Fair point but surely it's all about capitalising on the 500 brand - just like BMW have with the mini brand.
Public perception of the panda is of a pretty basic runaround and I doubt that many people actually know what a Multipla is or was.
The 500 is the fiat cashcow and they will be milking it dry!
Fiat have created a confusing branding issue with building a '500' range of cars, from day one the mini was always just a mini, with its own badges dealerships and brand identity, no bmw badges on the cars or in the dealerships
they also build interesting fun cars the standard hatch, then convertibles roadsters coupes and 4x4s (which actually have 4wd) they don't build people carriers
Engine options from small economical everyday runabouts to cooper works 200+bhp engines effectively making any model they sell a hot hatch, and they target young professionals as their main audience
Fiat with the 500 'brand' have confused the issue, you still buy a fiat with a fiat badge the 500 is a cute little retro car small and fun but compared to other companies fairly basic, targeted at young new drivers mostly female very limited engine options and only one hot hatch option which in effect was a different brand again. So it's an 'abarth 500' instead. Then with the launch of the 500L the aim was to turn 500 owners with growing families into fiat brand loyal car owners, except the 500L is boring and no better than the dozens of fat hatchbacks on the market like the scenic/Picasso/verso cars that other brands sell, the difference is a zafira has much in common with a Astra, where as a 500 and a 500L are very different car so there is no sense of buying just a bigger version of a 500. The size and practicality of the 500L does make it ideal for one target market, which is the over 60s who have bought thousands of the things, and turned the 500L into an 'old peoples' car.
So now what do they hope to achieve with yet another 500 model? The L was already supposed to go head to head with the mini countryman so why launch another car to do the same, going head to head in the same market as the 500L
Really all the new car looks like to me is replacement of the punto/bravo but while they **** about with models of 500, punto owners who have been waiting since 2005 for a proper punto replacement are now deserting fiat to buy cars else where fiat are forgetting that the punto has been their most successful car for year after year since for the last 20 years 9 years of which have been variations of the grande.
You don't see ford ditching their fiesta or Renault their Clio to try and push a totally different brand on customers.
The only people who see the 500 brand as a cash cow are fiat and despite their claims the 500L really didn't sell all that well in the UK or US reputation in the US has taken some serious blows, it's only really Italy that has gone mad for the 500L mainly because fiat are as much a part of Italian culture as espresso.
I won't be buying any variation of fiat 500XLCTSR when my current punto reaches the end of its life I plan to look else where as what I really want is another punto, I have a grande at the moment, a 2014 punto is just another grande so I'll have to look else if I want a countryman I will go an buy a countryman. There is a new countryman coming soon and a 4 door mini due out this month so while others do it seems fiat just follow these days
