Following a 30-year absence from the North American market, better things were hoped of Fiat's dismal return when only 26,000 units of the new 500 were sold in the model's first year - half of the number forecasted. Things may be on the up however, as the Italian automaker is planning a new wagon variant of the iconic 500 subcompact. According to head of the Fiat brand Olivier Francois, the new model will be introduced at Geneva in March and go on sale in the US next year.

Since bringing the redesigned 500 back to the European market in 2007, more than 770,000 cars were sold and with this new wagon it is hoped that it can finally find success in taking on the BMW Mini in the US. No other specific details of the upcoming wagon have been given, but we assume that it'll be sized somewhere between the Mini Clubman and Countryman. Photos displayed are of the 2011 Fiat 500 Sport.