The Fiat 500 gets a big brother – and now it’s electric

If anyone can reach into the wardrobe of its own history, it’s Fiat. Finally, with the 500, the Italians have successfully brought back and electrified their greatest icon.

Later this year, Fiat’s second electric car will arrive, again with a well-known name on the front. It will be called 600e, named after the “Seicento”, which, together with the Cinquecento, made Fiat the popular brand for the common man from the mid-1950s. Since then, Fiat has sold more than 20 million B-segment cars.

This time too, the 600 takes on the role of its big brother. At 4.17 meters, it is 54 centimeters longer than the 500e and will inherit the still running 500X for now. So it is more of a small crossover than a classic compact.

Quotes from the 500th

Many style cues from the 500e carry over. The headlights in LED technology with the typical googly eyes, the chrome signature, now with the number 600, or the honeycomb grille at the front. At the back we find very similar taillights with the stylized “E” and the Italian flag embedded in the bumper.

The five-door offers space for five passengers, 385 liters of luggage fits in the trunk and Fiat generously distributes the storage compartments in the interior. At the market launch there are two trim versions, 600e Red and 600e La Prima, which is lavishly decorated. The “Fiat” and “600” stamps are embroidered into the ivory leatherette seat covers of both versions, and there’s even a massage function for the driver.

Otherwise, the cockpit looks like a larger copy and paste version of the 500er. Flattened steering wheel, a 10.25 inch (about 26 centimeters) monitor in the center, including a row of mechanical buttons for direct selection of the most important functions. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also on board, as well as a slew of diligent assistants. There are also blind spot warnings on board, a reversing camera and 360 degree assistance. There are 64 different ways to illuminate the interior.

The 600th has siblings

Technically, the 600 will receive the modified eCMP platform (Common Modular Platform) from the Stellantis Group, on which, among other things, the Jeep Avenger is already based and which is also intended for Alfa’s new small SUV. The Stromer will roll off the assembly line in Tychy, Poland, where the Polski Fiat 126p was once produced, most recently the new Fiat 500 and the Lancia Ypsilon.

Like the Avenger, the 600e has a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 54 kWh. Fiat promises a range of more than 400 kilometers in the WLTP cycle and more than 600 kilometers in urban use. With the 110 kW charger, the battery should be charged to 80 percent in less than half an hour, with the 11 kW wallbox it takes about six hours to fully charge the battery. The performance data is also identical to that of the electric jeep. Means: 115 kW/156 hp, enough for a sprint to 100 km/h in nine seconds.

And because Fiat does not fully trust the electric boom, especially at home, they also offer the 600 series with a 1.3-liter combustion engine and 48-volt hybrid technology in Italy, Spain and other southern regions. Unlike the Avenger, the 600 will only be available with front-wheel drive. A fully electric Abarth version will follow next year, which must have more than 200 hp. Fiat only plans to sell the 600e in Europe for now. Germany and France are probably the strongest markets.

Delivery of the Fiat 600e is scheduled for September 2023. In terms of price, it starts in Germany at 36,490 euros (600e La Prima from 42,490 euros). For comparison: the small 500th starts in Switzerland from 29,490 francs.

(t online)