Simply Magical

The underlying objective of the 3+1 design was to deliver the same unmistakable style as the cabrio and hatchback versions, but with unparalleled accessibility. With the addition of a small rear door on the passenger side, this unique design gives easier access to the back seat area for passengers, for parents putting children into their car seats, or for loading and unloading shopping or luggage.

This “magic” rear-hinged door opens to a nearly 90-degree angle only when the front door is open, ensuring the utmost safety for passengers in the back seat. A tribute to the rear-hinged doors of the first 500, it has been reinterpreted to meet the evolving needs of customers. In fact, the entire New 500 range is the result of a perfect dialogue between past and future.

Designed to Be Electric

In all its versions — cabrio, hatchback and 3+1 — Fiat’s first full-electric vehicle is the embodiment of Italian style, a compelling blend of tradition and innovation, of craftsmanship and advanced technology.

The rounded “eyes” of the car’s “face” serve as a counterpoint to the clean, modern lines of its body, lending the 500 its strong, solid character. Inside, this interplay continues with the circular instrument panel and two-spoke steering wheel, while the interior space has been completely redesigned to be roomier and more comfortable as have the technological components and range of services available on the New 500.

Fiat’s challenge was not only to “convert” as many customers as possible to electric vehicles, but also to make zero-emission driving so simple, enjoyable and beautiful that they would have no reason to go back to traditional propulsion. This is why the entire car was redesigned around the powertrain.

Although the New 500 has maintained the aesthetic identity of previous generations, everything beneath the surface is new. The car was designed from scratch to be electric. One example is the choice to position a single battery pack in the underbody between the axles. This has the dual benefit of maintaining the car’s cabin size and cargo space, while optimizing the dynamic response of this full-electric vehicle, which is currently the best in its category.

The result is an agile car that is fun to drive, quiet, comfortable…and always connected. Suited to city driving and as easy to use as a smartphone, this compact car has the range of a larger electric car and Level 2 automation — the first in its segment. And all of this with zero emissions.

The New 500 is available in three trim levels — ACTION (entry-level), PASSION (mid-range) and ICON (high-end) — each with a specific mission and featuring best-in-class technology, connectivity and safety.

Augmented reality was used to design ergonomic workstations for workers, who are also guided throughout the assembly process by monitors that enable interaction with equipment and help ensure product quality. All areas, including those which are highly automated, have also been designed to provide maximum flexibility in production.

With the production of the New 500, Mirafiori has also implemented a greener painting process, including the use of water-based paints that give a unique iridescent effect to the color while being eco-friendly. Other innovations include new spaces dedicated to logistics and the installation of solar power production units which will generate renewable energy to charge the vehicles produced on site as well as further contributing to the plant achieving energy self-sufficiency. The arrival of the New 500 has also brought other changes related to electrification, such as the innovative Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) pilot project and the Battery Hub assembly center.

The Mirafiori complex consists of two million square meters of surface area, nearly 12 kilometers of underground roads and more than 20 kilometers of transport systems. The complex is part of the Turin Manufacturing Hub, FCA’s largest manufacturing hub globally and one of the largest in the automotive sector in Europe. It is the workplace for some 20,000 people, including production workers, engineers, designers, as well as people working in sales, financial services, and parts, distributed across the Motor Village, the FCA Design Center, the head offices of Abarth, and the Heritage Hub.