The new Fiat 600 marks the return of the Italian brand to the B segment. Suv bodywork, the model will initially be available in an electric version and in the “La Prima” and “(Red)” trim levels. Prices from 35,950 euros (turnkey)
– Turin
There are all the pretexts to define it as a “nostalgia operation”: presentation at the Lingotto in Turin (the large and futuristic factory that preceded the Mirafiori complex), 4 July (the day that since 1957, when the 500 was presented, marks the debut of the new models), the denomination “600”. By rearranging the space-time organized by the words we therefore have the following story: on 4 July 2023 it was presented to the public at the Lingotto in Turin the new Fiat 600. Judgment of the Italian automotive industry can be harsh but it certainly cannot be reproached for not paying attention to the details of its past. The past that has already returned in 2007, when the current 500 somehow highlighted how powerful the impact is among Italian motorists (and not only) of the idea of a nostalgia operation. And after 16 years, the contemporary Fiat 500 is still among the best-selling and most appreciated cars. The past that returns on a sultry summer evening on the terrace of the Lingotto (which today houses a hotel, a museum, a shopping center and one of the headquarters of the Polytechnic) when it reproposes a denomination born for a 1955 car. The new Fiat 600 however, it has a strong emotional charge only in the name because for everything else it is the result of a broad, articulated and transnational sharing of intentions and projects. It will be electric (but a hybrid version will also arrive in 2024), will be an SUV, will it belong to the B segment. Can it also become the protagonist of a new revolution on wheels or even the icon of Italy that moves on electricity? Only time will be able to give an answer. Anyway: welcome, Fiat 600.
Fiat 600: how it is made
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The Fiat 600 will attack the B segment, one of the most popular and competitive in all of Europe. The length is 4.17 meters, sufficient to allow good habitability for five passengers. The tone of the launch initiative revolves around that concept of “Dolce vita” which has been in use for quite some time now, reused and reinterpreted according to need. The fortune of 600 was also built around his image. An image that could somehow restore lightness, light-heartedness and good humour, chasing the habit of drawing a “Dolce Vita” outline around the period of the economic boom. How “sweet” life was in Italy in the 1950s and 1960s is relative, how much the first Fiat 600 turned Italian life upside down is absolute. Much of the work was done on the external surfaces: round, soft, comfortable, familiarizing. The most recent Fiat stylistic course for electric cars has been updated, even enlarged for some details. Like the front grille and the light clusters; there are elements in contrasting black and others in brilliant chrome. The dimensions very far from those of a super-utility car then allow a wider freedom of expression. On the road it should certainly not go unnoticed.
Fiat 600: the interior
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The passenger compartment receives the technological and digital additions expected of a latest generation car. Especially if it’s electric. The first sense to be satisfied is sight: large surfaces, bright colours, simple style but full of details. Welcoming, also due to the use of soft materials that are pleasant to the touch (satisfied second sense). The seats are upholstered in synthetic leather and, at least on this specific set-up, integrate a massaging function to brighten up the hours spent on board. Not only that: the Fiat 600 should be the first “compact” car to offer a “color therapy” function. In fact, the driver can select from 8 colors which will light up the interior with intensities designed to give a sensation of visual well-being. As for on-board entertainment, the 10.25″ screen is compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto while the instrument panel is also digital but on a 7″ screen.
Fiat 600: engine and range
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Technically the car is built on the basis of the Stla Small platform. The same as the recent Jeep Avenger, so to speak. And it has a lot in common with the “cousin” of the American brand. The lithium-ion battery is 54 kWh and should allow you to travel 400 km, according to the approval cycle, on a single charge. The support for recharging is instead between 11 kW in alternating current and 100 kW in direct current. The engine is 115 kW (156 HP) and the performance speaks of 100 km/h from standstill in 9.0 seconds. There are three driving modes that can be selected by the driver: Eco, Normal and Sport. If the Jeep Avenger is also available in a version with a combustion engine (1.2 liter petrol), the arrival of an equal power supply for 600 has not yet been confirmed. At the time of the debut there are only two versions available: “La Prima” and “(Red)” both at the top of the offer for content. The car, produced in Poland, can be ordered from 5 July 2023. The turnkey list price of the Red version is 35,950 euros (turnkey, which become 29,950 euros thanks to promotions and state incentives in the event of scrapping), while for the top of the range Fiat 600e La Prima the price list is 40,950 euros.
Fiat 600: Driver assistance systems
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The Fiat 600 can be equipped with latest generation driver assistance systems which allow it to obtain homologation for the second level of autonomous driving. There is, for example, the adaptive cruise control which allows the car, once a cruising speed has been set, to maintain it by accelerating and braking according to traffic conditions. Other assistance systems present on the vehicle are the blind spot sensor, automatic emergency braking with recognition of pedestrians and cyclists and driver fatigue monitoring. Also available is a rear view camera system which, working in concert with the sensors surrounding the vehicle, ensures maximum precision when maneuvering and parking.
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