Although electric rides like the RAM 1500 REV and the Dodge Charger Daytona EV are set to arrive in the near future, the first electric car offered by Stellantis (STLA) – Get Free Report here in the U.S. is a nod to the past of one of their core brands.
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An (electric) Roman Holiday
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The iconic Fiat 500 is making a return to the United States after a five-year absence from their stateside lineup.
Dubbed the 500e, the pint-sized city car is back solely in battery-powered, fully-electric form. The new car updates elements that we have seen in the outgoing 500, but is an entirely different car underneath its retro-styled body.
The new Fiat offering utilizes its own dedicated electric platform and is powered by a 42 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery system powering a single electric motor turning the front wheels.
The Fiat 500e is on display during the 2023 North American International Auto Show at the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit on Sept. 14, 2023.
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Altogether, the 500e makes 117 horsepower, 162 pound-feet of torque and goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in a brisk 8.5 seconds.
Unique to the 500e are a set of three drive modes that emphasizes efficiency and driving dynamics. In normal mode, the little Fiat is able to replicate the “Coasting” experience of a gas-powered engine, while range mode activates a one-pedal-drive function that optimizes regenerative braking to capture more energy when coasting. In Sherpa mode, the Fiat is able to maximize energy efficiency by limiting the top speed to 50 mph and by reducing the power draw from the motor.
The new 500 has an EPA-estimated range of 149 miles, a massive improvement from the 2019 500e’s 84 miles. Fiat says that charging takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes using a standard Level 2 charger, and that 80 percent of the battery can be charged in about 35 minutes with an 85 kW DC fast charger.
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Inside, the new 500e is stylish and loaded with tech, including a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and a digital gauge cluster. As an added touch, Fiat says that the 500e greets and “sings” to the passengers with a unique song that “sets the tone for an immersive Italian experience.”
In addition to the new tech and the singing greeting, the little Fiat comes with a suite of standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian alert and lane-keep assist.
“Fiat is taking on BEVs in a way only the Italian brand can, combining ‘La Dolce Vita’ spirit of an icon with a mission of sustainability and zero emissions,” said Fiat brand CEO Olivier Francois. “The 2024 500e is a modern, tech-forward take on a beloved classic, delivering a host of new safety features, while remaining fun to drive and true to its roots. Try not to smile when you drive this car.”
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To build hype and buzz around the new 500e, Fiat is taking a page out of fashion brands like Supreme by utilizing a unique “product drop” strategy, where different versions of the car will be made available at a particular time in a limited quantity.
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The first will be a special 500e RED Edition, which is a collaboration between Fiat and the AIDS charity Red featuring red paint, 17 inch diamond cut wheels and a charitable donation to their causes. Other models are to be announced by Fiat, but will carry a base price of $34,095.
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