Stellantis is set to bring out two new hatchbacks this year, courtesy of its Fiat and Abarth marques.
The two models in question are the Fiat and Abarth 500e, which are nearly identical to the evergreen Fiat 500 with one key distinction – an electric powertrain.
What to expect
The 500e units were initially expected to launch in the second half of 2024, though this has evidently yet to occur.
TopAuto reached out to Stellantis South Africa to ask for an update on when the two hatchbacks are now scheduled to appear, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
However, considering that the company has made good on its promise to release all of the other cars it has promised thus far, it’s fair to assume the electric cars are still in the pipeline and have merely been quietly delayed – a not uncommon practice in the industry.
As mentioned, the 500e is an electric version of the Fiat 500 hatchback, which should become one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa when it makes its debut, relatively speaking.
While its pricing will only be revealed at launch, the Fiat’s size and specs suggest that it should be a competitor to something like the BYD Dolphin or GWM Ora, putting its theoretical sticker somewhere between R539,900 and R686,950.
On that note, the Italian car is motivated by a front-mounted electric motor, which produces 70kW and 200Nm.
There’s also a slightly more powerful version of this motor with access to 87kW, though it ends with the same torque stat.
There are two battery options to choose from, with the first being a 24kWh cell good for 190km, while the other is a larger 42kWh block with 320km on tap.
As for its design, the general look of the car is identical to the petrol-powered model we’re all familiar with by now, with the notable exception of the grille, which is closed off similar to the appearance seen on many other EVs.
The interior also has several nice-to-haves that will appeal to the modern buyer, such as two-tone leather upholstery, a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a floating 10.25-inch infotainment, a 7-inch digital driver display housed in a circular portal, and a minimalist dashboard that keeps a handful of physical buttons for things like the climate control.
The other incoming model is the Abarth 500e, which is a hot hatch take on the same car.
Abarth has already done something similar with the regular Fiat 500, and the 500e is no different with a much more potent e-motor that pumps out 113kW and 245Nm.
This is enough to let the two-door hatch soar from 0 to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds before capping out at 155km/h.
It also comes standard with the larger 42kWh battery, ensuring that motorists won’t run out of juice after just a few spirited laps around a track.
The look of the exterior is mostly the same, save for Abarth’s signature scorpion logo and decals, but the interior is treated to a few sporty additions.
This includes a pair of front Sports seats, blue-and-yellow upholstery accents, and a three-spoke Sport steering wheel with a blue 12 o’clock market.
Abarth 500e
Fiat 500e
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