https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150540785209302.384460.57143914301&type=1

Now that we are getting close to having the 500L, I was wondering what effect it will have on 500 sales?


Do people think that:

• it is a different segment and won't have any effect;
• it is much more practical and will steal sales;
• it looks like it fell out of the ugly tree hitting every branch on the way down, and will make the 500 uncool, so reducing sales; or
• it will renew interest in the 500?

Voting lines are now open...

I doubt it will damage sales much, they are two completely different cars for different people with different needs.

From what ive seen there no way in hell I would be interested in the L over my 500. Its pretty ugly and a very poor (and dull) mans Countryman :/

I don't think it will steal sales and it will presumably be priced above the 500.

I think the car looks pretty funky and modern - hints of Picasso C3 and Mini Countryman but more balanced than both. If it gets the mums out of their 4x4 on the school run it will have succeeded.

Although narrower it is actually longer than the modern Fiat Multipla and almost as high - so don't misjudge the photographs, its not that small.

I don't think it will have any real effect on 500 sales as it just doesn't bear any resemblance to one.

However I do think attaching the 500 name to it will at least drum up some interest in the 500L and it may sell quite well.

they should have called it some thing else, strada or uno would have got more people talking i reckon

dave said:

they should have called it some thing else, strada or uno would have got more people talking i reckon

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I can't see how those names would mean anything particularly positive or enticing to "the man in the street". In the case of Strada it would most likely put people off - memories of rusting Fiats....

RobinPJ said:

I can't see how those names would mean anything particularly positive or enticing to "the man in the street". In the case of Strada it would most likely put people off - memories of rusting Fiats....

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it didn't put people off the 500 or panda. them names would interest the press more they would be doing comparisons between the old and new,

dave said:

it didn't put people off the 500 or panda. them names would interest the press more they would be doing comparisons between the old and new,

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The thought of rust did not put people off the 500 because the original 500 was an iconic car, like the MINI or the Beetle, and the modern car has obviously traded on and benefitted form that.

The Panda is just an ordinary car that has gone through several model cycles.

And the name Strada? Would that interest the press any more than any other name? I wouldn't think so. It's just them name of an A.N Other car from the 1970's - one which I would argue most people would not think was particularly attractive or desireable today.

RobinPJ said:

And the name Strada? Would that interest the press any more than any other name?

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to the motoring press it would, but ive just remembered there already is a new strada, but the uk is unlucky and didn't get it

This thing is still fugly.

Who voted "More practical - will steal sales!?!!!

Actually if that did happen, wouldn't I look a plonker...

You can click on the results and see...

With Fiat sales plummeting, an entirely new name would have made more sense. Would have made the weak range of cars seem bigger. I've read the Bravo is soon to be dropped with no replacement in the pipeline.

It is amazingly ugly. Looks like someone just fed pictures of the 500, Panda Uno, Mini & Skoda into a computer and got it to blend the whole lot together. Must have taken all of five minutes.

Well I like it, I would not drive one but it could be OK for the wife.

i will look at getting one, i would still like a 500 but not big enough now we have a doggie

should have ugly and will increase sales of the 500

looks like a love child resulting of a one night stand between a 500 and a Panda

RUI said:

Well I like it, I would not drive one but it could be OK for the wife.

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What the f**** is that?! It's so damn ugly!


Anyway, marketing wise not any harm will occur because its targeting a different market segment. Did the Mini Clubman and Countryman stole sales from the Mini Cooper?! No!

It's not bad to expand the product line of the 500, but this car - thing doesn't even look like a 500! For instance, the Minis are similar to each other in contrast with this 500L.

I really want to see it in flesh! Having some faith that in reality it may not be that ugly! lol

So its the new Panda with a 500ish look,fettled with an ugly stick, and sold at a nice premium!

I am sure it will sell but wont significantly hit mainstream 500 sales.

I like the look of the new panda and the twin air is getting some very good reviews in the press, even Evo gave it 4 stars!

I would have the Panda.

RUI said:

Well I like it, I would not drive one but it could be OK for the wife.

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The thing is I don't absolutely hate it by any means, I am sure that it will probably sell quite a few units on the back of it being part of the 500 brand (also it may well do quite well in the US too).

The thing that really annoys me is the idiocy of the marketing spiel as posted by RobW. There really is nothing to suggest that the 500L has any relation whatsoever to the 500, yet it is supposed to be part of the "brand".

Whatever you might think of the Countryman, at least it resembles the rest of the Mini range.