New Fiat 500L due to Canada next year

Though it wasn't supposed to be unveiled until the upcoming Geneva auto show, official images of the  Fiat 500's new, bigger brother have been leaked.

Say hello to the Fiat 500L. Yes, it's a four-door.

The 500L – the "L" is for "Large" – is really a 500 in name only, says Motor Authority. It shares little in styling with the teeny 500, and is based on Fiat Punto architecture.

It's quite a bit bigger than the 500, too, though I know that's not saying much: the 500L is just over four metres long (13.6 feet), and seats five. (Europe'll get a seven-seater, too.)

Fiat hasn't officially announced the engines in the version coming to North America, but the 1.4-litre "MultiAir" mill is what you'll likely find underhood. Front- and all-wheel-drive options are probable, too.

Like what you see? Hopefully you won't be turned off by the fact it'll be built in Serbia in the same plant that used to make the Yugo.

The car will debut in Europe late this year and should be in Canadian dealerships early 2013.

(Motor Authority)