FIAT'S 500 HAS THE X FACTOR

Fiat takes on the booming crossover market by

- Pawan Dhingara

Try to think of a Fiat currently on sale other than the 500. Suffice to say, without the 500, Fiat South Africa isn’t overcrowding its potential buyers with a diverse line-up. So with only one iconic name to champion, it’s easy to understand why every effort is being made to amplify the 500 range, not just with various trim and specifications, but also by entering the crossover segment with the 500X. It’s an important car because it offers an alternative for those existing customers who would otherwise be forced to look elsewhere the moment their lifestyle outgrew the regular 500.

Adding a few more centimeters to the 500’s length, width and height sounds easy but retaining that adorable 500 personality in a larger frame comes with its challenges – just ask MINI with its Countryman. In a few words, this is a Fiat 500 that has gone through puberty. Those larger – four - doors and higher roofline don’t overshadow the 500’s disarming style and the X-variant is a faithful adaptation of the original with many of the quintessential design ingredients smiling and winking back at you from across the parking lot.