Called the Topolino, meaning ‘Little Mouse’ in Italian, the new vehicle will only be offered in one colour and two variations, and features styling that harks back to the classic Fiat 500, launched in 1957.
Based on the Citroen Ami, which has been sold in Britain since 2021, the Fiat Topolino is a two- seater designed to be used in cities and urban environments.
The compact electric vehicle, classed a quadricycle by the Driving License and Standards Agency (DVSA), comes with an 8bhp electric motor that reaches a top speed of 28mph.
Using a 5.5kWh battery, it should also be able to cover a range of 47 miles per charge and take four hours to recharge using a standard house charger.
Whilst this limited power means that some European countries will allow people to drive the Topolino at 14 years old, British drivers will need to be over 17 with a full driving license.
However, Fiat hopes the Topolino’s distinctive looks and low price will help it to win over many young drivers who live in cities.
Fiat’s CEO Olivier Francois said: “Cities are the place where life is less Dolce. Did you ever drive in Rome or Naples? Well, I did, so trust me if you can drive there, you can drive anywhere.
“As you see, Topolino is short – one third of the space of a car. And second it is sweet. [It has a] 75-kilometre range, full recharge in four hours with a simple plug in at home so you don’t have to deal with the complexity of infrastructure.”
The Fiat Topolino will be offered in two variations, a more conventional ‘closed’ model with two doors and a ‘Dolce Vita’ version with beach-buggy-style open sides and a soft-top roof.
However, to keep the retail price down, the Fiat Topolino is not expected to come with luxuries such as air conditioning or even a radio.
Fiat has yet to confirm prices for the Topolino in the UK, however experts predict they will be slightly more expensive than the similar Citroen Ami at about £8,000.
Whilst the Fiat Topolino is Fiat’s latest electric vehicle, its name was originally used for the Italian company’s smallest model, built from 1936 to 1955.
Despite not selling well in Britain, the original Fiat Topolino was a big success in Italy, as its low price allowed many families to own a car for the first time.
Fiat hopes that the affordable price and retro styling of the upcoming model will encourage drivers to buy their first new electric vehicle.
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