2020 Fiat 500 priced from £19,995 in the UK
UK pricing and specifications for the all-new, all-electric Fiat 500 have been announced
Production of the all-new Fiat 500 is underway at the marque’s Turin facility so Fiat has now revealed UK pricing and specifications for the new all-electric supermini. Starting from £19,995, inclusive of the government plug-in sales grant, order books open in December with first cars set to hit our shores in March 2021.
This is not the first all-electric Fiat 500 we’ve seen, with FCA having briefly sold a low-production electric version in California from 2013. This is, however, the first one that’s been designed from the ground up as an EV on a brand new platform. With a whole ecosystem of small premium rivals such as the Mini Electric and Honda e, the new 500 boasts an impressive set of stats that stand it in good stead against its rivals.
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The entry-level model is powered by a compact 24kWh battery pack paired with a 92bhp motor that sends it from standstill to 62mph in a leisurely 9.5sec, while reaching a 115 mile WLTP-certified range. Raise the budget to £23,495 and the battery size jumps to 42kWh, with an upgraded 116bhp motor providing a 9sec 0-62mph time and up to 199 miles of range. On-paper performance is near-identical to the more expensive Honda e, however the Fiat boasts around 65 miles of additional range.
That basic £19,995 ‘Action’ model is available only in hatchback-form and with the 24kWh battery pack. The next ‘Passion’ comes with the larger 42kWh battery and 85kW fast charging enabled, with the range-topping £26,995 La Prima adding larger wheels, an uprated 10.25-inch infotainment display and more to the mix. £26,145 is the price you’ll pay for the base-level cabriolet, rising to £29,995 for the range-topping La Prima.
Fiat has also announced the 3+1 model, a third variant of the new 500 that fits a second, rear-opening door on the right side in a similar fashion to the original Mini Clubman. It’s designed specifically to make rear ingress a more comfortable affair, but in right-hand drive markets does mean opening on the road-side when parked on the street. The model will be limited to left-hand drive markets at launch, with UK availability yet to be announced.
Though just two electric powertrains have been revealed so far, FCA hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a hotter electric Abarth, based on this all-new 500. Luca Napolitano, head of Fiat and Abarth, EMEA region, said: ‘The car [new Fiat 500] is an excellent foundation on which to start dreaming of an electric Abarth. If there ever will be an electric Abarth, it will surely have the performance that our diehard fans expect.’
Though any details are still some time away, Napolitano also added that: ‘The Abarth take on the hot hatchback theme is characterised by agile and balanced proportions and an excellent power-to-weight ratio that makes the car fast and fun to drive.’
One of the most important factors for EV buyers is charging speed, and so Fiat has included fast 85kWh charging as standard – this allows drivers to charge from ‘empty’ to 80 per cent in only 35 minutes using the appropriate charger, or 30 miles in just five minutes.
Along with the new platform comes additional cabin space, thanks to a 6cm increase in width and length, and a 2cm increase in wheelbase – also contributing is the lack of a transmission tunnel or physical gear selector. Inside, Fiat has gone somewhat minimalist, removing buttons for less clutter, and opting for a simpler, more cohesive design. A 10.25-inch screen displays the new UConnect 5 infotainment system, allowing for the use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly.
Production is already under way at Fiat’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, and order books will open in December ahead of first customer deliveries in March 2021.
