legacy

Fiat launches the 600e and the Topolino

++ This article has been updated. Please continue reading below. ++

Fiat may state that it is “the 500e’s big brother” (at least in the German press release), but that, at most, applies to the design. The 500e remains a loner on its electric platform, whereas the new 600e is based on the company’s e-CMP platform – the drive technology is therefore familiar from many other Stellantis models.

The 115 kW electric motor is combined with the 54 kWh battery, which is supposed to allow for a WTLP range of more than 400 kilometres. And the EV comes with an 11 kW On Board Charger and can also be fast-charged. At 100 kW, charging from zero to 80 per cent takes “less than half an hour”, according to Fiat.

What is new – at least for Fiat – is the body. The brand has not had a “Seicento” since 1969. Even though the vehicle segments have shifted over time and the new 600e is incomparably larger than its historical model, the new Fiat model nowadays passes for a B-segment vehicle – although, with its 4.17 metres in length, it surpasses the old 600 by more than half a metre.

The Fiat 600e is not a small car but also not an SUV – it is a crossover. In the Stellantis Group there are numerous comparable models of this size based on e-CMP, such as the 4.08-metre-long Jeep Avenger or the 4.15-metre-long Opel Mokka Electric, both of which use the same drive. However, the Fiat is designed more as a family car and offers somewhat more utility: in terms of boot space, the 600e exceeds the Opel with its 360 litres by 50 litres – even though the latter is only two centimetres shorter.

Starting today, the 600e can be ordered in the entry-level Red variant and the top La Prima version. The former sells for 36,490 euros in Germany, while the latter has a price tag of 42,490 euros. Interestingly, parent company Stellantis does not list prices in its English media statement. According to the Italian version, the Fiat 600e Red costs 35,950 euros and the La Prima variant 40,950 euros.

The first models will be delivered in Italy in September. According to Fiat, the model will also be available as a hybrid from mid-2024.

Update 19 September 2023

Fiat has revealed pricing and specification details for the 600e in the UK. Prices start from £32,995 for the 600e Red Edition and £36,995 for the 600e La Prima. Order books in the UK will open in October, with the first customer deliveries expected in Q1 2024.

The 600e is being manufactured at Fiat’s factory in Tychy, Poland, which only started about a week ago. A hybrid version is likely to follow at a later date as well.

stellantis.com, stellantis.com (update)

The Fiat 500’s little sister

The second new electric model presented by Fiat is the Topolino, a subcompact car announced at the end of May. The Fiat is an offshoot of the Citroën Ami and the Opel Rocks-e, and should be available at the end of this year. The carmaker calls it “the 500’s little sister.”

The 2.53-metre short city EV reaches a top speed of 45 kph and comes with a 5.4-kWh battery for a range of up to 75 kilometres. While the EV is relatively small, it offers 63 litres of storage space. One can place a suitcase between the driver and passenger.

While it is only offered in mint green, the Topolino will be available in two body styles: open and closed. It will first be available in Italy, where it should hit the road at the end of the year.

Fiat does not mention the price for the Topolino but says that the monthly leasing rate ist “in line with the needs and possibilities of its targeted audience” and that it is similar to what one typically spends “for a pay-per-view TV or what you’ll pay as a monthly fee for public transports.”

Update 19 September 2023

The 600e is being manufactured at Fiat’s factory in Tychy, Poland, which only started about a week ago. A hybrid version is likely to follow at a later date as well.

stellantis.com (600e), stellantis.com (Topolino), stellantis.com (update)