Fiat 500X 2015 News

There are more than 300 individual nameplates in Australia today. From Abarth to Volvo, the badges sit on vehicles from 46 brands building electric cars, tiny runabouts, hulking SUVs and utes.The gold rush is not over by a long shot, with Chinese brands starting to get very serious about Australia and certain to push the number nearer to 50 in 2016.LDV has arrived via importer Ateco Automotive with a people-mover and delivery van. Haval is making big promises for BMW-style SUVs next year. A brand with British history but Chinese owners will have three new models next year: the MG 3, MG 6 and MG CS.Some brands have been in Australia, often for a long time, and are looking for a fresh start.Fiat is planning a renewed push, starting with the just-landed, family-focused 500X. Next year, it will have the 124 Spider, which it has cloned from the new Mazda MX-5. Having failed in recent years with the Panda and Punto, Fiat believes it can create some excitement with a new generation of cars."The last thing the Australian market needs is another nameplate or brand. I cannot turn up and pretend you need me," says Fiat chief marketing officer Olivier Francois.He is behind some creative work for Fiat Chrysler that features superstars including Pharrell Williams, J-Lo, Eminem and even Clint Eastwood, who starred in a Superbowl commercial.For Australia, he is banking on Fiat's Italian heritage and design, combined with better pricing and quality from Fiat Chrysler — an operation that is starting to get traction here.He is pushing — like the Chinese brands — a change in perception and says: "Think Fiat only builds small cars? Wrong."

The Fiat 500 that isn't - because it's a crossover for families - is being readied to go head-to-head with the Mini Countryman in 2016.

Are you tired of getting stuck behind an SUV? If you can’t see through them, you may want to join them.Australia is going to be crawling with a new type of SUV from next year: city-sized soft-roaders. Or as we like to call them, faux-wheel drives.They have the same tall driving position as a full-size SUV (to better navigate the traffic rather than the great outdoors) and yet have the economy of a small car because often they don’t even have all-wheel drive. Handily, they also fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.The Suzuki SX4 (now known as the S-Cross) in many ways pioneered this segment; Holden and Nissan followed with pocket-sized high-riding hatchbacks with unusual designs.But Mazda’s CX-3 is the first one that appears to look just right. Due in March, it will soon be joined by the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and the reborn Suzuki Vitara (a sign of the times, now with car-like underpinnings rather than a 4WD chassis).Most of these vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, the heart of the new-car market — and put SUVs in the driveways of those who want one but, until now, couldn’t afford it.If you thought it was already difficult to choose a new car in the world’s most competitive market, it’s about to get even tougher.

The 500X maintains the proportions and cute packaging of the smaller sibling.The big brother of the cute little Fiat 500 is being readied for modern families in Australia in the second half of next year.Unveiled at the Paris motor show, the 500X is a genuine five-seater that maintains the proportions and cute packaging of the rounded revival of Fiat's highest favourite, called the Cinquecento in Italy.There are two models of the X-car, a high-rider for weekend escapes and a lower-set version for city work, with a choice of engines and drive. It is still only 4.25 metres long but stands 1.6 metres high. Safety equipment includes reversing camera, lane departure warning and emergency brake assist. Boot capacity is 350L.For Australia, the most likely addition to the 500 family is the metropolitan model with petrol engines. Firm pricing is well in the future but prices potentially will start below $30,000."It's not confirmed yet for Australia""It's not confirmed yet for Australia. It would be available in the second half of next year if we get it," says Fiat spokeswoman Karla Leach."Fiat needs a proper five-seater car. You can upsize or downsize into a 500X, which makes it a good size for Australia and gives us a range of opportunities with buyers. It would work for people moving up out of their first car, or older couples looking to downsize without losing some style and enjoyment." Chief designer Roberto Giolito says the car is intended to maintain the proportions of the 500 and also keep the "face". He hints that there will an Abarth version of the X-fighter."The 500X is a good body for Abarth. The driving seat is perfectly (in place) to control the car, so Abarth would be perfect" he says.Fiat Chrysler Automotive says a decision for Australia will be made before the end of the year. The company is studying how the 500X will fit in a line-up that includes Jeep and the coming Renegade. The arrival of the Renegade militates against importing the all-wheel drive 500X, as the two would compete and cannibalise sales."There are a number of engine options for the 500X ... reviewing what's available, we would steer towards the petrol engines. There are four choices, from the 900cc TwinAir to the 1.4 turbo," says Leach.

Jeep has a new arrival on the way to create a lower entry point to the brand, and reported to be christened Jeepster in a salute to the heritage of the original Jeepster produced by Willys-Overland in the late 1940s.The new version will be based on the Jeep's Fiat-Chrysler stablemate, the Fiat 500X, and will share the engine line-up from the Fiat 500L sold overseas: a 74kW 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo, 119kW 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo and an efficiency-focused 74kW 1.6-litre MultiJet II turbodiesel. It will slot into the Jeep family as a replacement for the Compass and Patriot, both of which start around $25,000 in Australia.Expected to make an appearance at the Geneva motor show in March, the Jeepster will carry the Jeep barred-grille and family face, and be given a respectable ground clearance, but will be produced in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants -- and it remains to be seen how much offroad ability it offers.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott