The new, adorable and achingly fashionable
Fiat 500 has already been revealed since the start of the month, so why is this
development prototype still wearing lots of
camouflage?
Well, the car that was unveiled was a
convertible model (or, to put it more accurately, a regular 500 with a
full-length fabric sunroof that incorporates the rear windscreen), whereas this
is a hardtop hatchback. That much is clear when you notice the roof antenna,
spoiler, large glass rear screen and rear wiper – items that would’ve been in
the way of the convertible’s folding roof mechanism.
There’s also a bulge at the leading edge
of the roof, which is probably hiding a glass sunroof. Beyond that, the car
should retain the 500’s cheeky looks, including the split LED headlights, large
smiley lower grille, chrome shoulder strip, recessed door handles and vertical
tail lights. The interior with its oval-shaped dashboard, full-width air vents
and freestanding centre display should also remain the same.
The mule also sports a “Rumours will be
the only noise” sticker, hinting of the car’s electric nature – the hardtop
will almost certainly get the convertible’s 118 hp front-mounted motor and 48
kWh battery, giving the cabrio a 320 km range. The lack of a folding sunroof
means that the hardtop should be usefully lighter, which would boost range still
further. The new 500 will be sold alongside the outgoing petrol and hybrid
models.
