Fiat 500L MPW (Living) is a stretched, seven-seat Fiat 500

The Fiat 500L MPW (Living outside UK) is a seven-seat 500

You may think MINI has stretched the ‘brand’ way beyond common sense, but Fiat are running a close second with endless variations on the 500 theme. This is the latest – the Fiat 500L MPW.

The 500L MPW (it stands for ‘Multi Purpose Wagon but will be called the 500L Living outside the UK) is the already odd Fiat 500L stretched by 201mm to add in a couple of extra kiddie seats in the back. Fiat aren’t pretending the two extra seats make the 500L a full seven-seater (they’re calling it a 5+2), but if you buy the 500L as a family taxi (and we can’t think of many other uses for it) then being able to fit a couple of extra sprogs in the back is a bonus.

You get some idea of how snug the back seats will be by the extra length of the MPW (just over 8″) but that does mean that as well as a quick trip for little ‘uns you can get an extra 238 litres of stuff in the MPW when the seats are down.

Elsewhere, the 500L MPW is the same as the 500L, with a choice of two petrol engines – 1.4 litre with 94bhp or TwinAir 875cc with 105bhp – and two diesels – 1.3 litre with 84bhp or 1.6 litre with 104bhp – and a choice of two trim levels – Pop Star and Lounge.

Fiat are starting production of then 500L MPW in Serbia this summer with the order book in Italy opening in July. It will probably be early 2014 before the MPW arrives in the UK.

By Cars UK