line (I bet a 500L in light green or olive green would look quite decent.). I'm planning on getting a new vehicle within the next 12-18 months and both the Renegade and 500X are definitely where I'm looking as I'd like to stay with the FCA family when it comes time to replace my Stratus.
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