2016 Fiat 500X Leaked Before Debut

Ahead of its Paris debut, the 2016 Fiat 500X has broken cover thanks to a leak from the Quattroporte forums, allowing a direct comparison between it and stablemate, the Jeep Renegade. Can the 500X give Fiat the depth The Fiat 500 marked the return of the Italian brand to America, and Chrysler’s savior will finally be adding a much-needed crossover to its lineup with the 2016 Fiat 500X.

Under Fiat and Sergio Marchionne’s leadership, the legendary Jeep brand is undergoing an expansion that draws heavily on Italian engineering expertise. In fact, the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade will be built in Italy before being imported to America, and it will share its platform with 500X. Like the Renegade, it will offer a 160 horsepower 1.4 liter turbocharged engine for the U.S. market, and a 1.6 liter diesel option for the European market, its primary aim. Front-wheel drive will be standard and all-wheel drive will be optional, though I doubt the 500X will be as hardy off road as Jeep claims the Renegade will be.

The 500X shares the same features as the rest of the 500 family, maintaining the hatchback-like look over the crossover body. I’ll give Fiat and Jeep designers credit, as they’ve done a great job carving out two distinct looks for two different brands using the same platform. While we’ve only got this one photograph to go on, the 500X looks almost nothing like the Jeep Renegade.

We’ll get a full look at the 2016 Fiat 500X when it debuts at the Paris Auto Show on October 2nd.

via Motor Authority