Three years after making its debut in European showrooms and five years after the last time its predecessor was spotted in the United States, Fiat's 500e has finally made its way to America. According to Fiat, the hatch will be the lightest EV in America when it goes on sale in early 2024.
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Despite having flush-fit door handles and split headlights to update its appearance, the 500e is actually a completely new vehicle constructed on a specific electric vehicle platform.
The chic interior retains the body-color dashboard, which pays homage to the original from the 1950s, but it also has a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, and far more opulent materials than the last 500 models.
Since Stellantis decided not to ship Europe's entry-level 24 kWh battery across the Atlantic, Fiat claims that its curb weight of just over 1,361 kg makes it the lightest passenger BEV available for purchase. This fact undoubtedly helps it make the most of its modest 42 kWh battery pack. The 2019 model year's old-generation 500e could only manage a pitiful 135 km between charges, which is not too dissimilar from what some PHEVs can currently achieve. However, the new car nearly doubles the range to an EPA-estimated 240 km.
Connect it to an 85 kW DC charger, and you can fill the battery up to 80 percent in about 35 minutes, or use a Level 2 (11 kW) charge point to fill it up to 100 percent in 4.25 hours.
In the sportiest of the available drive modes, a single electric motor located in the nose delivers 117 horsepower and 220 Nm to the front wheels, translating to a zero to 97 km/h time of 8.5 seconds. However, drivers can switch to Sherpa mode, which lowers power output to 76 horsepower and caps the top speed at 80 km/h, to optimize range.
Fiat has you covered, offering each customer the option of charging credits via Free2Move Charge or a complimentary home charger. Early in 2024, the 500e will go on sale for $34,095 including destination.