Fiat Australia spills the beans on its first EV as iconic Italian micro-car becomes an expensive all-electric baby hatch
Fiat Australia has released full local specification details of the new 2023 Fiat 500e which, as previously reported by carsales, will be offered exclusively Down Under in lavish La Prima guise from $52,500 plus on-road costs.
This marks a more than 100 per cent increase in the existing Fiat 500’s entry price ($23,100), but the all-new EV does offer a wealth of extra toys, tech and power in exchange.
The new battery-electric runabout will arrive in local showrooms “mid-year”, powered by a single electric motor outputting 82kW/220Nm and a 42kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which combine for a 9.0sec 0-100km/h acceleration time and an effective driving range of up to 311km.
That unsurprisingly compact battery can be charged at up to 85kW when using DC power, enabling it to go from empty to 80 per cent in around 35 minutes when hooked up to a fast-charger.
Clearly bigger – 56mm wider and 61mm longer – than the outgoing Fiat 500 but still compact by any definition, the new Fiat 500e’s all-electric powertrain has resulted in a completely flat cabin floor that designers have leveraged to maximise space and storage solutions.
The centre console is a minimalist free-standing unit between the seats while the dash is adorned with a 10.25-inch infotainment interface sporting smartphone mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB+ digital radio and satellite-navigation.
Other equipment highlights include wireless phone charging, voice recognition, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, a fixed glass roof with retractable blind, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, eco-leather upholstery, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, six-speaker sound system, climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Headline safety gear meanwhile comprises autonomous emergency braking, lane centring and support systems, traffic jam assist, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, parking sensors all-round, automatic wipers and blind spot monitoring.
Six exterior paint colours – Ice White, Onyx Black, Ocean Green, Mineral Grey, Rose Gold and Celestial Blue – will be offered for the new 500e, each paired with a contrasting black and beige interior colourway.
“Fiat Australia is pleased to introduce the Fiat 500e – the first full-electric model in Fiat history and 100% designed, engineered and manufactured in Turin, Italy,” said Fiat Australia today.
“The Fiat 500e is the ultimate package in respect to styling, technology and EV performance, reinterpreting the iconic look of the classic 500 that clearly communicates the all-new technology and EV nature of the vehicle and introduces the Fiat 500 into the next mobility era.”
There was no mention of the sportier Abarth 500e in today’s local 500e press release, despite previous indications from Fiat that the nippier city-car would arrive in tandem with the luxury-minded La Prima.
According to a Fiat Australia spokesperson, more details on the Abarth 500e’s local introduction will be shared soon.
The four-door Fiat 500e 3+1 is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
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Keyword: New Fiat 500e here mid-year with huge price and lots of tech