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Exclusive pictures reveal Fiat's practical new baby.

Here's a Fiat 500 that’s got a little bit extra – to boot! The Italian giant is setting its sights on the MINI Club-man with an estate version of its successful small car – and this is how it will look.

Our exclusive pictures reveal the spacious new city challenger, which will hit showrooms in 2010. As you can see, it won’t rely on gimmicks used by its MINI rival, so there are no rear passenger doors, just a practical tailgate.

The extended roofline boosts head-room in the back and frees up more luggage space, making this the most sensible 500 of the range. The compact estate is inspired by the small load-lugger from the Sixties, and could even carry the same Giardiniera badge worn by that model. Fiat will keep development costs to a minimum by using the same front end and wheelbase as found on the hatch. However, a slightly longer rear overhang, a more upright tail and a pair of neat alloy roof rails will set the new model apart.

The Giardiniera won’t be the first 500 estate to appear, though. Italian coachbuilding firm Castagna showed its vision of the load-lugging city car at the Geneva Motor Show last month.

The firm has a history of beating manufacturers at their own game, having designed a line-up of MINI estates before the Club-man was officially revealed.

The standard 500’s engine range will be carried over to the Giardiniera, so customers will get the choice of an entry-level 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, a more power-ful 100bhp 1.4-litre or a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. Fiat is also believed to be considering a hot Abarth version of the estate if there is sufficient demand. However, the next 500 variant to appear on UK roads will be the cabriolet, as seen in the sketch below. This model is set to be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva expo and hit showrooms late next year.

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