Switch to battery bumps baby Fiat out of budget zone.

FACTORY forewarning about the electric Fiat 500 being aimed at a considerably higher price point than the petrol forebears seems particularly realised by NZ market stickers.

With the local strategy, the cheapest of the battery-dedicated variants is going to cost almost three times as much as a closest equivalent in the fossil-fuelled family prior to Clean Car dispensations.

 Ateco Group says it will restrict 500e choice to a Pop at $59,990 – lineball with another recently-released and related chic Euro, the Opel Corsa-e, which has a larger battery and more pep and range - and an Icon, for $64,990. Stock arrives from quarter two of next year.

The Fiats run a single electric motor drivetrain fed by a 42kWh lithium ion battery that enables 320 kilometres’ range, according to the WLTP scale. Both attract the full electric vehicle rebate of $8625.

Intention is to add the Abarth performance flagship later in the year, though when is not clear and for how much remains a mystery.

The street racer has the same battery but 115kW/235Nm pep and as little as 220kms’ range when in its top ‘Scorpion Track’ performance mode (but potentially much the same as the standard car when in eco-minded ‘Turismo’) , later in the year. Abarth only revealed internationally in November, 13 months after the mainstream models.

Ateco has not shared volume expectations for the electric 500, though today’s information share brought enthusiastic comment from Fiat NZ marketing manager Sarah Williams.

Fiat itself expressed thought a year ago that this iteration of the famous ‘cinquecento’ - following the original in 1957 and the reborn model which arrived half a century later – that makes history by being the first of the line to be developed purely as an EV will be a strong seller. This despite it openly agreeing the car, as an electric, was unavoidably going to be much more expensive than the old models.

How many New Zealand owners of the outgoing petrol models – which Fiat is keeping in production but appear to have been dropped here to realise ambition for the make to nationally represent wholly in electric by 2024 - determine to meet that challenge will be interesting.

Until now they have been spending in a totally different pricing band, even for the high-value performance editions.

Published recommended retails for the previous line remind the pair of mainstream Lounge and Dolcevita editions, with a 51kW/90Nm 1.2-litre petrol, began respectively at $22,990 and $25,990, with each attracting a $2284 Clean Car rebate due to CO2 counts of 123 grams per kilometre.

The Abarth petrols were also cheaper, by some margin, than the least expensive electric is now.

 All running a 132kW/250Nm 1.4-litre petrol, those have spanned from $29,990 in entry Abarth 595 form to up to $47,990 in Abarth 595 Competizione cabriolet. Those are RRPs. Abarth models have been subject to special pricing latterly as a runout incentive. 

Williams said today that since 500e launched globally the demand to bring it here “has been incredibly strong.

“The Fiat 500e embodies the distinctive Fiat Cinquecento look and now offers unmistakable electric styling and driveability that we know New Zealanders will love. We are excited to finally bring the new sustainable phase of the Fiat brand to NZ.”

Fiat’s car builds on a platform different to that for like-sized locally represented Stellantis Group stablemates from Peugeot (208, 2008) and Opel (Corsa, Mokka). The French/German product have a 50kWh battery, a 100kW/260Nm motor and around 60kms additional range. Opel product has placed as a cheaper choice than the Peugeots, with Corsa-e and Mokka-e respectively siting at $59,990 and $69,990 (pre rebate).

While many countries now have a single Stellantis distributor, NZ has two – Ateco holding Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and RAM while Armstrong Group has the French and German marques.

Standard safety and convenience features on the 500e Pop (a name revived from the old car, whereas Icon is new) include attention assist, lane control, automated emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, heated seats, keyless entry-and-go, rear sensors and rear-view camera.

Fiat also claims the entry car is capable of “Level 2” semi-autonomous driving, using a front-facing camera system to monitor the road ahead. Adaptive cruise control with automatic braking and accelerating, lane keep assist, speed limit assist, blind spot warning and 360-degree sensors also arrive, but on the Icon. 

The Pop also has FIAT monogram seats, body coloured dash, wireless apple car play/android auto, a 10”25 infotainment system, seven inch TFT display and a wireless charger.  

The Icon has a fixed glass roof, a more premium interior including ice-beige trim colour, FIAT eco-leather trim, and premium dashboard accents. Exterior enhancements include chrome exterior accents, infinity LED headlights and 17 inch alloys.

Ice White, Ocean Green, Mineral Grey, Onyx Black, Rose Gold and Celestial Blue are colour choices across both.  

The drivetrain chosen for NZ is one level above the starting point for Europe, where the entry-level product has a 23.8kWh battery pack and a 68kW electric motor, which provides a 0–100kmh time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 134kmh. The maximum claimed WLTP range is just 118 kilometres, though Fiat reckons it will climb to 240km under most beneficial city driving conditions.

The 42kWh battery pack and 86kW electric motor brings down the 0-100km time to nine seconds and top speed raises to 149kmh. Recharging also picks up, as it will take direct current fast charging, so will recover an 80 percent charge in half an hour. 

The 500e offers three driving modes. Fiat suggests ‘Normal’ is as being “as close as possible to driving a vehicle with a normal combustion engine”. ‘Range’ engenders higher brake energy recuperation, to the point where it’ll entertain one pedal operability. Then there’s the intriguingly-tagged ‘Sherpa.’ This preserves as much range as possible, so it limits the top speed to 80kmh, reduces throttle response and deactivates the climate control and other comfort features. 

While 60mm wider, 60mm longer and with a 20mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing offer, the 500e remains a small car, more compact that the 208 and Corsa.

As the images plainly show, Fiat hasn’t been silly enough to mess up the look. In silhouette, particularly, there’s little between this one and the Mark 2. Detailing such as the front bumper and the split headlamps pay homage to the 1957 original.  

In Europe, the hatchback represented here is joined by a cabriolet and a three-plus-one configuration that is identical in shape to the hatchback, but features a small half-door behind the driver, opening rearwards. Featuring on the passenger side, it lends easier access to the rear seat and is expected to be popular with young families.