Nexen gains OE spot on Fiat 500X

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2014) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. has selected two 17-inch versions of Nexen Tire Corp.'s CP671 tire for North American-bound Fiat 500X crossover utility vehicles, which are slated to go into production in February.

This is Nexen's second OE contract with Fiat for the 500, the South Korean tire maker said. It has supplied tires for the 500L model since 2013.

The five-seat Fiat 500X will be sold both in front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive configurations, Fiat Chysler said. In the U.S. it will be powered either by a 160-hp, 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four with six-speed manual transmission or a 180-hp 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder engine, mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Fiat is spec'ing two tire sizes — 215/60R17 96T and 215/55R17 94V — of the CP671 for the 500X, but Nexen did not identify for which trim models its tires are destined.

Nexen said it plans to increase the range of models it supplies by leveraging the OE tire supply for the 500X model and hopes to continue its relationship with FCA in the future.

Fiat assembles the 500X at a plant in Melfi, Italy.

Nexen also has been supplying the CP671 for the Chrysler 200, starting in 2014.

The tire features mileage performance particularly well-suited for long-distance driving and an upgraded noise reduction technology, according to Nexen. It also provides high performance in the wide variety of areas required by a newly designed vehicle model.

Other tire fitments on the 500X, according to Fiat Chrysler, include:

• Continental, CrossContact LX Sport all-season, 215/60R16, standard on the Pop model, and size 215/55R17, standard on the Easy, Trekking and Lounge models.
• Goodyear Eagle Sport or Kumho KL33, size 215/60R17, standard on Easy, Trekking and Lounge with all-wheel drive; and
• Goodyear Wrangler SRA or Falken Wildpeak, size 225/45R18 all-season, standard on Trekking Plus model, and size 225/55R18, standard on Trekking Plus with all-wheel drive.