For immediate release
17 July 2013
FIAT 500L TREKKING: THE 500 GETS TOUGH
The Fiat 500 family continues to grow in size and appeal with the introduction of two new models: the 500L Trekking and the 500L MPW (Multi-Purpose Wagon). Fiat began taking orders for the 500L Trekking in June 2013 with prices starting at £17,095. The 500L MPW goes on sale in the UK in September.
Both models use the 500L’s ‘space efficiency’ ethos as a starting point with its segment-topping running costs, performance, versatility and visibility. They then offer different interpretations of an already successful, highly practical yet stylish formula.
The 500L Trekking has been designed to be as at home in the great outdoors as it is on congested city streets. It has a distinctively rugged crossover look with a raised ride height and M+S (Mud&Snow) all-season tyres, plus the clever Traction+ system.
With eye-catching styling features including protective underbody shields and new diamond-finished alloy wheels, the 500L Trekking gives a sportier, more dynamic twist to the 500L concept without compromising its class-leading interior space and functionality.
The 500L Trekking sits at the top of the 500L range above the Pop Star, Easy and Lounge models. It includes a host of large car features already packed in the 500L such as cruise control, the five-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Air Conditioning and six airbags. Exclusive to the 500L Trekking are specific bumpers, dark tinted windows, Traction+ and unique styling features.
Just like the 500L, the 500L Trekking can accommodate five people in comfort, and has sufficient luggage space in its 400-litre boot to take five suitcases too. It feels spacious inside thanks to the extensive glazing and windscreen pillars that have been split and tapered to give almost 360-degree vision. This, along with a suite of standard safety features, has already made the 500L a EuroNCAP five-star crash safety award winner.
The 500L Trekking becomes the first Fiat to feature City Brake Control as standard. This system has been designed to watch over the driver and either prevent or lessen damage in low-speed collisions. The Trekking model also benefits from Traction+, an electronic system that controls the braking circuit to simulate the behaviour of a self-locking electromechanical differential. This means the front-wheel drive Fiat can tackle the sort of tricky terrain that other two-wheel drive cars would struggle on.
There are four engines: two petrol and two diesel. The multiple award-winning 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 105hp and 1.4 95hp FIRE engine make up the petrol pair. The 1.4 starts the range at £17,095 while the TwinAir is priced at £18,590. In the diesel corner, Fiat’s clever MultiJet II technology appears in 1.3-litre 85hp and 1.6-litre 105hp formats. The 1.3 MultiJet is priced from £18,590, with the 1.6 MultiJet from £19,590. All engines apart from the 1.4 petrol feature Start&Stop. The 1.3 MultiJet with a five-speed Dualogic automatic gearbox is priced at £19,490.
The 500L Trekking is available in a total of 17 colour combinations, with a choice of six finishes inside. It is priced at £700 more than the 500L Lounge and carries a different level of equipment, as well as completely revised styling.
EXTERIOR: SPORTY AND DYNAMIC
While the regular Fiat 500L has a cheery characterful look about it, the 500L Trekking appears sporty and dynamic. It shares the 500L’s ‘seamless glazing’ which makes the most of twin windscreen pillars to give almost 360-degree vision and 30 per cent more front visibility than competitors with a conventional thick A-pillar. While the 500L Trekking features the same cab-forward design – which helps to maximise interior space – it takes on a more purposeful character than the standard 500L. Highlighting this are specially designed bumpers, underbody protection front and rear, plus other style-enhancing details such as satin-finish inserts on the bumpers, side mouldings and door handles.
The 500L Trekking’s high impact rugged appearance is further emphasised by increased ride height and unique tyres. It sits 10 per cent higher than the regular 500L, boosting ground clearance to 145mm, while grippy M+S (Mud&Snow) all-season tyres complete the package.
The 500L Trekking is available in seven different body colours: New Age Cream, Darkwave Black, Heavy Metal Grey, Bossa Nova White, Beatbox Green, Opera Red, and the unique-to-Trekking Hip Hop Yellow. These colours can also be combined with a black or white roof for a two-tone effect, yielding a total of 17 colour combinations.
INTERIOR: FUNCTIONAL AND FLEXIBLE
The Fiat 500L Trekking shares the footprint of the regular 500L. With the same reduction in frontal mass and high roof line along with smaller componentry, it maximises internal space.
In addition to class-leading levels of safety equipment, the 500L Trekking enjoys a high level of standard specification.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, 5” touchscreen radio with Bluetooth, and Cruise Control – which are already standard on other Fiat 500L variants – plus specific contents like 17” alloy wheels, dark tinted windows , City Brake Control and Traction+.
Inside, the 500L Trekking stands apart from the rest of the 500L family thanks to distinctive colour combinations. Drivers wanting a more rugged look are expected to plump for the Magnesio Grey fabric with brown leather inserts and a painted dash. Black fabric with white inserts and a choice between black or white painted dashboard will give a more refined urban ambiance.
Space, functionality and flexibility all come as standard with the 500L Trekking. This model has the same attributes as its 500L sister meaning its ratio between exterior dimensions and interior space is class-leading, while it has more boot capacity than its rivals in the larger small family hatchback segment. It even boasts a large sunroof, with 1.5m2 of glass.
The Fiat 500L Trekking also features a sliding 60/40 split rear seat with space for three passengers. The rear seat boasts the clever Fold&Tumble function which gives a perfectly flat load space from the tailgate to the rear of the front seats. When paired with the folding front seat, the 500L Trekking can carry loads of up to 2.4m in length. The new 500L Trekking has rear parking sensors as standard.
Uconnect
The main controls for in-car ventilation and infotainment are split into two distinct but adjacent zones in the 500L Trekking. The centrepiece of the latter is the new generation Uconnect ‘infotainment’ platform. Uconnect is designed as a multifunction system employing a five-inch touchscreen as the main user interface. The infotainment system is also available with optional digital radio, which combines analogue and digital radio tuner and CD player functions with the ability to connect media players and mobile or smartphones. It enables the driver to access these hands-free simply, quickly and safely.
Media players and phones can be connected via Bluetooth, as well as through the USB port or the AUX-IN socket. An optional satellite navigation system can also be specified to operate with Uconnect.
HiFi by Beats™
The top of the range HiFi by BeatsTM sound system will be available in the Fiat 500L Trekking. The system made its debut in the Fiat 500L, and has been specially customised to the shape and size of the car so that it guarantees drivers and passengers a truly unique sound experience.
The 520-watt HiFi by BeatsTM premium sound system includes six door and rear-quarter-mounted speakers, along with an 8-inch Dual-Voice Coil (DVC) subwoofer operating Beats Audio’s exclusive Digital Sound Processing (DSP) algorithm.
The subwoofer guarantees a powerful and dynamic bass range. This uses the spare wheel housing so as not to impact on boot space. Customers who specify the Beats Audio system will be provided with a Fix&Go tyre repair kit.
This mix of hardware (the speakers) and software (the algorithm) is then coupled with a tuning process which delivers an amazing blend of science and artistry. It is a listening experience as close as possible to what the artist intended in the studio.
Options and accessories
As with other versions of the Fiat 500L, the 500L Trekking can be specified with an espresso coffee machine fully integrated into the centre console. In collaboration with Lavazza, Fiat has devised a unique deck that allows the coffee maker to be fitted into the passenger compartment. It then uses Lavazza’s A Modo Mio capsules to make authentic Italian espresso coffee.
Through its Mopar accessories brand, Fiat has designed a series of accessories that are dedicated to the 500L Trekking. There are four new sticker kits designed to let 500L Trekking owners personalise their car to a greater degree. A new satin finish bonnet moulding can be specified to match other brushed chrome features on the car. There will also be an extensive 500L Trekking merchandise line-up, further enhancing the customisable nature of the car.
OFF-ROAD: WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH
The Fiat 500L Trekking has a rugged presence, courtesy of the specially designed bumpers and front and rear protective shields. It also boasts a higher ride with ground clearance of 145mm – 10 per cent more than the regular 500L – and it benefits from clever electronics that enable it to switch from being ideally suited to city streets or country tracks at the push of a button.
Traction+
Thanks to Traction+, the Fiat 500L Trekking can handle the kind of tricky terrain that other two-wheel drive cars would find impossible. This innovative traction control system improves handling on difficult and slippery surfaces, but costs far less than conventional four-wheel drive and weighs less, meaning less impact on economy.
Traction+ uses the advanced hardware present on cars equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to brake spinning wheels and transmit torque to the wheels with better grip. It is activated by pressing a button on the dashboard at speeds of up to 18.6mph.
By using special algorithms to control and manage the braking system, the control unit can simulate the behaviour of a self-locking electromechanical differential. Thanks to optimised software and having force applied through the normal hydraulic braking circuit, Traction+ is much more progressive than conventional systems.
Push the button located down by the gear lever and Traction+ is enabled. On surfaces with differing grip between right and left sides, more torque is transferred to the wheel with the better grip – while the brake is applied to the other one – helping the car to pull away properly. Without Traction+ enabled, the differential transmits the same torque to both front wheels. In this instance, the wheel with the lowest grip will spin, with the other one lacking sufficient torque to get the vehicle moving.
ENGINES: EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE COMBINED
The Fiat 500L Trekking has been designed to appeal to people who like to enjoy the great outdoors. It will be available with a choice of four engines, two Euro 6 rated petrols and two Euro 5+ diesels that are all cost-effective to buy and run. In addition to rigorous on-road testing, Fiat Powertrain Technology has devoted more than 10,000 hours to bench testing so that each engine is optimised for the particular requirements of the 500L Trekking.
1.4 FIRE
The entry level engine for the Fiat 500L Trekking is the 1.4 16v FIRE engine. Renowned for being solid and reliable, this engine delivers a healthy 95hp at 6000rpm and reaches its maximum torque of 127Nm at 4500rpm. This in-line four-cylinder has double overhead camshafts and will do 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds, going on to a top speed of 103mph.
The intake system has been optimised using fluid dynamics to achieve a particularly high volumetric efficiency throughout its operating range. As well as strong performance, this works with a six-speed gearbox to give fuel consumption of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km.
0.9 TwinAir Turbo
The105hp 0.9-litre turbo with Start&Stop is the latest evolution of the revolutionary TwinAir family of engines. These combine Fiat’s groundbreaking MultiAir technology – now in its second generation – with turbocharging, to enable this small capacity engine to produce a unique combination of economy and performance.
Coupling its two-cylinder architecture with a six-speed manual gearbox, this latest TwinAir engine develops 105hp at 5500rpm and produces its maximum torque of 145Nm at just 2000rpm. As with other TwinAir engines, the Fiat 500L has an ECO mode. This limits the maximum torque to 120Nm and power to 98hp.
The result is 55.4mpg on the combined cycle, along with CO2 emissions of 119g/km. Yet this is a car that will do 0-62mph in 12.6 seconds and has a top speed of 107mph.
The MultiAir II intake valve control system gives optimum thermodynamic efficiency by modulating the exhaust gases recirculated in the combustion chamber, thanks to a brand new intake cam profile. By controlling the flow of air into the engine directly via the inlet valves rather than using the throttle, airflow can be managed cylinder by cylinder, cycle by cycle, phase by phase depending on the driver’s requirements. Thanks to this rigorous control of the combustion process, pumping losses of around 10 per cent are eliminated while emissions are reduced and driveability is boosted through improved throttle response.
The 105hp TwinAir’s cylinder head has been completely redesigned with an integrated exhaust manifold. The exhaust gases are cooled more efficiently under power, resulting in a positive impact on turbocharger operation. When the engine is warming up, part of the heat of the burnt gas is recovered, helping to lower emissions. The turbocharger has a fixed geometry with integrated wastegate and dump valve. Other differences over existing TwinAir engines include a steel camshaft, the driveshaft, thermostat and spark plugs.
One thing that certainly remains is the characteristic two-cylinder ‘thrum’ thanks to a combination of clever sound proofing and employing a balancing countershaft and dual mass flywheel to reduce vibrations.
1.3 MultiJet II
This 85hp engine has been further refined to bring its class-leading blend of performance, low fuel consumption, refinement and compact dimensions to the Fiat 500L Trekking. The 16-valve engine features a small refined variable geometry turbocharger which allows it to deliver higher torque at low speeds. This enables it to be paired with a five-speed gearbox without penalising performance or curbing fuel consumption.