2021 Fiat 500 electric (La Prima) introduced

FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has now announced that the new generation of the 500 will be an all-electric model. This will be the first time the Italian automaker will be producing a full series of EV. However, this third-generation model will be limited to 500 units only.

According to Fiat, this new generation 500 has been optimised and redesigned to house the electric powertrain. This also means that the wheelbase is longer by 20 mm, thereby indicating to a more spacious cabin, albeit subtly.

Mechanically, the Fiat 500 electric car will be powered by an electric motor that produces 118 PS of power. The 0-100 kmph acceleration sprint comes in 9 seconds. However, thanks to the instant torque, the 0-50 kmph comes in just 3.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 150 kmph.

To power this electric powertrain, there is a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The battery is capable of offering an approximate driving range of 320 kilometres. The battery can be charged with the help of an 85 kW fast charger that can conduct both AC as well as DC power sources. And just five minutes of charge will be good enough to power the car for around 48 kilometres.

The Fiat 500 electric will have three different driving modes - Normal, Range and Sherpa. The normal mode, as defined by the automaker, is the closest to replicating the performance of a combustion car.

Sherpa, on the other hand, is much like eco mode and restricts the top speed to 80 kmph and turns off heated seats and climate control functionalities. Moreover, it also reduces the sensitivity of the throttle.

And lastly, the Range mode sits between the two and offers something called ‘one-pedal drive’. This means, the car will accelerate upon pressing the throttle pedal and decelerate gradually as it is released, while also regenerating the battery. However, the brakes still need to be pressed to bring the car to a complete stop.

The EV also gets Level 2 autonomous driving, where it accelerates and brakes to maintain a fixed speed while dealing with lane changes. The system also has AEB (autonomous emergency braking) via its front camera and sensor.

Inside the cabin, Fiat has taken care of sound technology too. There will be a Wi-Fi hotspot that can allow connection to up to eight devices. The dashboard has a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with UConnect 5 setup.

Fiat says that the current 500 model for the European countries will continue to be on sale with a mild-hybrid powertrain, alongside this electric counterpart. The pre-sales for the EV in Europe begin today and the 500 ‘La Prima’ has a sticker price of £29,000. The Australian launch is still unclear.

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