2024 Fiat 500e is a small, reasonably priced EV

The 2024 Fiat 500e marks the return of an EV that its maker as soon as requested Individuals to not purchase. Fiat actually thought the timing wasn’t proper for that authentic 500e, however the timing of the brand new model, which is scheduled to reach in early 2024, appears impeccable.

The primary Fiat 500e was bought solely in California and Oregon, and was constructed purely to fulfill California’s zero-emission automobile mandate. Early EV lovers favored it, due to an reasonably priced value and retro styling carried over from a concurrent gasoline 500 mannequin. However Sergio Marchionne, then head of Fiat Chrysler Cars (the predecessor of present Fiat dad or mum Stellantis), mentioned the corporate misplaced cash on every automobile and as soon as declared that he hoped prospects didn’t purchase it.

Issues are completely different this time. First proven in 2021 and already on sale in Europe, the brand new 500e continues to be a contemporary interpretation of the basic Fifties Fiat 500. However as a substitute of being a transformed gasoline automobile, it was designed from the bottom up as an EV. And Fiat isn’t simply constructing this model to fulfill regulators. It’s not even doing a gasoline model this time round.

Whereas bigger than the previous-generation 500, which was final bought within the U.S. in 2019 in gasoline kind, the 2024 500e continues to be a small automobile. And with a curb weight of two,952 kilos in launch spec, it’s among the many lightest EVs on sale, Fiat notes. That’s lower than the equally tiny Mini Cooper SE, and it’s refreshing given the pattern towards ever-heavier electrical vans and SUVs. Consider this because the anti-Hummer EV.

A single electrical motor sends 118 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels, which is able to propel the 500e to a blazing high velocity of 94 mph. A 42-kilowatt-hour battery pack offers an estimated 149 miles of vary. A Mixed Charging Commonplace (CCS) connector permits for DC quick charging at as much as 85 kilowatts, sufficient for an 80% cost in 35 minutes. A full cost utilizing a Stage 2 AC residence cost takes 4 hours and quarter-hour.

The 500e will get the anticipated tech options, however nothing extra. An ordinary 10.25-inch touchscreen runs the identical Uconnect 5 infotainment system as different Stellantis fashions, together with wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Amazon Alexa options. Primary driver-assist options like computerized emergency braking and lane hold help are customary as effectively.

Fiat will launch the 500e in a single “(RED Version)” spec in partnership with (RED), the AIDS charity co-founded by U2 entrance man Bono. It’s priced at $34,095. Different variants shall be launched periodically as restricted releases, just like vogue product drops. Fiat additionally plans to take a minimum of a number of the shopping for course of on-line, whereas nonetheless retaining its conventional franchised supplier community.

The brand new 500e arrives at a time when small, reasonably priced EVs are few and much between. It should actually stand out from the remainder of Stellantis’ deliberate North American EV lineup, which consists of a Ram pickup truck, Dodge muscle automobile, and some Jeep SUVs. So whereas the unique 500e might have been forward of its time, this new model arrives not a second too quickly.

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