Super mini with max appeal
BELLISSIMO! In these dark and difficult times, it’s wonderful to drive a car that instantly puts a big smile on your face. The new all-electric Fiat 500 does just that. The order books are open, with the first UK deliveries of this all-new fourseater supermini expected next March, but I’ve driven an early cabriolet model on British roads with its top down despite the weak winter sun.
And what a stir it caused, with people stopping to ask when they could buy one.
This is the third incarnation of the 500 — the Cinquecento. Italy’s original mini was born in 1957 and reborn 50 years later as the 500 — proving such a success it’s credited with saving the company. Now it enters its third age as an all-electric range.
There are two launch models — hatchback and cabriolet. A third, the 3-plus-1, with one rear door, will follow.
A new platform, larger than the outgoing model, enables a roomier interior. I drove the top - of- the - range, wellequipped Icon cabriolet costing from just under £28,000 after deducting the Government’s £3,000 plug-in grant.
It is topped only by a launch special edition, La Prima, costing £29,995 as a cabriolet (after the grant).
It’s exceptionally nifty around town with a tight turning circle. It has great out-ofthe-blocks acceleration and it flies along wonderfully on open roads and country lanes.
You can have the roof open with the rear windscreen still in place, or the entire roof open, but with less rear visibility.
The entry-level Action from £19,995 for the hatchback only has a less powerful 24kWh battery capacity and 70kW motor. The mid-range Passion is from £23,495 for the hatchback and £ 26,145 for the cabriolet. while the Icon is from £24,995 for the hatchback and from £27,645 for the cabriolet.
Passion and Icon share a more powerful 42k Wh battery and an 87 kW, 118 hp electric motor that takes you from rest to 31 mph in 3.1 seconds and 62 mph in 9 seconds up to 93 mph. Its average range is 199 miles and 285 miles if only for urban driving.