Full pricing and specification of the fully electric New 500 has been announced, which will arrive in UK dealers in early 2021 in both hatchback and cabrio versions. With two battery options and a WLTP range of up to 199 miles, the New 500 will be priced from £19,995 OTR (inclusive of PiCG).
The 500 EV is the first fully-electric vehicle designed from the ground-up on an all-new platform from Fiat Chrysler. Two battery options are available: 24 kWh and 42 kWh. 50 kW rapid charging is standard with option for higher-power charging at 85 kW available on all but the entry-level trim.
The 500 will be offered in three body styles: hatchback, cabriolet and a new 3+1 set-up which includes clam-shell style rear passenger doors which open to the rear, as appear on the BMW i3. However, UK buyers will have to wait longer to see the 3+1 option which will be first offered to left-hand drive markets.
As with almost all European EVs, the New 500 uses a Combined Charging System (CCS) connector, located on the rear right side panel of the car, which enables charging using AC or DC charging stations.
The new model comes in three trim levels: Action, Passion and Icon. The entry-level Action trim is fitted with a 70 kW motor, accelerating from zero to 62 mph in 9.5 seconds and with a limited top speed of 84 mph. This option is based on a lithium-ion battery with a 23.8 kWh capacity, resulting in a range of more than 115 miles in the WLTP cycle.
The mid-range Passion and top-end Icon trims come with a larger batter sized at 42 kWh, which provides a best-in-city-class range of up to 199 miles (WLTP), and also features 85 kW rapid charging capability, recharging to 80% in around 35 minutes. The 118 hp motor has an output of 87 kW, providing a maximum speed limited to 93 mph and acceleration from zero to 62 mph in 9.0 seconds.
The New 500 EV can be driven in three modes. In ‘Normal’, the drive is like any automatic transmission, with a highly responsive performance. In ‘Range’ mode, a ‘one-pedal’ function means acceleration and deceleration can be controlled by the same pedal; this driving style, ideal for urban use, means the car can recover a great deal of its energy through regenerative braking. When the remaining range is low, a ‘Sherpa’ mode can be engaged to optimise the available resources to ensure the destination is reached.
Fiat offers additional charging options including a three-phase 11kW cable, along with a Wallbox plug-and-play home charging solution developed exclusively by ENGIE. The New 500 EV is also able to connect with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems in some regions, enabling the car to provide power to the grid under certain conditions.
This full electric city car is an ideal addition to the small runabouts already available in the UK and will compete head-to-head with the Honda-e and MINI Electric.
The New 500 will be available to order in December and is priced from £19,995 (inclusive of PiCG). Orders open for New 500 in December with first UK customer deliveries expected in March 2021.
