Fiat has officially confirmed its plans of expanding its lineup with a new model by publishing a pair of photos and a few details featuring the 500L ahead of its premiere scheduled for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The Fiat 500L (L stands for large) will join the Abarth and the Cabrio versions Fiat 500, and in this case we are talking about a vehicle for the B segment that offers MPV passenger space combined with the feel of a small SUV.  

The Fiat 500L offers seating for five in its single-volume structure measuring 414 cm in length, 178 cm in width and 166 cm in height, and it represents an evolution of the 'cab forward' concept first introduced the the Italian manufacturer with the 600 Multipla.

Production for the 500L will take place in Serbia at the Kragujevac factory, and Fiat says this new compact people carrier will become available to customers in Europe in the last quarter of 2012.

The engine range will include two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre) and a turbodiesel unit - 1.3 MultiJet II.