In this The Late Brake Show Jonny gets a detailed first drive review of the new 2021 Fiat 500e EV. This completely new version of the retro-styled icon that was reborn in 2007 (the original 'bambino' 500 launched 50 years earlier in 1957) is only going to be sold as an electric car, but the existing piston cars will continue to be sold.

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Why is Jonny dressed like a try-hard hipster Peaky Blinder? Because the international launch in Italy was cancelled, and instead the logical (to Jonny) fallback was to drive around what was the 'Italian Quarter' of Birmingham city. Birmingham being the home of the Peaky Blinder gangs (and hit TV series), where Thomas Shelby's Italian gang rivals were the Changretta family. There is still a lot of Italian families in Birmingham, but we couldn't talk to those, or find any ice cream cafes open. Who needs Turin, hey?

The Cinqecento's styling is more frowny than the smily happy 2007 car, and made back in Turin, Italy as opposed to Poland. The new car is unmistakeably a 500, but 61mm longer, 56mm wider, a 22mm longer wheelbase and - a first for the 500 - 17" alloy wheels. More room inside? So they say. No Fiat badges on the front - just the art deco '500' type face.

Who are the new 500e's electric rivals? The 160-mile 36.8kWh Seat Mii (the VW e-Up! and Skoda Citigo-IV seem to not be on sale any longer), the 145 mile 32.6kWh Mini-e and the 137 mile 35.5kWh Honda-e. Seat is the cheapest, while

The only EV Fiat 500 prior to this was sold from 2013 in a few American states (like California and Oregon) and had an 83kw motor with 87-ish mile range. They were also as orange as Mr Trump nee POTUS.

The 2021 500e features two battery sizes: the 23.7kWh CITY or the 42kWh LONG range, which can cover 115 miles (185km) and 199 miles (320km) respectively. Prices start from £19,995 (including the UK government £3k grant) and top out around £27,000 for a high spec convertible.

All 500e models feature a watercooled FWD motor, an 11kW onboard charger and Fiat's battery partner is Samsung for the lithium-ion cells. The Long Range cars have 87kw / 220nm / 117hp while the CITY cars make do with a 70kw motor.

CHARGE TIMES:
City spec - 2hr 30 on 11kw charger, 30 mins DC rapid (80%)
Long Range - 4hr 15 on 11kw charger, 35 mins DC rapid (80%)

Besides the funky, predominantly familiar exterior, the interior features optional colour coded dash, steering wheel and also Seaqual seats, made from 20% recycled polyester yarns and sea-caught plastic refuse.

4 trim levels are available:
ACTION: Entry level, 15" wheels, 50kw DC charging, 70kw motor
PASSION: Apple Carplay/Android Auto, 85kw DC, 42kWh batt and 87kWh motor
ICON: 16" wheels, premium seats, 10.25" nav screen, rain sensors
La Prima: LED headlights, 17" wheels, Pano roof, 360 parking sensors, ACC, rear speakers, rear camera, auto dip lights, blind spot warning, wireless phone charging

All 500e Fiats come with a 3 year warranty and 8-year battery warranty.

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Filmed by: Michael Rock-Perring (Insta @michaelrockperring)
Edited by: @Inksharkman - InkShark Studio
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant Design https://matttarrantdesign.com

Jonny is wearing
Coat: Hugo Boss
Cap: https://twistedtweed.co.uk/
Wristwatch: https://grdwatch.com/

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Jonny Smith aka CarPervert
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: http://www.carpervert.comInstagram:   / jonnycarpervert   Twitter:   / carpervert  


CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:25 Peaky Blinder?
1:10 Made in Italy again, not Poland
2:10 2013 500e was California only
2:38 DIMENSIONS
2:52 EXTERIOR design
3:55 PERFORMANCE/POWER STATS
4:30 BATTERY STATS (Samsung)
4:50 RANGE & CHARGE STATS
6:30 Convertible roof
7:05 INTERIOR design
8:00 3 x DRIVE MODES
9:52 4 x TRIM LEVELS
10:12 Level 2 autonomy
10:39 RANGE Vs RIVALS
11:12 PRICE Vs RIVALS
12:17 Mini e rival?
12:26 Honda e rival?
12:35 CHARGING TIMES
13:07 BOOT SPACE Vs RIVALS
14:19 Recycled sea plastic seats
15:25 Driving impressions
16:50 VERDICT
18:36 Social media

#newfiat500 #fiat500e #2021fiat500ev #thelatebrakeshow #peakyblinders