Larger and with a powerful shot!
IT’S the Italian car which can supply a shot of espresso on the go.
The Fiat 500L MPW is not just a family-sized motor with the ability to seat seven but also a model that can satisfy anyone’s craving for coffee without having to hunt down a cafe.
A built-in Lavazza espresso coffee maker can be fitted to the 500L as an option and is just one of many features which make the MPW a people mover with a difference.
The appliance sits on a cigarette lighter-style connection between the two front seats so it’s easily accessible and ideal for anyone whose car has to double as a mobile office.
The MPW is one of the models that Fiat has developed from the popular 500 range and looks very similar to the stretched version of the 500, the 500L, only it’s larger still.
In fact the 500L MPW is the giant of the 500 range, being a full eight inches longer than the 500L and some two inches wider.
Those extra dimensions mean you can buy it as either a five-seater or a seven-seater, the latter of which has two third row seats which fold completely flat into the floor.
As a five-seater it has the largest luggage capacity of all, as there is extra space under the floor of the boot area where the seven seater’s extra seats are located.
Make no mistake, this car might have a relatively small footprint but it’s no small car.
Rear seat passengers have the benefit of stadium seating so they sit higher than those in the front and therefore have good forward vision, which is great on long journeys.
In fact the 500L MPW offers superb all round vision thanks to its massive glass area.
It’s also tall, which makes getting in and out very easy no matter what age you are.
The car’s second row of seats slide forwards to give additional luggage room when needed, the seatbacks will fold flat or you can fold them over completely so you have plenty of flexibility to meet whatever carrying problem you might encounter.
And for small items the front seat passenger gets an upper and lower glove box to tuck away anything you might want on board.
But despite its practicalities this is a very trendy car, with a white roof and mirrors to contrast with the body colour, deeply tinted windows and two-tone seats.
Powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, it offers good pulling power and my average consumption over a week’s motoring never ever dipped below 50mpg.
Britain is one of the world’s strongest markets for the Fiat 500 and its bigger brother is certainly good enough to win the hearts of all those who love the Italian baby but need the practicality of its larger sibling.