The New 500 has received another award in the United Kingdom, this time being named “Convertible of the Year” and “Best Small electric car for the city” by What Car? magazine in its “Car of the Year 2021” awards. The jury praised the New 500’s handling, driving style, range, price and refreshed interiors, conferring on it their “Convertible of the Year” award. It is also the first electric car to be named as such in the magazine’s history.
The New 500 is FCA’s first full-electric model and boasts numerous top-of-the-range features. For instance, the 42-kW battery guarantees extended range, up to 320 km in the WLTP cycle, increasing to 450 km in the urban cycle, and comes with an 85-kW battery charger as standard in both the Passion and Icon versions. It only takes 5 minutes to charge it up to drive 50 kilometers, more than necessary for average daily use. The fast charger can also charge the battery to 80% in just 35 minutes. In terms of performance, the batteries are combined with an 87-kW (118-hp) electric motor, delivering an automatically limited maximum speed of 150 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.1 seconds.
The New 500 also comes with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), making it easier, safer, simpler and more fun to drive, as well as being the first car in its segment equipped with level 2 autonomous driving.
Luca Napolitano, Head of EMEA Fiat, Lancia & Abarth Brands, commented: “We are thrilled with this further acknowledgment for the New 500, only a few months since it was unveiled to the press. In only two months since launch, we have already sold over 10,000 New 500 units in Europe, becoming number 1 in the Italian electric vehicle market in December.”
Steve Huntingford, Editor of “What Car?”, said: “The New 500 is the first electric car to receive the “Convertible of the Year” award. If any car had ever been created to be driven in the city, it’s definitely the Fiat 500. Its shorter length than its competitors, ultra-light steering and wide front visibility make the New 500 the most agile car for all maneuvers in city centers. And its range, an improvement on its competitors, is also suitable for any out-of-town journey.”
The award bestowed by What Car? magazine adds to the trophy haul of the New 500, which already includes “Green Car” at the French Automobile Awards 2020 and “Car of the Year and Best Small Electric Car” from DrivingElectric, a specialist UK website. On top of these prestigious international acknowledgments, it has also received the “Best Design 2020” award from the German magazine “Auto Motor und Sport” and “Best Design Concept” at the renowned international “Red Dot Design Awards”.
Provided by Fiat South Africa
