Stellantis has been quiet about the next-generation Fiat 500e since its debut at the LA Auto Show in 2022. According to a new report from CarsDirect, its alleged starting price in the U.S. makes it more expensive than its direct competitors. With a reported starting price of $32,500 (excluding destination), the second-gen Fiat 500e could be more expensive than both the Nissan Leaf ($29,225) and the Chevy Bolt ($27,495). However, the current Chevy Bolt will be leaving us soon, the Leaf is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the Fiat’s pricing is still speculative at this point.
“We have not announced pricing. We will provide more details at a later date,” Stellantis told The Drive in a statement.
In Europe, the Fiat 500e comes with a front-mounted electric motor with 117 horsepower, which gets its juice from a 32.3 kWh battery. It also gets 199 miles of range but Euro range estimates often differ from the U.S. EPA’s, so there’s no guarantee that our version will have the same range. If so, the new little Italian will have a range bump of more than 100 miles, versus its predecessor, which had an 84-mile EPA-rated range. CarsDirect also claims that the 500e will come standard with 17-inch wheels, 205/45R17 tires, cloth seats, and Stellantis’ 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 system.
What’s also unclear is where the U.S. market Fiat 500es will be built, which will determine whether the car is eligible for federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. If it’s built at one of Stellantis’ North American plants, it could be eligible for hefty tax breaks for customers, which would bring its final purchase price down well under $30,000. If the 500e can’t get tax credits, it might be seen as a bit too pricey, given cars like the Bolt have longer ranges for less money. Italian cuteness only goes so far.
There’s no word on when Stellantis will reveal the full specs and cost of the Fiat 500e but it’s been over a year since the car was first revealed to the U.S. market, so we’re anxiously waiting.
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