Actually a relative term as the Italian carmaker unveils a stretched version of its Cinquecento at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

Thinking bigger

The same issues the MINI brand faced when it was re-introduced in 2001 are now facing Fiat – how to expand its 500 lineup to make new car dealers more profitable and bring in more buyers to the Fiat fold at the same time.

MINI has done an admirable job of this by introducing both limited-edition and higher-performance versions (the MINI Inspired by Goodwood edition, along with Cooper S and John Cooper Works performance models) as well as a plethora of body styles (coupe, convertible, Roadster, Clubman, Countryman plus the basic hardtop).

From the beginning, Fiat has likewise followed this formula. The first 500 500’s, as it were, were limited-edition “Prima Edicione” models offered to diehard Fiat fans with sequentially-numbered VINs, a manual transmission and were available in just three colors.

Five months later the Gucci Edition was introduced and, on September 1st, the 500 Cabrio came on board.

Four weeks after that, 250 “Pink Ribbon” versions were announced with proceeds that helped support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Finally, the 500 Abarth debuted at the L.A. Auto Show on November 16th of 2011.

Talk about keeping busy.

Making bigger

And while, in the past, the Cinquecento has had a couple of variations – most notably the Caribbean-inspired Jolly, not as many people on this side of the pond are as familiar with the Fiat 500 K Giardiniera as they are with the classic Mini Van, Mini Countryman or even the Mini Moke.

In this context, then, this makes Fiat’s next move that much more of a gamble because yesterday the company made it official by unveiling the Fiat 500L (L for “Large”) at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Designed by the Centro Stile Fiat, the 500L is 163 inches long, 70 inches wide and nearly 65.5 inches high. And while it’s still diminutive, these measurements represent an increase of over 23 inches in length, 6 inches in width and 5.5 inches in height when compared to a Fiat 500 coupe.

According to Fiat, “The 500L reformulates the category of compact cars for the modern family in an emotional vein by developing some of the 500's winning emotive elements in unprecedented forms.”

Possibly, but the larger Cinquecento seems to have lost some of its style and much of its – dare we say, verve – in the translation to a larger format.

But that’s neither here nor there, since the 500L is already slated for production and will be introduced in Europe in the last quarter of 2012. Fiat new car dealers are also part of the plan, as the newest 500 is slated to arrive in the United States sometime in 2013.