Fiat News: Rumorpile: Fiat Plans A 5-Door 500 To Replace The Punto

[William Maley]

Fiat is planning to expand their 500 lineup once again by introducing a larger five-door model that will replace the aging Punto.

Auto Express reports that Fiat engineers will use the Punto's platform as the base for the larger 500 and not use the current 500's platform. As for the design, the new model will retain many of the cues found the normal 500 such as the two-part headlights and short hood length.

The new model could arrive in 2015 and slot in between the standard 500 and 500L.

Source: Auto Express

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Drew Dowdell]

They really are trying to catch up with Mini..

[Blake Noble]

I'd rather see something like this concept roll out instead:

[balthazar]

^ I did a double-take; thought it was a Chevette at first.

[ZL-1]

I'd rather see something like this concept roll out instead:

Fiat 127???

[Drew Dowdell]

Oh good, then we can badge engineer it as a Dodge Omni?

[ocnblu]

It's neat... '70s retro, instead of '50s retro...

[Blake Noble]

I think it's a pretty nice design. It's like the current Challenger in a way. It's a retro design and it looks unmistakably like its forebearer, but it in fact shares only a small handful of direct design cues.

On an unrelated note, I just sort of realized Fiat's place in the Chrysler hierarchy sort of picks up where Plymouth left off in a way. It's a brand full of small and cheap retro-styled cars meant to appeal to the elusive "yooth market." That's what ChryCo wanted to do with the Plymouth brand before Daimler shoved it up the company's butt.

Fiat 127???

Yes, sir.

Fiat needs to do something other than take the Mini approach to everything, which is taking the 500 formula and adapting it to whatever set of perameters the brand needs to fufill.

"Oh, what's that? We need a small SUV in the line up to replace that rebadged Suzuki we've been selling? Fine then. Take the 500, put it in a pair of overpriced North Face brand hiking boots, and throw an X on the end of name." Yawn. Borning. Played out. Unoriginal, etc., etc.

Edited January 1, 2014 by black-knight

[Drew Dowdell]

Fiat is the new Plymouth? Interesting supposition...hmm

[ocnblu]

Enough to make a purist Furious.

[G. David Felt]

Fiat has a long way to go as their auto's are butt ugly IMO. That chevette wanna be is perfect example.

I do agree with Black Knight that Fiat fits in with Chyrsler where Plymouth left off.

Continual consolidation of the auto industry.

[Drew Dowdell]

I kinda want them to bring this back...

[ZL-1]

^^

Fiat 500L?

[G. David Felt]

That could be the new Punto Drew! It would fit in with their current design language or lack of one.

[Drew Dowdell]

^^

Fiat 500L?

Fiat 500xLx

[ZL-1]

^^

Fiat 500L?

Fiat 500xLx