Fiat is expanding the 500X family with the Yachting version, which comes with an electrically operated soft-top while retaining all of its body panels – except the roof. The sailing-inspired 500X Yachting is joined by the 500 Yachting, both paying tribute to the “Yacht Club Capri”. Fiat chose the 1st of July for the launch of the 500X Yachting to celebrate the premiere of the “Green Pass” which allows freedom of movement within the 27 countries of the European Union.
The new model premiered in the “Welcome back dolce vita” video which was shot in Capri, bringing ’50s and ’60s vibes. Two young men and a young woman are the main characters of the 1’19” long video making a brief escape from their yacht to enjoy a playful ride in the 500X Yachting accompanied by the sounds of the French Bon Entendeur vs Mouloudji: “L’amour” song.
Unlike the 500 Cabrio which loses the roof and rear windscreen in favor of the soft-top while retaining the window frames and pillars, the 500X Yachting only trades its top with fabric. The soft-top opens up with the touch of a button in a few seconds, letting more light and air into the five-seater cabin. While this kind of bodystyle can’t be considered a full convertible, it presents an alternative to the two-door VW T-Roc Cabriolet both available in the European market. Those models are the sole open-air SUVs in the whole world, after the discontinuation of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible and the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.
Back to the 500X Yachting, the Collectors’ Edition available at launch is distinguished by the exclusive “Blu Venezia” exterior shade combined with blue fabric for the soft-top and brushed chrome mirror details (intake frames, mirror caps, and door handles). It is fitted with 18″ alloy wheels painted in sea blue while it also has a blue and ivory line on the profile, reminiscent of the luxury boats.
Inside, we find a mahogany insert on the dashboard, white seat upholstery with blue embroidery, color-matching key fob, and aluminum door sill plates with the Yachting logo. Fiat didn’t go into specifics about what is under the bonnet, but we suspect it is fitted with the turbocharged 1.6-liter diesel rated at 128 hp as we can see a six-speed manual gearbox with a wooden knob sending power exclusively to the front wheels. There 500X is also available with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine producing 118 hp and a more powerfull 1.3-liter producing 148 hp however the latter is only available with the DCT automatic gearbox.
As for the aging Fiat 500 Cabrio, it also gets a “Yachting” trim matching the 500X. This one is painted in “Blu Dipinto di Blu” shade combined with plenty of chrome, 16″ wheels, and a blue soft top. Inside it comes with a seafaring wood dashboard and ivory-colored seat upholstery with inserts in Frau leather. The Collectors’ Editions of the 500 Yachting and the 500X Yachting will be offered in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland, with a numbered badge including each country’s initials. Following the launch, the Fiat 500X Yachting will be listed for sale in Europe alongside the 500X Cross and the 500X Sport trims manufactured in the same Melfi Plant. As a reminder, the Italian B-SUV premiered in 2014 and was facelifted in 2018 giving it a new lease of life.
