Launched in 2007, the new Fiat 500->ke1708 marked the return of the company's tiny economy car as a full lineup of vehicles that now incorporates various body styles and engines. Featuring a distinctive, retro appearance similar to the new Mini Cooper->ke629 and Volkswagen New Beetle, the modern-day 500 expanded to include the 500C convertible,->ke144 the wagon-like 500L, the all-electric 500E and the high-performance 500 Abarth. The 2015 model brought the 500X, a compact crossover that allows the Italians to explore a brand-new segment. Developed alongside the 2015 Jeep Renegade and unveiled with a host of gasoline and diesel engines, the 500X now follows into the footsteps of the 500L by receiving a range of aftermarket Mopar parts and accessories.

The 500X aims to compete against the Mini Countryman in a more elaborate fashion in an era in which having as many custom options as possible is what draws customers into dealerships. The accessories are available to both American and European markets, enabling the 500X to join its rebodied Renegade sibling as the latest Fiat->ke30 Chrysler->ke21 Automobiles vehicle to join Moparized ranks.

Click past the jump to read more about the Fiat 500X By Mopar.

2015 Fiat 500X By Mopar

Specifications
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  • Model: 2015 Fiat 500X By Mopar
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

Mopar may be offering more than 100 parts and accessories for the Fiat 500X, but you shouldn't expect these features to radically change the way the crossover looks. That's not to say these goodies don't enhance the appeal of the 500X, moving it closer to the Mini Countryman in terms of customizing options, but the parts are far from functional and don't contribute to the vehicle's aerodynamic properties.

Mopar offers a complete exterior pack that features mirror covers, door molding inserts, and roof/bonnet stickers in four different colors. Customers can choose between White, Red, Bronze and Greyge. There's also a Chrome Pack, which offers the same parts in a chrome-plated finish.

Packages aside, buyers can select from nine different color options for the door mirror fairings and can opt for 18-inch alloy wheels featuring a special design and a gray, diamond-effect finish. Rounding off the exterior accessories available through Mopar are a host of roof boxes and systems for transporting bikes, skis, snowboards, surfboards, and more.

Interior

The interior parts list is a bit shorter and only includes features designed to enhance the 500X's functionality. Much like its American sibling, the Jeep Renegade, the 500X gets tablet holders and coat hooks in the seating area, and the luggage compartment can be enhanced by means of guards, nets and organizers. A set of special floor mats are available, but only with the Chrome Pack.

Other than that, the 500X remains stock, meaning it comes with either a 5- or 6.5-inch Uconnect infotainment system with both Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a DAB sound system and a Beats Hi-Fi developed in cooperation with Beats by Dr. Dre.

Drivetrain

As with most Moparized Fiats, the 500X remains stock as far as drivetrains are concerned. The gasoline range begins with the 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter E-torQ and continues to the familiar 1.4-liter MultiAir unit, generating 140 horsepower. Lastly, the 2.4-liter Tigershark will deliver 184 horses to the wheels.

European customers will be able to add Mopar packages to the diesel-powered 500X as well. The range includes a 95-horsepower 1.3-liter, a 120-pony 1.6-liter, and a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter, all three of the MultiJet II variety.

These Mopar parts will be available in the U.S. as soon as the 500X reaches North American dealerships, but buyers will have access to a narrower range of engines, most likely limited to the 1.4-liter MultiAir II and the 2.4-liter Tigershark. Needless to say, output figures will remain unchanged despite the Mopar treatment.

Prices

FCA has yet to reveal pricing for these Mopar parts.

Competition

Jeep Renegade

The Fiat 500X will compete against the Jeep Renegade in both the European and North American markets, with both models to benefit from Mopar parts. The Chrysler-owned brand has already announced more than 100 parts for the 2015 Renegade, meaning the Jeep is as customizable as the 500X. Mopar parts aren't the only bits these two vehicles share, as both the Renegade and the 500X ride on the same platform. But while the 500X still reminds us of the tiny 500 hatch, the Renegade features an exterior design of its own, having a more rugged appearance in line with Jeep’s current design language.

The crossovers share the same engines as well. The Euro-spec Renegade is available with most of the 500X’s mills, while the U.S. model gets the 1.4-liter inline-four and the 2.4-liter Tigershark. The former is rated at 160 ponies and 184 pound-feet of torque, while the latter generates 184 ponies and 117 pound-feet of torque. The Tigershark mates to a nine-speed automatic and optional four-wheel-drive.

Mini Countryman

The Fiat 500 and the Mini Cooper have been at it for more than a decade and it seems the battle will continue in this segment too. The Countryman is clearly the most customizable of the two, but once these Mopar parts are available the 500X will manage to narrow that gap. Revised for the 2015 model year, the new Countryman gets a handful of exterior changes and a revised interior with new in-car technology.

The Countryman is available in four guises Stateside, all motivated by four-cylinder mills. The base model comes with 121 ponies on tap, while the S and the S All4 benefit from 181 horses. Customers looking for more output have the John Cooper Works version to turn to. The range-topping model has 208 horsepower at its disposal, which are sent to all four wheels. Countryman pricing starts from $22,750.

Conclusion

As much as I hate seeing the Mopar name linked to brand such as Fiat, I have to give the alliance credit for trying to compete against Mini by making the 500 a more customizable vehicle. In the meantime, the Mini Countryman remains the vehicle with the most options and appeal, but the 500X might stand a chance if Mopar expands its offering to include more interior accessories. Tablet holders and coat hooks won't cut it.