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New Fiat 500e: technical details of electric city car leaked

Specs of all-electric next-gen 500 seen online, suggesting a 199-mile range and fast-charging capability
James Attwood, digital editor
News
5 mins read
4 March 2020

Images and technical details of Fiat's all-new, all-electric Fiat 500 have been leaked online ahead of its official reveal.

UPDATE: The Fiat 500e has now been revealed - full story here 

New pictures, first seen on French website Automobilist's Facebook page, show a modernised 500 with door handles that sit flush to the body, LED headlights that eat into the bonnet, and a redesigned front grille that should provide better aerodynamics without the need to cool a combustion engine.

The images show a folding fabric roof that matches the existing 500c, but it is expected the 500e will also be offered as a fixed-roof model.

Larger changes appear to have been made inside the cabin, with a completely overhauled dashboard, new instruments and a large central infotainment screen. A new rotary gear selector also features, mounted on a plinth below the centre console and surrounded by buttons.

Technical details of the new city car have also surfaced. According to Automotive News Europe, which cites unnamed Italian sources, the new 500 will store its power in a 42kWh lithium ion battery pack that promises a 199-mile range. It is said to feature an in-built 85kW charger that can add 31 miles of range in five minutes and take the battery from empty to 80% capacity in as little as 35 minutes.

According to the reports, the battery powers a 114bhp motor that's good for a claimed top speed of 93mph.

Earlier this year, Fiat said it would invest €700 million (about £610m) on its Mini Electric rival, to include a new production line in Mirafiori, Italy. Fiat hopes to produce 80,000 examples of the new 500e. 

The car will be sold alongside the existing 500, which will continue to be powered by conventional petrol engines as well as receiving styling and technical updates.

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The all-new electric 500 will sit on a bespoke electric car platform, according to Fiat boss Olivier François, with the same platform potentially earmarked for use if the new Panda-inspired Centoventi concept makes production. The electric 500 will be a key part of Fiat's transformation in Europe into a brand focusing on small, electrified city cars.

"The car will stay true to everything you know about the 500, but will be entirely new," said François. "Under the skin, it will be radically different, but otherwise you will recognise the size and proportions.

“But it is a big statement, starting our electric path with the 500. We are doing it with that car for reasons of pricing. It is clear that we cannot sell an electric 500 for the same entry price of today’s 500, but what’s clear is that more than half of our 500 customers today do not buy entry-level models. In fact, for them a €24,000 [around £21,000] price is normal today.

“If you look at our electric competition, they are priced around €32,000. The leap then from €24,000 to €32,000 is not so much, especially if you factor in government grants for electric vehicles."

François refused to be drawn on whether the electric 500 could be rear-wheel drive like the original but said he would be open to the idea. He also said that an electric Abarth model could hold appeal.

The electric car platform that the 500e will sit on will be FCA Group developed. François said he would personally be open to sharing the technology with partners - the 500 platform has previously been shared with the Ford Ka, for instance – but he stressed that any such decision would have to be made at a group level.

Fiat also confirmed the 500 line-up will be expanded with a 500 Giardiniera estate, but didn't say when it will be unveiled.

The aim is to consolidate the brand’s dominance of the city car segment - the 500 and Panda hold a third of this market - while developing technologies that allow these models to satisfy emission regulations. 

The 500 Giardiniera, which references the tiny wagon of 1960, will offer the best space efficiency in its class, said Fiat, and "unmistakable design". It, too, will get electric and mild hybrid variants.

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The 500’s new platform architecture can also cope with a mild-hybrid system. That unit consists of a belt-driven, 12V starter/generator, although little official detail has been provided on the electric drivetrain to be used in the 500.

François conceded that the decision to develop the electric cars was driven "both by the desire to create a profitable electric car for our future, and to ensure we avoid the pressures of potential fines if we don't hit CO2 targets."

Given the limited space for batteries and the 500’s urban appeal, the range of the 500e is likely to be less than EVs such as the Nissan Leaf, which offers around 250 miles.

The 500e will be a rival to a growing number of small EVs - the first examples of the Mini Electric, Mini’s first series-production electric car, which was revealed earlier this year, are scheduled to arrive with customers in early 2020, with the Honda E arriving in the middle of the year.

The 500e's 'City Car' underpinnings will be one of four electric powertrains offered by FCA; a ‘Mainstream’ powertrain will be launched in the Jeep Grand Commander, a ‘Performance’ powertrain will feature in the Maserati Alfieri that's tipped for a 2020 debut, and a ‘Premium’ EV powertrain will power the 2022 Maserati Quattroporte. 

The push for electrification comes amid Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ abandonment of diesel; by 2022, there will be no diesel options in the FCA catalogue. These will be replaced by numerous hybrids, both full and plug-in, the first of which will be the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, landing in 2020. 

The production capacity released by the deletion of the Punto and other unspecified Fiat models - such as Tipo - will be used to build more Alfa Romeos and Maseratis, whose premium prices can withstand the electrification costs. Some Italian capacity will be used to build some plug-in hybrid models, including certain Jeeps for global sale.

Additional reporting by Jim Holder and Richard Bremner

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19

catnip

1 June 2018

The much talked about Giardiniera version of the current (pre-facelift) 500 never actually materialised, hopefully it will be different next time round. Its got to be better than the 500L and 500L MPW.

Riley 1.5

1 June 2018

I've seen one in Budapest, admittedly with a California registration, last October at a charging point. Perfect size for me, the three door 500 is exactly the type of electric car I want since I don't drive long distances, or need a five door car. Up until now electric cars have been larger than I want, so this 500 is a car I can't wait to try.

AndyT

1 June 2018

I dont think we can belive anything this man says. So basically Fiat will only consist of a belated and overdue new 500 with an electric variant and a new Panda - a car which only sells in big numbers in Italy. 

The Punto, once Europe's best selling car,  has already been killed off without a replacement.

I see the Fiat marque being Italy's Rover - a slow decline until it has gone and all of its own doing.

si73

2 June 2018
AndyT wrote:

I dont think we can belive anything this man says. So basically Fiat will only consist of a belated and overdue new 500 with an electric variant and a new Panda - a car which only sells in big numbers in Italy. 

The Punto, once Europe's best selling car,  has already been killed off without a replacement.

I see the Fiat marque being Italy's Rover - a slow decline until it has gone and all of its own doing.

A lot of Rovers decline was due to poor management, agreed, but dont forget BMW asset stripped them and sold off the remnants, Fiat is part of a larger group so doesnt necessarily need to be making cars for all segments that the other brands can successfully sell in, it could effectively be like smart or mini, just producing niche cars, in this case electrified city cars. I'm hoping your slow decline prediction is wrong.

It is a shame they didn't invest in the punto though as it is still a good looking car that just needed modernising to keep up with the competition. From best selling modern supermini when launched its barely changed which is a shame.

Takeitslowly

19 July 2019
AndyT wrote:

I dont think we can belive anything this man says. So basically Fiat will only consist of a belated and overdue new 500 with an electric variant and a new Panda - a car which only sells in big numbers in Italy. 

The Punto, once Europe's best selling car,  has already been killed off without a replacement.

I see the Fiat marque being Italy's Rover - a slow decline until it has gone and all of its own doing.

 

Only the first three words of your post can in turn be taken as truth. You assert that the past must also deliver the future, what nonsense. The BMW MINI, "replaced" the original mini, around a dozen years after the latter ceased production...hasn't done the new MINI any harm at all. Keep posting though, all good fun :)

gussy51

1 June 2018
I imagine FCA will move to joint Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep dealers across Europe. In Scotland we have 1 Alfa Romeo dealer, but many more Fiat dealers. Given the investment in Alfa Romeo they need to make it easier for us to actually buy one!

streaky

2 June 2018

I feel nervous about this.  The problem with the 500 is that it looks so right; so how do you improve on it?  Fiat have already corrupted the design language with the 500Ls that just don't work (the 500X is OK) and there is also its past record of having spoilt two versions of the Punto with unsuccessful facelifts (one being on the current version which was then reversed!).  Also, styling of the current Panda is not a patch on the previous one.  Things must move on but if I were in Fiat's styling team, my heart would be in my mouth somewhat!

JMax18

5 March 2019

Must be really hard to maintain an icon. 

I'd love to see a manufacturer just leave it aesthetically, and update it as technology progresses. Surely there comes a point where you just have to say: leave it.

xxxx

5 March 2019

Regardless of the title/main text it's been on sale in te US for some time where's its struggled to get into 3 figures for some months.  They just look to expensive for what you get

eseaton

6 March 2019

There is an atmosphere of madness pervading the car industry at the moment.  It is as if it wishes to bring about its own demise as quickly as possible.

 

The once mighty Fiat will shortly become the maker of just two little electric cars in a completely unproven market.  

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