According to a report by Bloomberg News, the cheeky Fiat 500 Coupe and Cabriolet models will be gaining a slightly more practical five-door runningmate set for public reveal at the Geneva Auto show in March. The Bloomberg story quotes Fiat brand boss Oliver Francois as indicating this new and more spacious Italian answer to the Mini Clubman/Countryman will go on sale here sometime next year. While it may lack the narrow-focused enthusiast appeal of the soon-to-launch Fiat 500 Abarth performance models, this new wagon variant should markedly help to bump the 500’s total sales numbers, which have been significantly below original projections.
Prior to its reaching U.S. showrooms, Fiat/Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne had been projecting that the slightly larger and better-equipped Ameri-spec Fiat 500 would sell about 50,000 units in this market during its first year. In fact, volume for the diminutive four-place front-driver turned out to be just over half that amount. No word yet on what powertrain or equipment changes may be in store for this new five-door, but it’s expected to share a good deal in common with the baseline Fiat 500.
