Following its world premiere at the Paris Auto Show in October, the Fiat 500X has now landed in Los Angeles for its North American debut.
Shown here in U.S.-spec, the 2016 Fiat 500X will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2015. Based on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade, the crossover is offered with two familiar four-cylinder gasoline engines, a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder with an output of 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque and a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 unit producing 180 hp and 175 lb-ft (237 Nm) of torque.
The turbo engine is offered as standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while the 2.4-liter unit can be had exclusively with a nine-speed automatic transmission on all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models.
Just like the Renegade, the 2016 Fiat 500X is available with all-wheel drive with disconnecting rear axle which allows for reduced parasitic loss when all-wheel-drive capability is not needed, improving fuel efficiency. The crossover is equipped with a Dynamic Selector system, which allows the driver to choose from three modes (Auto, Sport and Traction +) according to driving conditions.
In the U.S., the model will be available in 12 exterior colors and five trim levels: Pop, Easy, Lounge, Trekking and Trekking Plus. The Trekking and Trekking Plus models feature a more rugged appearance thanks to unique front and rear fascia designs, and satin silver accents.
In terms of equipment, the 500X is available with features like Uconnect 6.5 radio with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen and navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, Uconnect Access Via Mobile, a 3.5-inch color thin-film transistor (TFT) cluster display, Keyless Enter-N-Go, as well as heated front seats and steering wheel.
Fiat says the 500X offers up to 70 standard and available safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Departure Warning-Plus, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection. Electronic stability control (ESC) with Hill-start Assist and electronic roll mitigation is standard on all models, as are seven air bags.
Story references: Fiat via Autoblog
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