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The Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) Group has launched its first fully electric car with the third and latest generation of its bestselling Fiat 500.
To showcase Italian innovation and promote the Fiat 500, three other iconic Italian companies – Giorgio Armani, Bvlgari and Kartell each created unique one-off versions of the city coupe, which were auctioned off for charity.
The 500 Giorgio Armani, the B.500 ‘Mai Troppo’ (Italian for “never too much”) by Bvlgari and the 500 Kartell were created with natural, recycled and regenerated materials to bring together iconic Italian brands with FCA’s best-selling car globally.
Using laser technology, Armani shaped the metal covering of the car’s bodywork with exclusive micro-chevron engraving, bringing it as close as possible to the texture of fabric. In addition, the “GA” logo is engraved on the wheel and is featured on the fabric of the convertible’s soft top.
Bvlgari’s B.500 features a golden pearlescent paint, inspired by panchromatic Roman sunsets, emphasising the car’s bejewelled status in Italian automotive lore. The interiors showcases a dashboard fascia with heritage Bvlgari silk scarves used for upholstery. At the centre of the steering wheel, is a removable brooch set with amethyst, topaz and citrine, made by Bvlgari’s master goldsmiths.
Kartell, which has become growingly invested in sustainable plastics, showcases some of its recycled polycarbonate fibres, 100 per cent recycled polypropylene and polyester in the 500 Kartell.
The Fiat 500 is the first in its segment to offer level two autonomous driving with intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centring, Intelligent Speed Assist, Attention Assist, 360-degree sensors and Urban Blind Spot.
With the new 500, FCA is taking its first steps to compete with electric-car industry pioneer Tesla by offering a car class that the current Tesla S3XY line-up does not service.
The iconic Fiat 500 has a range of 320km utilising its 42kWh lithium ion batteries. To optimise charging time, the new 500 is equipped with an 85kW fast charge system. With five minutes of charging, the 500 can travel almost 50km and within 35 minutes, the battery can be fast-charged to 80 per cent.
The built-in Combo 2 socket has the ability to accept both AC and DC charging. The 500 comes with several home charging solutions - the easyWallbox, a home charging system that can be connected to a regular power outlet and deliver 3kW – 7.4kW of charging power, without the need for professional installation. This “plug-and-charge” solution can be managed and monitored via Bluetooth.
The new coupe also comes with a Mode3 cable for charging at up to 11kW from a public charge point.
Three driving modes- Normal, Range and Sherpa, adapt the 500 to your driving needs. The Sherpa mode optimises the car’s power consumption to maximise range. Maximum speed is limited to 80kmph and the climate control and heated seats are deactivated.
The Normal mode simulates the normal combustion engine driving experience as much as possible, while the Range mode, with daily use and a little experience, allows the car to be driven with the accelerator pedal alone.
The 500 is also the first car to feature the new UConnect 5 infotainment system, which offers seamless integration with smartphones, a built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot and smart car service alerts on 10.25-inch high definition horizontal touchscreen.
The interior has been furnished by Centrole Stile, highlighting simplicity and trim aesthetic with a wide dashboard and modular storage solutions in place of the previous model’s gear levers. Leg and shoulder room has been expanded.
The exterior of the 500 is quite similar to the second generation, with crisper lines and a front bumper inspired by the 1957 version. The car is 6cm longer and 6cm wider with a slightly extended wheelbase.
The Fiat 500 comes with a dedicated 500 logo, appearing at the centre of the front badge for the first time, in place of the Fiat logo. This generational upgrade also highlights the new Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS). The warning system, which operates at speeds up to 12mph, warns pedestrians by playing Amarcord by Nino Rota.
The new car was launched with the “La Prima” limited edition in three colours – Mineral Grey, Ocean Green and Celestial Blue. The “La Prima” full option convertible is the first of its electric kind, and comes with eco-leather seats and dashboard. Its approximate retail price is £29,000 (approximately BD14,000).
