Ask me anything about the Fiat 500X

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
04/16/2015 at 11:23 • Filed to: None

I'm sitting next to a bunch of Fiat product guys and engineers. I know cuv's aren't everyone's favourite but this one at least comes with a manual! So fire away and I'll get answers from the Fiat folks.

DISCUSSION (34)

HammerheadFistpunch > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:29

Why shouldn't I buy a Renegade?

Sam > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:30

How about the obvious: why does it need to be a fat 500 and not just a different model. In fact, ask why the 500L isn't a separate model either.

If they say 'brand recognition', they're full of crap.

E. Julius > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:30

What type of impact countermeasures do they use in the headliner and/or pillars?

THOMAS5 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:31

Can you lift it? Being passed by one of these on an off road trail would be hilarious.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > HammerheadFistpunch
04/16/2015 at 11:32

The only real difference is the styling. So I suppose you'd just pick whichever one you think looks best. The Interiors are also pretty different between the two.

HammerheadFistpunch > Sam
04/16/2015 at 11:33

its because of brand re....i mean. nomenclature association.

Textured Soy Protein > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:34

Legit question because my gf is looking at this as a possible next vehicle:

Is there any option combo that has power/heated seats and sunroof along with the 1.4 turbo or is that only with the 2.4 Tigershark?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Textured Soy Protein
04/16/2015 at 11:43

hold on, I'll ask

Funktheduck > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:50

Is the US ever going to get a non 500 Fiat?

How long would it take to destroy all copies of the monstrosity known as the 500L?

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:52

Please ask them where the one for north America will be built. If it is in Mexico, I'm in. If it is in the same facility as the 500L then I'm out. It's got too much bad mojo left over from when the Yugo of lore was built there.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 11:53

What are the chances of an abarth version?

Mikeado > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 12:01

Did any of the designers actually want this shameless bastardisation to exist in the first place?

450X_FTW > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 12:05

Are you at a Fiat press event or do you work at CTC?

JGrabowMSt > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 12:27

When will they make a widebody 500 Abarth?

Also, why is the beltline so damn high? It's positively uncomfortable to assume the proper driving position of hanging your arm out the window at this point, in damn near every car. Why?

WHY?!

Wacko > THOMAS5
04/16/2015 at 12:30

someone will make a kit for it, 2 companies make 2 inch lift kits for the suzuki sx4/fiat.

Lot's of lifted SX4 where going on the same trails as jeeps.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Wacko
04/16/2015 at 12:40

That's awesome.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 12:41

What's the fuel economy like?

AM > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 13:26

Why are you guys at Fiat such assholes? My wife (who thinks this car is adorable) wants one of these after seeing one at the auto show and I have a feeling that it's going to find its way into my driveway in the near future. I hate you.

Wacko > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/16/2015 at 14:09

here is a lifted one from a fellow former clubsx4.com member.

his avatar was a dancing piece of bacon. Mine was blue, oversized tired but not lifted( was going to lift it this summer, but crashed it)

Kinja'd!!!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
04/16/2015 at 17:44

This one will be built in Italy. I forget the name of the city.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > 450X_FTW
04/16/2015 at 17:45

I'm at a press event

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
04/16/2015 at 18:27

I'd say possible but it will be a bit of a wait. It handled great and an Abarth version would be a ton of fun.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/16/2015 at 21:01

Pretty similar to the Jeep Renegade's 21/28 mpg. I drove like a twat today and didn't get anywhere close to that.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > E. Julius
04/16/2015 at 21:03

Well for starters, the pillars are thick as hell and kinda hard to see past. No airbags in the headliner as far as I know but it comes with full side-length air bags.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > JGrabowMSt
04/16/2015 at 21:04

Because side impact regs. Nevermind the accidents caused because people can't see out of their cars...

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Textured Soy Protein
04/16/2015 at 21:04

It's in the info binder they gave me. I can have a look after I get the video edited!

E. Julius > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 21:07

Ah ok. Didn't know it had all those airbags! I was thinking more about passive countermeasures in my original, like energy absorbing foam or safety plastic. Any word on those?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 21:14

So you probably managed low to mid teens?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/16/2015 at 21:20

Yeah I'd say mid-teens. My car was a 2.4 with FWD

BaconSandwich is tasty. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 21:27

How much does the 500X weigh in comparison to the renegade?

450X_FTW > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/16/2015 at 21:46

Gotcha, Used to work at Chrysler and did a few press events with them

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/16/2015 at 23:11

Slightly less. The Renegade is taller and wider so it carries some extra poundage.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > E. Julius
04/16/2015 at 23:12

What do you mean? The A pillars are covered in soft touch materials if that's what you're asking...

E. Julius > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
04/17/2015 at 03:30

Sorry for the late response, I went to bed. It's not really a big deal though, just a minor curiosity of mine. Modern cars use a number of passive impact countermeasures (e.g. a foam or a special type of plastic designed to crush on impact) in the internal structure of the car. These are often found between the metal roof and the headliner, in the doors, in the bumpers, etc. This image shows some common locations for countermeasures. A little random engineering detail most people don't think about, or even know about since they're outside the view of the driver.

Kinja'd!!!