A few years ago it was rather impossible to picture Mopar accessories on a vehicle that's not part of the Chrysler->ke21 Group. That's no longer an issue now that the Pentastar is part of Fiat->ke30 Chrysler Automobiles and the Fiat 500->ke1708 is a common presence across the United States. The 500 is as customizable as a Dodge Challenger->ke249 through Mopar's shop, and although you shouldn't expect to see a Shaker hood on the tiny Italian, Chrysler's parts, service and customer care division has plenty of packages in store for the hatchback->ke304 and its derivatives.

The 500L Custom is one of them and, just like the 500 Abarth Scorpion, it will be showcased during the 2014 SEMA Show->ke216 as a concept vehicle. Although not as aggressive as the Scorpion, the utilitarian 500L reaches a new dimension in its Custom trim thanks to Mopar's focus on blending Italian design with West Coast culture. The Custom Concept is both modern and traditional, featuring a two-tone paint scheme including a flashy share of red, a lowered suspension and many bespoke body features. It's an interesting approach for a vehicle that otherwise is regarded as a stylish and somewhat cute crossover.->ke288 Read on for the full details.

Click past the jump to read more about the Fiat 500L Custom.

2015 Fiat 500L Custom

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Fiat 500L Custom
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Fiat 500L Custom in detail

If Eric Clapton would drive a Fiat, the 500L Custom would definitely be a vehicle he'd park in his driveway. Sure, the Moparized MPV isn't exactly a hot rod, but it's a great example on how an Italian car can become a member of the famous West Coast car culture. It's hard to picture the 500L Custom sitting alongside a 1965 Malibu, but its paint scheme and stout appearance are worthy of its West Coast aspirations.

The two-tone paint job is what makes this 500L particularly unique. The bright, Candy Apple Red-like lower body color looks like a hue Chip Foose would paint his famous hot rods in, while the black upper half provides a strong contrast and enhances the MPV's appearance to never-before-seen levels. With such an attractive color combo at its disposal, the 500L also needed a sportier aspect, and needless to say, Mopar provided just that by lowering the suspension and adding a set of its prototype, V-spoke, lightweight wheels. The latter aren't available to customers yet, but expect to find them on sale sometime in 2015.

Adding even more sportiness to the 500L Custom is the functional splitter mounted up front. The unit is also a newly developed, prototype accessory and increases the MPV's downforce, enabling it to handle higher top speed. Rounding off the exterior package is a Mopar cat-back exhaust, but there's is no info as to how many extra horses reach the wheels thanks to that.

The 500L Custom is equally bespoke on the inside. The red-and-black theme continues throughout the cockpit, adorning everything from the seats and the door panels to the instrument panel and the gauge cluster. The seats are wrapped in red Katzkin leather and black Alcantara suede, with red stitching holding everything together. The steering wheel is also finished in red and black. It's a bit of a stretch, but this Italian ride reminds me of the American land barges of the 1950s that featured body color-matching interior, even when the exterior came in the craziest pastel colors or baby-poop green.