Next-generation Fiat 500 Confirmed As Electric Only, Old Model Will Stick Around

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Following reports that the Fiat 500 would see the inclusion of a new all-electric powertrain in 2020, Fiat Chrysler has confirmed the model will actually become a dedicated EV — foregoing internal combustion entirely.

While the vehicle’s overall dimensions are to be retained, FCA chief marketing officer Olivier François said the small car would place additional emphasis on attainable urban luxury and electrification.

“Premium is the way we will go with the EV 500,” he told AutoExpress in a recent interview. “A new 500, totally renewed. A new object. Totally electric. It’s kind of an urban Tesla, with beautiful style. Italianess, dolce vita in an electric car. It’s the polar opposite of Centoventi.”

If you’re unfamiliar with Fiat’s Centoventi (120, in Italian) Concept, it’s basically a futuristic Fiat Panda BEV focused on customizability. Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month (see above photo), the car incorporates modular upgrades. The base version is basically a blank slate, designed to be as affordable as possible with zero frills. Fiat doesn’t even plan to offer paint choices. But customers can select from a wide array of proposed options, including multiple variations of multi-colored/textured roof types, bumpers, wheel covers, wraps, and interior panels — as well as tech, upholstery, and hardware upgrades. While just a concept at the moment, many think the design will be incorporated into the next-generation Panda or its replacement.

If you’re curious, Fiat is already allowing people to play with Centoventi’s design options on its website.

Meanwhile, the 500 will be transformed into a city dweller’s most luxurious fantasy for 2020. At least, that’s how FCA wants us to feel. François said the car will move upmarket (what automobile isn’t these days) but declined to provide any clues as to how much that would elevate the car’s MSRP. However, he did say he wasn’t terribly concerned with pricing changes. François believes “the appeal of the 500 is so strong we may not lose customers [with a more expensive EV].”

The truth of that claim is dependent upon where you live, though. In Europe, the 500 has enjoyed relatively consistent annual sales. In fact, Fiat delivered record numbers of the little car (189,360 units) in 2017 and did almost as well in 2018. But the United States has been terribly unkind to the 500. Annual U.S. deliveries peaked in 2013 at 36,375 vehicles but declined to just 5,370 in 2018.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Fiat is considering pulling out of the U.S., meaning we wouldn’t even get to see the next-gen 500. But François is keen to point out that this isn’t the car we’ve become accustomed to. “It’s a new platform designed for electrification. It makes the car radically different. It’s still a 500, same size same proportions, but it’s just not the same car. The 500 of the future.”

For those currently emitting a boisterous “hell no” at the prospect of the 500 going entirely electric, FCA will continue building the old internal-combustion 500 for an undetermined amount of time. Frankly, it would be silly of them not to.

We previously asked FCA about the likelihood of the new EV making its way to North America and whether or not the Fiat brand would keep the current 500e on offer. The response we received was that the next-gen 500 was an “Europe/Geneva announcement” and that the company “[isn’t] commenting on future U.S. PHEV products or timing.”

While the PHEV reference threw us for a bit of a loop, especially since the announcement seems to stipulate that the next 500 will be purely electric, it may not matter much. FCA doesn’t appear to be over-eager to promise North America anything — understandable, given Fiat’s regional market share.

Ah well, it probably wasn’t the car for us anyway. But we bet youngsters might be keen on the Centoventi if the manufacturer kept its price to an absolute minimum. Of course we’ve now diverged into wishful thinking about a model that doesn’t even exist yet from a manufacturer with an uncertain future.

[Images: FCA]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

More by Matt Posky

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 33 comments
  • MoDo MoDo on Mar 22, 2019

    I have an Abarth I bought new off the showroom floor 3 years ago. Only has 37K on it, I don't owe much on it either. Its time for something new but I know once I sell this thing I am going to miss it and I doubt Fiat is long for this world in north america. The Abarth as it is - is probably not long for this world. I'd like to keep it for a weekend / summer fun car but have nowhere to put it at the moment with only one parking spot.

  • Blackcloud_9 Blackcloud_9 on Mar 22, 2019

    Won't be too much of a change around where I live in SoCal. Easily 75-80% of the 500s I see around here are the 500e variant.

  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
Next