Report - Conflict arises between global product planners on the next Fiat 500's size

20/09/2013 - 13:09 Fiat 500, Fiat Shrawan Raja

The US became the Fiat 500's largest market last year, with sales of 43,772 units, surpassing Italy's 42,919 units. The market for the 500 is anticipated to expand in the US in the coming years, and as it is turning into a more crucial one as American product planners have asked for a longer and wider next generation model. Auto News reports that the new 500 is expected in 2015.

Fiat 500 front view — The 500 is Fiat's second best selling mini car (in Europe) behind the Panda. Upsizing would mean drifting away from the traditional positioning of the car.

However European product planners think such a move would be detrimental to the iconic city car as it would lose its traditional positioning if it climbs upmarket. The 500 is Europe's second best selling minicar after the Panda.

The redesigned 500's global production would possibly be concentrated in Poland, dropping the present arrangement where the car is also made in Toluca, Mexico for the US.

Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati rear quarter — The next generation of the sporting Abarth version and the convertible '500C' would launch in 2016.

After the hatch debuts in 2015, Fiat would launch derivatives such as the 500C convertible and Abarth sporting model. Fiat is also reported to have planned a large five-seat version of the 500 that would replace the Punto in Europe in 2016, while crossovers on the 500 and Panda platforms, in the B- and C-Segments, are also in the pipeline for 2014 and 2016 respectively.

[Source - AutoNews.com]