Fiat plans to roll out full 500L line-up in 2013

Fiat plans to roll out the full range of its 500L compact this year and make at least 110,000 units for markets in Europe and the U.S. at its Serbian plant, Bloomberg news agency cited the head of the Balkan factory as saying.

Trekking, an off-road version of the 500L model, and a right-hand steering wheel for U.K. buyers are expected in the first half, followed by a U.S. version in the second part of this year, Antonio Ferrara, the head of Fiat’s Serbian venture, said in an interview in Belgrade yesterday.

A longer option that seats seven or may serve as a pickup, should follow.

Engines that will be available will range from a 0.9 liter gasoline model to a 1.6 liter diesel motor, along with those fueled by natural gas and propane, he said.

The factory in central Serbia already plans some overtime work next month “but we need to be sure demand is consolidating” before any increase in Fiat Automobili Srbija’s workforce of 2,500, Ferrara said.