A spy shot of the 2021 Fiat 500e

Fiat's 500 minicar will undergo a major makeover in the coming weeks.

A new generation of battery-powered 500e, based on a dedicated EV platform, will be introduced alongside the current gasoline model, with the latter expected to receive styling updates to match the electric version.

A heavily camouflaged prototype of the new 500e was spotted by spy photographers.

The new 500e is not a compliance car, but a global model that Fiat expects to sell up to 80,000 units annually, possibly in multiple body styles. A prototype has been spotted testing in the U.S., but it is not clear if the new 500e will be sold there. The gas-powered 500 has been discontinued here after 2019.

We know this is a 500e because of the absence of an exhaust pipe, a lightning bolt safety sticker on the windshield, and a makeshift cap that seems to conceal a charging port in the location of the fuel filler.

Fiat announced last summer that it would spend 700 million euros (about $787 million) to upgrade its Mirafiori plant in Italy to support production of the new 500e and future electric models.

Range has not been disclosed, but Fiat is expected to offer buyers a choice of battery sizes; Fiat's concept Centoventi, unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, is Fiat's dedicated EV platform preview, and is said to have a range of 62 miles to a maximum of 310 miles.

Production of the 500e is expected to begin in June. If sold domestically, the electric hatch will likely appear as a 2021 model.