Because growing up is cool

Cars are launched all the time. Every couple of years most brands tend to take a look at their models and either update, upgrade or radically change each one of their offerings. A completely new car, however, is a much rarer occasion – one which calls for an impressive launch which not only unveils the car itself, but the thought process the company went through to get to it.

For the launch of the Fiat 500L we were ferried over to Torino for a spectacular event which was incredibly well planned and executed to amaze and educate in equal measures. It was held in a theatre-like structure within a gigantic warehouse which, years ago, used to host Fiat’s train building branch.

Growing up is cool

Once seated we were given a small taste of the audio-visual feast to come. This was the first stage of the presentation, the part which explained how, first and foremost, the Fiat 500L is not a larger version of the Fiat 500, but a completely new car which shares the 500 brand and the 500’s brand values. That, however, is where the similarities end.

Whereas the Fiat 500 is aimed squarely at the younger generation (albeit loved by people of all ages), the Fiat 500L is an incredibly voluminous and practical family car. One which will see people who outgrew the Fiat 500 or simply needed a larger car, able to get all the fun of the smaller sibling in a package which is more practical and caters for people with a family. People who have grown up.

Once the introduction to the concept behind the Fiat 500L was done, we were finally allowed to feast our eyes on a live specimen. It drove onto the stage, but instead of stopping in the centre of the stage it accelerated and drove through the wall at the far end of the stage.

As soon as the initial shock was over, the entire ‘theatre’ started moving with us on top of it, shifting us wholesale to another stage where the presentation focused onto the first core value of the Fiat 500L.

Large

The average length of a car sold in Europe is 4.10m long. The Fiat Grande Punto is 4.08m long. The Fiat 500L, which can accommodate five tall adults and an average-sized rolling suitcase for each comfortably, is only 7cm longer.

My feeling is that whereas the Fiat 500 was built from the outside-in, the Fiat 500L was built from the inside-out.

The interior space is much larger than it should be given its exterior dimensions. Even though it oozes style in its own way, practicality was really high up on the agenda in the Fiat 500L’s design brief. Fiat used the interior space intelligently and went the extra mile to ensure the car is as practical on the inside as it is funky on the outside.

Despite having an incredible advantage (in parking terms) of being relatively short, the Fiat 500L is by no means small. It is a tall car whose height runs from windscreen to windscreen (as opposed to the bubble-like Fiat 500 which peaks around the centre and drops down sharply at both ends).

The Fiat 500L offers 1,500 possible interior configurations. During the launch the car was put through (and passed), what is affectionately known as the ‘Ikea’ test: by folding the front passenger seat and only one rear seat forward you can carry loads of up to 2.4m long (and still have space for a passenger).

The boot also includes the oh-so-simple, but ingenious and effective ‘Cargo Magic Space’, which is simply a false bottom which is adjustable to three levels. This allows you to split the cargo space into two adjustable volumes to separate fragile objects from heavy ones, or clean objects from dirty ones.

Light

The Fiat 500L’s second major quality is that it is light – and by light Fiat means it is easy on the environment and easy to use. The turbocharged 1.2l Twin Air petrol engine produces a highly respectable 105 bhp with just 112 grammes of CO2 per km – a record-breaking figure in the car’s category. At launch, Fiat will also be offering the option of a 1.4l petrol engine or the much-loved 1.3l Multi-Jet diesel engine.

The car is also equipped with a five-inch touch screen on the centre console. This makes it much easier and more intuitive to interact with the car and its entertainment system, but also adds a real asset to lessen the ecological impact of the vehicle. Fiat offers Eco Drive Live software on the screen in real time. This system analyses your driving style and offers suggestions on how to improve it to achieve up to 16 per cent savings on your fuel economy.

Loft

For the finale, the auditorium shifted to the right. We were suddenly transported into a gigantic ‘room’ which had the view from a luxury loft projected onto all three walls.

The interior of the car is just like something Le Corbusier would have designed had he ever tried his hands at the interior design of vehicles.

Incredibly full of light and airy, all the pillars are made of glass, with minimal visible supports, allowing for a 360-degree view from the cabin. This is not only lovely to behold, but like every other detail in the Fiat 500L, incredibly practical for everyday use. Blind spots are as frustrating as they can be dangerous.

Fiat also teamed up with the hottest audio brand of the moment to offer a premium sound designed by people who make music – Beats. Formed by hip-hop legend Dr Dre and music record supremo and producer Jimmy Lovine, the Beats sound system offered on the Fiat 500L is tuned to perfection to offer a larger-than-life musical experience.

It does everything except...

So at the end of the day it is relatively simple to sum up – this car does practically everything but make you an espresso. Oh wait, it actually does make you an espresso. Fiat had Lavazza custom-build a coffee machine that fits into one of the rear cup-holders and delivers top-quality espresso on the go. Only fitting for a car that is meant to export the Italian soul.