After making its world debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the Fiat 500X recently arrived in the UK with prices starting at £14,595 (Rs 14.11 lakh). Now, the crossover is set for its US debut as Fiat is believed to have introduced the vehicle to American buyers with prices starting from $20,000 (Rs 12.37 lakh).
Like the existing 500 small car family, Fiat will be offering a range of customisable options for the 500X. The crossover, in fact, will be available with five trim levels including the Pop, the Easy, the Lounge, the Trekking and the Trekking Plus, with the last two representing the more rugged versions suited for the adventurous kind.
Globally, the 500X is offered with a broad range of powertrain options. Front-wheel drive, petrol-powered models come equipped with an 110hp, 1.6-litre engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo petrol, on the other hand, feature a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox. Interestingly, the all-wheel drive petrol model comes with a revolutionary 9-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
The front-wheel drive diesel range consists of the 1.3-litre and the 1.6-litre MultiJet turbo diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 2-litre all-wheel drive model, on the other hand, will get a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic gearbox option.
The new 500X will go on sale in the US early next year. Despite the rising demand for crossovers, it is highly unlikely for the vehicle to be launched in the Indian market. The existing Avventura will continue to represent the Italian brand in the burgeoning compact crossover segment.
