New Fiat 500 is 6cm longer, 6cm wider and 4cm taller
Third-gen 500 offers 199 miles of range, retro styling and roomy interior; launch edition to cost from £29,000
Fiat’s new 500 city car will be electric only when it reaches the UK early next year. Arriving first in convertible form, the new 500 is only the second iteration of the Italian icon after the original of 1957. It sticks closely to the look of the model that was launched in 2007 and went on to become an incredible sales success for Fiat.
Although the styling suggests otherwise, it is all change under the skin for the 500. This is the first dedicated electric car from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and it makes use of a new architecture that allows the 500’s footprint to grow by 6cm in length and 6cm in width, to 3.63m long and 1.69m wide. It is also 4cm taller than before, at 1.53m.
Fiat boss Olivier Francois said the new 500 was “not just the third generation of the car, but the third reincarnation of a spirit.
“We’re all in. It’s all electric and only electric from day one. With the 500’s business success that’s a bold decision. But it doesn’t feel the time to be timid. This car is not just for 2020, but the next decade. It’s built new from the ground up.”
The powertrain of the new 500 includes a 117bhp electric motor and a 42kWh lithium ion battery pack. The all-important claimed range figure stands at up to 199 miles on the WLTP test cycle – significantly up on the 144 miles offered by the new Mini Electric and its 29kWh battery pack and more in line with the 211 miles from the Peugeot e-208 supermini.
The new 500 can crack 0-62mph in 9.0sec but has a much brisker 0-31mph time of 3.1sec. Top speed is limited to 93mph, although that drops to 50mph when the most eco-focused of the three driving modes, called Sherpa, is selected. This reduces power, throttle response and top speed and switches off the climate control and other ancillary electronics.
Named after Himalayan Sherpas, who guide expeditions to a safe arrival, the mode is designed to reduce range anxiety and ensure the driver is able to reach a charging point should the battery run low.
The two other modes are Normal and Range, the latter of which significantly boosts the amount of regenerative braking to allow practically single-pedal driving. Interestingly, the now legally mandated low-speed acoustic warning in the new 500 is the one of the theme songs from the film La Dolce Vita (Amacord by Nina Rota). “We wanted something that stands out. It’s the only engine able to play a melody, like the ringtones of your phone,” said Francois.
The 500 is equipped with an 85kW rapid-charging system that can recharge the battery from empty to 80% capacity in 35 minutes and can take just five minutes to provide the car with 31 miles of range, which Fiat claims is more than what is needed for most people’s average daily use.
Launch-edition models, called La Prima, also come bundled with a Fiat-branded charging unit that offers basic 3kW charging but can be upgraded to allow 7.4kW charging at home.
The exterior look is evolved from that of the current 500. There are sharper lines, but the same cute style of the original remains in the light and bumper designs. Flush door handles now feature, as do LED headlights and tail-lights.
Although the exterior design is broadly similar, it’s all change inside, addressing one of the ageing current 500’s biggest weak points. The dashboard is much wider and the amount of switchgear significantly reduced for a much cleaner overall look.
Infotainment comes from FCA’s new Uconnect 5 system, controlled by a 10.25in touchscreen that includes a host of functions such as sat-nav, a wi-fi hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay.
A 2cm increase in wheelbase to 2.32m also boosts interior space, Fiat claims, and the floor-mounted battery pack doesn’t reduce cargo capacity.
Fiat has brought in automated driving technology on the 500, too. It now comes with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and intelligent speed limit assistance, as well as a driver drowsiness detector and a 360deg parking camera.
The new 500 has made its debut as a convertible, but a fixed-head version is set to follow. Fiat claims the new 500 is the world’s first four-seat convertible EV. Its roof is a sliding fabric top, as before.
The electric 500 will go on sale in the UK in the first quarter of next year, with production taking place at Fiat’s plant in Mirafiori, Italy. Pre-ordering has opened for the ‘La Prima’ high-spec launch edition convertible variant, which costs from £29,000 including the plug-in grant. Pricing for entry levels is expected to be more competitive.
The current 500 has just been updated with a new mild-hybrid petrol engine. It will stay on sale for at least two years alongside the EV to offer a more affordable route into 500 ownership and an option for those not ready to go electric.
Autocar understands that a five-door version of the 500 remains under consideration, using two small rear-hinged doors to grant access to an enlarged rear passenger area.
The 500 was due to be launched at the cancelled Geneva motor show, but was instead revealed in a special online video filmed in Milan, near to the area that has been badly affected by a major outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Francois said: “Milan is the engine of the Italian economy. In this difficult time we wanted to reach our and show energy and optimism. We stand beside Milan.”
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Source: Autocar
