Interesting but debatable if it can really be called a '500' given they have deviated massively from the concept of 'a modern take on a classic' which is the whole appeal of the two door car after all.

I've no doubt it will sell, it is after all a good looking and practical car and will hitch a ride on the appeal of the smaller car but for me it can't be classed as a 500, rather in the same way the current Mini Countryman can't be classed as a mini. Somehow the smaller Clubman version gets away with it because of course there was an original Mini Estate (Countryman) which the current Clubman apes.

There was never a 4x4 version AFAIK know of the original Mini so the new Coutryman is a non starter for me, rather like this 500L.

I'm wondering if the front gives a flavour of what the facelift for the 2 door has in store...

Edit to add -

However after a quick google about it does seem to fit with the concept of this however -




So maybe I stand corrected.

Looks marginally less offensive in the video than in the pictures. Maybe that is because the camera was moving further away?

So far as naming it is concerned, it all comes down to manufacturers getting away with as much as they can. Fiat obviously want the 500 to rub off on everything they sell, because the 500 is popular and fashionable (unlike the rest of their offerings). My local free newspaper ran a piece on the 500L when it was announced which was a mildly regurgitated version of Fiat's press release. If the car was called the Fiat Testa di Cazzo (or something) then I strongly suspect that the Herts Advertiser would not have picked up on it and would not have printed its glowing words and the official Fiat photograph.

So for Fiat, so long as calling it a 500L is not expected to spoil things for the 500, they are bound to call it the 500L and hope that the 90% of car buyers who know nothing about cars and get their car buying advice from the Herts Ad (and similar) rather than Maxi or Max Power, swallow the spiel and buy into the 500 dream.

MJG said:

...I've no doubt it will sell, it is after all a good looking and practical car ...

Click to expand...

From the back end the circular (well oval) lights reminded a bit of the MiTo. It looks much better than I was expecting and with the side protection stripes it's well armed for the car park. Curious on the price that will be announced for it and reckon that it will draw a new market whilst Fiat enthusiasts will opt for the the more sensible Panda.

MJG said:

I'm wondering if the front gives a flavour of what the facelift for the 2 door has in store...

Click to expand...

I have seen nothing publicised but I would expect that the face lifted '2012' 500 will be along the same lines as the North American version along with the Sport body which is slightly Abarthy.