[54ell]

There will be three petrol and three diesel engines available at launch.
Petrols include a 109bhp 1.6 with a five-speed manual gearbox and a 138bhp turbocharged 1.4 with a six-speed transmission. Both of these engines come with front-wheel drive, but there's a 168bhp version of the 1.4 that comes with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
Front-wheel-drive diesels are available with a 95bhp 1.3-litre engine with a five-speed manual gearbox, and a 120bhp 1.6-litre with a six-speed manual gearbox for the 500X Cross. The AWD 500X Cross Plus has a 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel and either a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Each model will have three different driving modes – Auto, Sport and All Weather – which alter the engine response, brake modulation and steering. In the 500X Cross and 500X Cross Plus, ‘All Weather' will be changed for ‘Traction'. This will create a more aggressive traction control system in the front-wheel-drive models or a quicker transfer of torque to the rear axle on AWD versions.

 

[54ell]

Fiat's 1.6 Multijet diesel engine in the 500L is not that great but there is a marked improvement here where it's both smoother and quieter according to What Car? magazine.

 

[54ell]

Anyone have any experience of Fiats 2.0 litre diesel engine?

 

[Pacific]

The 2.0-litre mirrors the performance from the petrol option with an improved official combined fuel economy figure of 51.4mpg and with slightly higher CO2 emissions of 144g/km.

 

[54ell]

Does anyone know when the 168bhp will be released in the UK and what the specs are?Will there be an Abarth version released this year?

 

[54ell]

I don't think we'll see an Abarth version so soon this year but I'd like to bet they do make one, more than likely 18 months time I think.