fiat 500 goes all-electric and debuts one-off designs

fiat has unveiled the third generation of its iconic ‘cinquecento’ model — an all-electric car that has a range of up to 199 miles (320 kilometers). production of the new 500, which receives 85kW fast charging as standard, returns to its birthplace of turin, italy where the first model was created 63 years ago. to celebrate the launch, three other italian companies — giorgio armani, bulgari, and kartell — have designed unique versions of the vehicle. the car is priced at €37,900/£29,000 and can already be pre-ordered in some markets.

as range and charging times are two key considerations for customers, the car’s lithium-ion batteries, with a capacity of 42kWh, offer a range of up to 199 miles (320 km). meanwhile, to optimize charging time, the new 500 is equipped with an 85kW fast charge system. fiat says that it takes only five minutes to build up a sufficient energy reserve to travel 30 miles, more than the average daily commute. using a fast charger can also power the battery to 80% in just 35 minutes. the combo 2 socket, located on the rear right side panel of the car, has the ability to accept both AC and DC charging.

the vehicle also comes with a home charging system called the ‘easy wallbox’, which can be connected to a normal home outlet. the device can be upgraded to 7.4kW, providing a full charge at home in just over six hours. alternatively, a mode 3 cable is also included for charging at up to 11kW from a public point. the electric motor has an output of 87kW, providing a maximum speed of 93mph/150kph (self-limited) and acceleration from zero to 62mph/100kph in 9 seconds and zero to 31mph/50kph in 3.1 seconds.

in terms of its design, the new 500 builds upon its iconic appearance with a ‘more proportioned approach to the chassis’. the new model also has its own dedicated logo, which replaces the fiat logo at front of the car. meanwhile, the front bumper mirrors that of the 1957 version, almost facing the road, and the dynamic feel of the profile has been accentuated. the light clusters are still round, but now use LED technology, while the door handles sit completely flush with the bodywork.

the car’s launch edition — ‘la prima’ is available in three colors: mineral grey (metallic), ocean green (pearlescent), and celestial blue (three-layer). the launch version features full LED headlights, eco-leather upholstery, 17-inch diamond-cut wheels and chrome-plated inserts on the windows and side panels.

a new feature of the car is the acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS) — an acoustic warning for pedestrians that is mandatory at speeds up to 12mph/20kph. interestingly, the sound chosen by fiat is not a common acoustic signal, but rather the music of amarcord by nino rota. to celebrate the launch, three vehicles have been created in partnership with giorgio armani, kartell, and bulgari. see more about these one-off designs below.