First it was called ‘Long’. Then they called it ‘Plus’, and some people started to call it ‘500 XL’. Finally, after many considerations, Fiat decided to call ‘Living’, the new 7 seater 500L. It is the most important launch of the brand in 2013, and is expected to become a core product that will help the 500L to keep its success. With 2 more seats, this new MPV adds 20 cms to total length, so it could be positioned between B-MPV and C-MPV segments. Outside it looks like a stretched 500L, so it doesn’t have the good balance in terms of design. It is certainly not the most beautiful car, but it will be for sure an excellent choice for those looking for a roomy car but compact as well. And that’s the key for its success. I started to look at people’s comments, once Fiat made official its first pictures, and I must say that the first impressions aren’t the best. At this point I would like first to discuss about it, and then give my own opinion about this new Fiat.
It is true that it is a disproportionate car. It is also true that Fiat designers could have done a bit better to differentiate it from its smaller brother. But sometimes critiques are a bit exaggerated. The Living isn’t as ugly as a Multipla (as some readers were saying). It is just a family car for many passengers in 4,35 m long. Looking at the interior pictures, some other readers said that there was no trunk. This is completely wrong and is more a bad than a reasonable critique. The fact that it is not seen in the picture, it doesn’t mean there is no room for the luggage. Even in other cars’ pictures, it is not possible to see everything in the same picture. But from the comments I could see, there was one quite interesting: why is Fiat ruining the good reputation of the 500’s nameplate? the 500 is an excellent car (maybe the best Fiat in the last 30 years), and has brought a lot of success to the brand. In fact, it is one of the few Fiats that is well-known in many markets. Enlarging the family is not a bad move, as Fiat can extend the success of the city car into other segments, just as it is happening with the 500L. But one of the key features of the 500 is its design: it is just gorgeous. It is not the case for the 500L Living, which is a completely different car. Despite the fact they point to different segments and targets, they all use the same nameplate that helped Fiat to survive in the last 5 years. Fiat should be careful about this and have a very good positioning plan so the new Living can enlarge the success and not become the product that ruined the image of the iconic 500.
In my opinion the Fiat 500L Living a good car from the point of view of functionality. You won’t be able to find a comfortable 7-seater MPV with only 4,35 m long. Besides, it will priced starting at 19.000 euros, which is not bad. If the car is positioned as I think, then Fiat would be covering an important segment (the SW, or in this case the MPV-SW) and at the same time it would be a tough alternative to other C-MPV that are more expensive and bigger. However, I think Fiat must be very careful about the use of the ‘500’ name, and try to use it only when the brand talks about style and personality (which are part of the new member). Instead, Fiat should use the name ‘Living’ when talking about the comfort and capacity features. It won’t be easy, as the car’s name is 500L Living, but the small 500 is an icon that Fiat should carefully take care. Meanwhile Serbian plant celebrates as it increases the production levels, and Italy gets ready for its first official presentation in Milan the 4th of July, to be finally introduced in Frankfurt 2013. By the way: what’s going to happen to the 7-seater Freemont? Fiat will reposition it in the next months.
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I dont know what to say, I am really disappointed that they decided to put this ugly thing on the market. I fell in love with Italian cars for their beautiful design and this is car is a joke. With better design it would sell better, but looking at it I dont see bright future for this car.
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Giolito’s design.
Giolito = father of very ugly Multipla… 😦
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Ugly but very nice idea
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Multipla is Art.
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It is good value for money. Inside it is nicer than similar cars in that range. Engine and stuff also fine. Easy to park because of smaller nose. Not as bad as the reviews want you to believe
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I think it does look a bit wierd from the front but i kinda like it from the side and the back.
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I prefer the smaller version
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I prefer the smaller version too.>Atleast they shld have done something externally to differentiate 500XL from 500L except jsut lengthening it
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Any idea why they keep Giolito? Is there a dearth in styling talent in Italy? Or is it that ugly cars sell?
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Good question xD
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Volkswagen has poached all the talented designers in Italy and retrained them to become Xerox operators – that way at least they can’t design cars for the competition.
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The problem is talented designers go to Volkswagen…
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oh yes.. and there they make beautiful cars like the 500 or the giulietta or the 4c or the ghibli..
while in fiat designers with no talent keep doing cars that look the same like the Q3 or the Q5 or the Q7..
(sarcasm)
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I agree with you Dario. Cars have become boring (VW Group included), but few car makers continue to add some pepper to their products (Fiat Group included).
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New 500 is like new Mini. A problem of engineering, not design (40/50 years old).
Giuletta’s design so good? So why it doesn’t sell a lot but only a few cars?
4c design? The lateral side doesn’t seem so good, but we will see the sales in the near future.
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Sales are not an indicator of the beauty of a car. Unfortunately beauty is a subjective appreciation. However anyone would tell you that a Giulietta is out of the box in terms of design, and a Golf is more or less that the majority of the cars in C-Segment. Or what car would place the front license plate in one side? which car would add a front grill like a triangle? Only Alfa Romeo. And there are many other examples of unique designs coming from Fiat Group. Or who else you think would had produce the Multipla? only Italians, my friend
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Ghibli’s is not a Giolito design.
Ramaciotti is good 😉
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Multipla had sense, I liked that car. Short, wide and spaceous. I even liked its looks because it was at least symmetrical. Ullysse and Lancia Zeta were great cars also, very practical and carefully designed. Fiat Freemont gives you a lot for little amount of money and it looks robust. Those cars were made to fulfill families needs, and this 500LL is just a stretch to improve sales using 500s good run. I am worried that it will ruin 500s flare.
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I didn’t like the Multipla, wouldn’t have been caught driving one. But I respect its design. Not so much for the 500L.
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The good (500), the bad (500 Abarth SS) and the ugly (500L Living)…
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Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. 500c, 500 Abarth SS, 500L Living…
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500, 500 Abarth esse esse, 500L…
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo…
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You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation
but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
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thanks!
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Hi. Felipe, nice that find such blog.
Don’t know if 500L&500L living share the same platform(SUSW) . If yes, as a derivative of its little brother, borning to maximize the segements’ market share, we cannot have more expectations.
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