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June 8, 2022
Test Drive the Fiat 500e: What's it Like to Drive Fiat's First BEV, Inheriting an Iconic Design? | FIAT
FIAT 500e | The Electric Cinquecento
Test Drive: The Latest Cinquecento, Elevated by Electrification
The "500e," Fiat's first all-electric vehicle (BEV), is set to launch on June 25, 2022. While its charming design remains, how has its substance evolved? This report details its driving experience.
Text & Photographs by HARA Akira
A More Refined Interior and Exterior, While Retaining Its Charm
The already adorable and immensely popular Cinquecento has finally gone fully electric. It's aptly named the 500e (Cinquecento E). It couldn't be simpler.
While the 500e's appearance may not seem drastically different from the conventional engine model, 96% of it is newly designed, making it nearly a full model change.
The body dimensions are 3,630mm in length, 1,685mm in width, and 1,530mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,320mm. This makes it 60mm longer, 60mm wider, and 15mm taller than the previous generation, with a 20mm longer wheelbase.
The FIAT badge on the front nose has been replaced with a large "500" logo. The headlights, previously circular, are now LED units split horizontally by a line on the hood. The upper half acts as eyebrows, the headlights are the eyes, the "500" is the nose, the round side position lights are dimples, and the air intake below forms the mouth, creating a human-like face that appears to be in a complete "smile."
The number "500" on the pillar and rear end of the body side is designed with the last "0" integrated into an "e" logo, a distinctly Italian touch. The 17-inch aluminum wheels, now larger, feature a diamond-cut design with a "500" logo at the center, contributing to an enhanced sense of luxury.
The interior, in contrast, has been significantly changed from the previous model. The previous generation featured a design with continuous circles, echoing the second-generation Nueva (New) 500, which was popular for its chic yet slightly kitschy appeal. However, the new 500e has been transformed to match its premium price point, approaching ¥5 million, reflecting its electric powertrain.
Specifically, it boasts not only easy-to-read dual full-color digital displays—7-inch and 10.25-inch—but also a chic instrument panel with "Intrecciata" woven leather strips, a molded dashboard, leather seats featuring a continuous FIAT logo monogram (larger than the previous model's), and a leather steering wheel rim with a premium, leather-free feel. These premium touches are evident in many of the components.
Furthermore, the shift lever that was previously located on the center of the dashboard has been removed. In its place are push-button selectors for "P," "R," "N," and "D" – a clear emphasis on its electric nature. Also indicative of its electric identity are the power-operated door releases on the two doors. Peering into the bottom of the door handle reveals a clever detail: the words "MADE IN TRINO" and an illustration of the Nueva 500 are subtly etched, a charming Italian touch.