2017 Fiat C-SUV @ Price, Release date | Spy Photos @ Fiat

An all-new C-segment SUV is under development at Fiat which is going to be marketed higher than the current 500X meaning that it should become the future top of the range Fiat crossover. While there aren’t many official details available, not too long ago the car has been spied testing, and it looks quite a bit larger than the 500X. On top of that, the 2018 Fiat C-SUV is also going to be sold under the Dodge brand, most likely as the successor for the Dodge Durango.

This is an important piece of information because it means that the Fiat will be one of the most capable crossovers they every built, and it should be good enough in order to be a worthy successor for the larger Durango.

So far Fiat announced that their Compact US Wide platform will not be used for this new model which contradicts the early rumors which suggested that the car will be based on it. Unfortunately, they haven’t said on what platform the car is going to be based on but it seems that the upcoming C-SUV might still be a rear wheel drive model, just like the Durango was before it. This would become Fiat’s first rear wheel drive car in many years, and it should mark the start of a new beginning.

Design – Upgraded Chassis

That’s right, the European model of the 2018 Fiat C-SUV is expected to be offered either as five seats SUV or a seven seats SUV in which case there will be less trunk space. The wheelbase will not change between the two, so many people might opt for the five-seat version due to the fact it will offer quite a bit more legroom than before as well as more luggage space.

The design is unknown as well, but the interior of the car is certainly not going to take the youth-appearance of the current 500X which is not that great of a seller and its interior is average at best. Instead, Fiat is likely going to get Alfa Romeo to work on the interior of this car in order to offer a more premium crossover, similar to what VW has with their Tiguan.

Source: topspeed.com

Just like the Tiguan, the 2018 Fiat C-SUV is going to be similar in size and feel which also means it will be quite a bit larger than the 500X. This larger size will mean that the design won’t have all the rather funky notes of the 500 or 500X, but instead, it could offer a more mature look in order to appeal to a completely different class of customers.

We expect a similar design to what they did with the Tipo, which offers a more German appearance which certainly appeals to a wider audience than the 500 for example. The Dodge counterpart, on the other hand, is expected to use quite a different body even though the two cars are going to share most of the internal components.

Source: topspeed.com

Under the Hood

One of the most interesting aspects about the future 2018 Fiat C-SUV is that a highly ranked official from the FCA Group stated that the car is going to run the Rubicon trail without any issues which mean it is going to be a lot more capable in off-road than many people think. One of the closest cars to do that recently, both regarding price and specs, is the Trailhawk Renegade, which comes with quite a bit of off-road bits to allow to do that.

The upcoming C-SUV should make no difference, and while the base model is going to be rear wheel drive, the top of the range model will not only offer an all wheel drive system but it will also get an advanced traction control system which will be able to sense and brake the wheel that loses the most amount of traction. On top of that, it will come with beefy skid-plates as well as larger brakes than a regular crossover.

Powering the C-SUV will be a mix of European and American engines ranging from their 1.4 liters turbocharged inline four mills with 138 horsepower and very likely ending with a larger 3.6 liter naturally aspirated V6 offering closer to 310 horsepower.

spy photo 2017 Fiat C-SUV