Fiat 500L and 500X
#16
Im glad they are expanding the line up. In the end I think the 500 isnt do so well because of price and fuel economy. I find that rather than selling like most small cars its fallen into the same rut as the mini. Its too expensive for most econo car buyers and doesnt give the same kind of mileage as many other competitors. I hope they nail it with this one. The added size will only help in the US market . 66.8% of Americans are overweight or obese and we need room for all that ***
#17
Fiat 500L to launch with world's first in-car coffee maker option
Fiat 500L to launch with world's first in-car coffee maker option
Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-...photo-5149802/
Generally speaking, until we've had at least twice of the FDA's recommended daily allowance of caffeine, we aren't as observant as we need to be. For instance, when we wrote about the newly announced Fiat 500L, we were so distracted by its massive glass roof, seating for five and the potential of six engine choices we totally overlooked a small, but buzzworthy option.
When launched, the 500L will be the first production car in the world to offer a "true espresso coffee machine." Yup, right there between the front seats plugged into its very own power source will be an actual, water-boiling, caffeine-dispensing, java-juicer.
Developed by famed Italian coffee maker Lavazza, the "Coffee Experience" kit comes with car coffee cups, a spoon holder and its own sugar container. At least one media outlet says the kit will cost €250 (about $300 USD). Fill the Lavazza 500 base with water and pop it into the center cupholder. The heating element boils the water, steeping the coffee-filled pod in the top part and, seconds later, you have a piping hot cup of brew.
Well, not you. Unless you live somewhere other than the States. Because while we fully expect the 500L to be sold here, there's no indication from Fiat that the Coffee Experience kit will make it through the gauntlet of attorneys just itching for a good burn lawsuit. It could happen, but it's not likely, so we're guessing 500L owners will want to keep an eye out on eBay for retrofit possibilities.
Source and Video:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/f...e-maker-optio/
#18
New Fiat 500L to Have Espresso Machine
Drivers love fancy technology extras packed in their car and Fiat is hoping their latest innovation may be the best yet - 1 that can save you a trip to your favorite coffee store.
But the car designers new innovative addition to their latest line, due out in Italy in October, is landing them in some hot water with some consumers concerned about it adding to a mounting list of things that distract drivers. However, the car maker says, don't rush to judgement, you can't brew up a cup unless your car is stopped.
Their new crossover model the Fiat 500L boasts a whole range of accessories, but the 1 drawing the most attention and perhaps concerns, is their built-in espresso machine. That's right. Forget your Starbucks runs, or trying to rush out the door to work with your homemade brew. Instead, inside your console you'll find a "new coffee machine created in collaboration with Lavazza," considered to be the Starbucks of Italy.
"The 500L is the 1st standard-production car in the world to offer a true espresso coffee machine that utilises the technology of the 'A Modo Mio' pods," the company said in a press release. "It is perfectly integrated in the car with a deck designed expressly by Fiat."
A video put out by the automaker shows a cartoon character couple debating the choice of having to make a coffee run. But no longer!
"Do you want to take a break while flavouring the best Italian espresso coffee without stepping out of the car? With 500L even this will be possible!" the company touts on its Italian site.
Passengers can brew on the road, filling the car with the sweet aroma of drink of the tired.
" It will be possible to enjoy ... inside a car the high quality, the unique taste, the body and creaminess of the true Italian espresso," the automaker boasts.
While it is certainly a 1st-of-its kind offering, the function has been met with a lot of criticism in the U.S. about concerns that drivers don't need another distraction while driving. Most of the focus of distracted driving campaigns have focused on texting, including a new set of public service announcement commercials from AT&T that show the fatal consequences of multitasking while driving.
So, when news of the coffee meets car collaboration hit the Web in the U.S., people on Twitter took the car company to task, noting that while we can't drive while texting in many places, it doesn't seem like a stellar idea to be making scorching hot coffee while taking your car to the road. It was unclear if those criticizing the idea knew the machine only worked while the car was stopped, a detail that was not touted on the car's site or in many media pieces criticizing the idea.
Even TV host Tom Bergeron weighed in on the idea, remarking that the innovative addition may be more dangerous than impressive.
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Tom Bergeron
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@Tom_Bergeron
Fiat's 500L will have an in-car espresso maker. Nothing better than generating 200 degree liquid when texting at 80 MPH. #wtfMotorCo
16 Jul 12
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CineSportsTalk @CineSportsTalk
So Fiat is coming out with a car in October that has a built in espresso machine. I'm glad they are focusing on safety. #Fiat500L
16 Jul 12
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"You can use it only when the car is stopped," Norman Winkler, the communications press officer for Fiat in Europe told CNN. "It's quite tiny and it has a docking station in which it remains locked. The quantity of coffee is much (less) than usual use in the cups in the states. Its espresso, it's very tiny."
And it's not even clear whether those who are outraged in the U.S. will even have to deal with the issue. Jiyan Cadiz, the spokesman for Fiat in the U.S., said it was too soon to say what features might or might not show up in the American model.
"We have not provided any product details at this time," he told CNN. "As we get closer to our own launch of the vehicle we’ll provide feature availability and specs and more context between the Euro cousin and the U.S. model."
#24
Lexus Fanatic
The 500 already has a beige/coffee-brown Expresso trim package for both the exterior and interior. The article, for some reason, didn't seem to play that up...or even mention it.
#27
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
how about a juicer?
or a bread maker?
or a bread maker?
#28
2014 Fiat 500L rounds out the model range
2014 Fiat 500L rounds out the model range
Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2014-...photo-5450417/
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2014-...photo-5450385/
Fiat has pulled back the curtain on the North American 500L ahead of the five-door's debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show. Engineers have drawn and quartered the base 500 to create a machine that's a full 26-inches longer and six-inches taller and wider. The result is a crossover with 42-percent more interior room than its tiny three-door counterpart. Power comes from a version of the same turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo four-cylinder engine that powers the 500 Abarth and Dodge Dart. The 160-horsepower mill is paired to the buyer's choice of either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmission, and offers 184 pound-feet of torque.
The 2014 Fiat 500L will come in standard and Trekking configurations, with Trekking models like the one above offering differentiated front and rear fascias as well as a two-tone interior, bulging fender arches and standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Designers also graced the trim with black exterior accents for a more aggressive look.
Inside, the 500L will offer Chrysler's Uconnect 5.0 infotainment interface as standard equipment, though Trekking models can be had with the 6.5 system and its larger touchscreen audio. Expect to see both trims show up in Fiat dealers toward the middle of next year.
#29
Lexus Fanatic
I'm going to bump up this old thread to add that Fiat now has the 500L American-market details on their website. I felt there wasn't a need to start a new thread.
http://www.fiatusa.com/en/2014/500L/
http://www.fiatusa.com/en/2014/500L/