Tuesday 21 May marked the official launch in Malta of the much awaited FIAT 500L, the very first model that resulted from the iconic Fiat 500 and which signals FIAT’s intentions to develop the CINQUECENTO brand into a family of its own, and in so doing, appealing more to the growing family.

Addressing the journalists prior to a test drive round some of Malta’s busiest and also, some of the most scenic roads, UCIM Co Ltd Managing Director Francesca Mamo explained how the 500L combines the iconic nature of the 500 style with traditional Fiat design functionality.

“The most important fact that we need to understand is that the 500 Large is not simply a larger version of the now very popular cinquecento but a larger version of The Concept behind this very successful brand. Therefore, the 500L is larger but the fun and the iconic imagery so synonymous with the original cinquecento are being brought forward and guaranteed with this new 500L,” said Ms Mamo.

Ms Mamo added “the "City Lounge", as the car has been dubbed, is the result of a very special alchemy. “It is a new city car concept that redefines the compact category for the modern family in an emotional vein by expanding on a few styling features of the 500 in unprecedented forms.”

“The 500L is a trans-segment car that can satisfy a large clientele with different inclinations, age and daily use needs of their cars. For instance, the functional features of the Fiat City Lounge appeal to the adult families, or empty nesters, who are most traditional customers of the higher segment models because they want functional, roomy and comfortable cars. Similarly, the smiley, fun-loving look of the 500L appeals to a clientele which is much younger that the segment average, who like its sophisticated but easily accessible technological solutions and its contents which provide practical answers to the needs of daily mobility and rising environmental awareness. Incidentally, Fiat is the brand with the lowest average CO2 emissions of cars sold in Europe - only 118.2 g/km - for the fifth year running,” outlined Ms Mamo.

The model is reasserting its position as the first car for many families, and often the only car of choice of young families because it combines a number of apparently irreconcilable features all in one: the compact exterior size of a B segment car with the ample passenger room and the full equipment typical of a C segment model. All this comes at an accessible city-car price and with added-value you cannot find elsewhere: the distinctive personality of Fiat 500, the Italian design icon.

“In brief, Fiat 500L has shown that growing is an opportunity not a limit. Today, the range is complemented and gets even bigger bringing the performance ratings of a C segment vehicle, too,” concluded Ms Mamo.

Practicality

Sitting inside the 500L, one immediately gets a feeling of sitting in a higher position in fact, it is a higher than average car, giving a very good vantage point on the road. Driver and passengers enjoy a sense of freedom accentuated by plenty of natural light and ample space. This fact is also owed to the windscreen which extends to the sides with the use of side fixed windows that eliminate any potential blind spots and reassuring the driver with total visibility when taking turns.

Besides higher seats, ‘L’ has large windows and tall, wide door openings that give it also a degree of MPV practicality, an extremely important feature which many car makers sometimes underestimate. The 60/40-split rear seat slides and tumbles, the boot is surprisingly large and its floor has three height settings, to cater for different combinations of loads and passengers.

The car is capable of displaying ample thrust especially in more demanding uphill driving and city driving becomes more bearable, pleasant and economical thanks to the very convenient “Start and Stop” feature. Once the car is in ‘free’ mode, it switches off and re-starts automatically once on first gear.

Engines

Both turbo charged and technologically evolved, the 0.9 TwinAir 105 HP engines and the 85 HP 1.3 16V MultiJet provide answers to the needs of a broad, multifarious clientele with different inclinations, ages and daily use needs of their cars. More specifically, the 85 HP delivered by the 1.3 16V MultiJet II position 500L in the heart of the segment with an engine which is "efficient" but also fun to drive by offering the best of a diesel in terms of range and comfort and the brilliant performance of second generation MultiJet technology.

The 105 HP of the 0.9 TwinAir are different and ideal for customers who are concerned about reducing fuel consumption and emissions particularly in cities. In brief, this "aware and responsible" engine is particularly appreciated in countries where the ownership and use of high-emission cars are severely restricted and highly taxed. It is no wonder that emissions are so low that the engine complies with the European standards of 2020 already today.

Combined with a manual six-speed gearbox - C514 for 0.9 TwinAir Turbo and Automatic gearbox on the C635 1.3 16V MultiJet II - the two Fiat 500L engines carry the "cool & capable" concept also under the bonnet: both are smart for the technology they implement, for the different personality they impart to the vehicle and for their low running costs. At the same time, the engines are low on emissions and fuel consumption and generous on performance, securing real, quantifiable advantages to customers.

The commercial range of Fiat 500L in Europe is growing together with its horsepower: indeed, the 100 and 120 HP range covers 25% of the total sales of the segment. A very interesting range which will certainly contribute to consolidating the excellent performance of the Fiat City Lounge which in only five months has totalled approximately 38,300 orders in Europe, over half of which outside Italy. Particularly in Italy, it is the best-selling medium sized car and ranks second among the diesels. What is more, even before the entire launch plan has been completed across Europe, Fiat 500L is the only model to be experiencing a constant rise in its segment in Europe, despite the difficult economy of the continent.

Popularity and Appeal

This is understandable because the new city lounge is the perfect expression of Fiat's anti-crisis recipe and a car which raises the bar in the segment: an icon of style, compact on the outside and roomy within, remarkably versatile, safe (as certified by five prestigious EuroNCAP stars), cost-effective to run and competitively priced. Thanks to these special features, the car was named "New Model of the Year 2013" by the readers of the Italian auto magazine Quattroruote ahead of the toughest German competitors.
The 500L is a trans-segment car that can satisfy a large clientele with different inclinations, age and daily use needs of their cars. For instance, the functional features of the Fiat City Lounge appeal to the adult families, or empty nesters, who are most traditional customers of the higher segment models because they want functional, roomy and comfortable cars. Similarly, the smiley, fun-loving look of the 500L appeals to a clientele which is much younger that the segment average, who like its sophisticated but easily accessible technological solutions and its contents which provide practical answers to the needs of daily mobility and rising environmental awareness. Incidentally, Fiat is the brand with the lowest average CO2 emissions of cars sold in Europe - only 118.2 g/km - for the fifth year running.

Finally, the new Fiat model is the first car of young families, the cool nesters. So, in line with the creative concept that "With the 500L, growing up is cool", the innovative Fiat City Lounge is growing to carry about the small pleasures and big emotions of life all together: children, friends, holidays, music and communities. So, the 500 family is following the changes in today's families and providing non-conventional answers to new lifestyles and new ways of being a family. 500L is a smart, generous model which also provides all-round protection as confirmed by the prestigious EuroNCAP 5-star rating. Not least, the range has recently been complemented with the addition of the innovative City Brake Control active safety system which detects the presence of vehicles or obstacles in front of the car and automatically brakes if the driver fails to promptly intervene to avoid collisions.

In Malta...

In Malta, the 500L is being introduced in three different levels namely POP, EASY and LOUNGE. Petrol models (1.4 & TwinAir) are all Euro 6 and are available in POP & EASY whereas diesel models are Euro 5 and are available in EASY or LOUNGE. The first three models available at the showroom are a Pop Silver model 1.4, an Easy Grey with White roof model 1.4 and a TwinAir Red with Black roof version.

For more information, visit www.fiat.com.mt