- Stellantis confirms its lineup for the Brussels Motor Show.
- Opel Astra and Peugeot 408 facelifts make global debut.
- Fiat Qubo L teased with seven-seat and diesel options.
Stellantis is heading to the Brussels Motor Show this January with a full house, showcasing no fewer than 62 vehicles across 11 of its brands. The event runs from January 9 to 18 in Belgium, and while there’s plenty on display, one newcomer stands out for families: a fresh, multipurpose model from Fiat.
Among the more notable reveals are two global debuts, including the facelifted versions of the Opel Astra, in both hatchback and estate form, as well as the updated Peugeot 408 fastback. Stellantis will also present three European premieres, the Leapmotor B03X, Fiat Professional Tris, and the Fiat Qubo L.
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The Qubo L is being pitched as a “versatile family mover, also available as a 7-seater and with diesel. Designed to provide space and flexibility, with a touch of joy for modern families.” That’s about as far as the official description goes, leaving the door open for plenty of guesses.
The original Qubo was a passenger version of the Fiat Fiorino small LCV launched in 2008 and discontinued in 2020. The Turkish-built model offered five seats and came with gasoline and diesel engines, just like the nearly identical Peugeot Bipper and Citroen Nemo.
Given that background, a true next-generation Qubo or a long-wheelbase redesign seems improbable. It’s more likely that Fiat has borrowed the nameplate for a new direction entirely.
What Could It Be?
If we had to bet, the Qubo L is probably a passenger-focused version of the Fiat Doblo Maxi, which is currently sold in select markets such as Turkey and Japan. That would make it the Italian equivalent of minivans like the Citroen Berlingo Multispace, Peugeot Partner or Rifter, Opel Combo Life XL, and Toyota ProAce City Verso.
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All of these share the EMP2 platform from the PSA era. The five-seat variants typically measure 4,405 mm (173.4 inches) in length, while the seven-seat versions stretch to 4,770 mm (187.8 inches), giving them decent footprint without encroaching into full-size MPV territory.
Although these minivans went electric-only in Europe starting in 2022, changing market pressures may have prompted Stellantis to rethink that strategy. There’s a good chance they’ll reintroduce internal combustion options to align with their still-available commercial versions.
Diesel, Gasoline, and Electric Possibilities
A likely engine candidate is the 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, delivering up to 128 hp (96 kW or 130 PS). Other possibilities include a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit, potentially paired with a mild-hybrid setup, as well as a fully electric version.
So far, Stellantis has released just one low-res teaser photo of its lineup for Brussels. But with some careful zooming into the Fiat section of the image, we noticed the outline of a Doblo, lending more weight to the theory that the Qubo L is a rebadged Doblo Maxi in people-carrier form.
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There is also a remote possibility that the Qubo L could be a Fiat-branded version of the seven-seat Opel Frontera or Citroen C3 Aircross SUVs. That said, Fiat may reserve that space for an upcoming entry in the expanding Panda range, which is set to grow in multiple directions.
Either way, speculation will give way to certainty soon enough. Fiat is set to lift the curtain on January 9.
