Fiat is remaking the iconic 500 minicar into an EV

Fiat's iconic 500 model moves into its third generation as a battery car.

The updated minicar was unveiled Wednesday at an event in Milan, Italy, and production will begin later this year at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Mirafiori plant near Turin. Deliveries to Europe will begin in early 2021, and whether the car will be sold in the U.S. is unclear at this time. The previous generation stopped selling in the U.S. at the end of 2019.

The new 500 may resemble its predecessor, but it is built on a new platform with a larger footprint. The new model is 2.4 inches longer and 2.4 inches wider than the old model. The wheelbase has also been increased by 0.8 inches. Only the convertible's roof has been shown so far.

A 42 kWh lithium-ion battery is floor-mounted, providing a range of about 199 miles on the more moderate WLTP cycle used outside the United States. According to Fiat, the battery is rated at 85 kilowatt-hours per charge and can be charged to 80 percent in about 35 minutes.

Fiat does not disclose the power output of the new 500, but claims it accelerates from 0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds. In urban driving conditions, where this car is best suited, owners can expect to accelerate from 0-31 mph in 3.1 seconds.

The drive mode selector allows you to change the car's performance. There are three modes, Normal, Range, and Sherpa, with Range mode increasing regenerative braking for single pedal driving and Sherpa mode limiting top speed to 50 miles per hour and turning off the air conditioning to maximize the car's fuel economy.

The interior looks much cleaner than before, helped by the fact that the transmission and exhaust pipes are no longer necessary. For example, the new 500 boasts a spacious dashboard, with a compartment underneath where the previous generation's gear lever was usually located. The instrument panel features a 7.0-inch display, while a 10.25-inch touchscreen display in the center of the dashboard serves as the infotainment center.

Fiat has also equipped the car with electronic driver assistance systems. These include adaptive cruise control with lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, blind spot warning, and front and rear parking sensors.

Pricing for the car will be announced closer to the start of sales, but it is already known that a special launch version called La Prima will cost just over $37,000.