The all new images and videos of the upcoming Fiat 500 L, which goes on sale next year, are out. The Minivan will be available for order in Italy and other major European markets starting from July 2012. The very first delivery of the new Minivan is expected to begin in October. After the first session, the second edition of the Fiat 500L will go on sale in more than 100 countries around the world, including the United States. The new model is a five-seater in which the ‘L’ stands for Large and is a tall B-segment model that features extra styling tweaks. In Europe, the Fiat 500L will be competing with its major rivals such as the Ford B-MAX and Opel / Vauxhall Meriva small MPVs. You can also find a development of the Punto platform beneath the 500-inspired sheetmetal and the automaker names it as ‘Small Wide’.

If the reports are to be believed, the 500L will be developed at the ex- Zastava plant in Kragujevac, Serbia. After its production, Fiat has somefuture plans for the 500L that includes the presentation of a longer model with seating for seven and a crossover model called the 500X.

Compared to its previous model — the three-door 500, the new Minivan is 23.4 inches longer, 6.0 inches wider and 6.9 inches taller. Besides, it is 1.3 inches longer, 3.9 inches taller and 0.4 inches slimmer when compared to the most acclaimed and expensive Mini Countryman. Italians say the Fiat 500L can easily accommodate five passengers 2 meters tall (6.6 ft) with their five suitcases without ever compromising passenger room.

There will be three engine options for the small MPV in Europe and these include Fiat’s 0.9-liter two-cylinder TwinAir turbocharged petrol engine that produces104hp and a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 94hp (95PS) and a 1.3-liter turbodiesel engine that delivers 84hp (85PS). Fiat plans to improve the range of vehicles with a ‘Natural Power’ model mated to a Turbo TwinAir engine renewed to run on compressed natural gas in 2013. However, Fiat stays tight lipped about the powertrain details of the North American specification model.

via Carscoop