Fiat 600 Revealed In Hybrid And Electric Forms

• Successor to the Fiat 500L
• Available in hybrid and electric variants with up to 154 horsepower
• Shares underpinnings with Jeep Avenger

Meet the all-new Fiat 600e, the crossover-esque replacement for the Fiat 500L and the second model in Fiat's all-new electric model offensive after the new 500e was announced as an American-bound minicar. But unlike the 500e, the 600 will also be available in hybrid form for markets in which full electrification is not fully viable.

Based on the Stellantis CMP platform, shared with the Jeep Avenger and upcoming Alfa Romeo Project Kid crossover, the 600 revives a classic name from the Fiat back catalog for the modern era.

Powering the electric Fiat 600e is a single-motor powertrain with 154 hp on tap, resulting in a nine-second 0-62 mph sprint and a 249-mile driving range on the WLTP cycle. The battery is a relatively low-capacity 54kWh pack, which features 100kW fast-charge capabilities that replenish 80% of charge in under half an hour. The hybrid 600 is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system generating 99 hp, supplemented by a 28-hp electric motor in the dual-clutch transmission. 0-62 mph takes 11 seconds, and the hybrid system can only propel the 600 for 1.6 miles on electricity alone.

Visually, the Fiat 600 is unmistakable in its relation to the 500, with quirky bug-eyed design elements instantly recognizable. Fiat hasn't exactly hidden the 600 from us for the last few months, revealing the electric version and, before that, even dunking the car and the company CEO in a vat of orange paint as it boldly proclaimed it wouldn't paint another car grey ever again. Larger in size than the 500 at 164 inches long, the Fiat 600 boasts a sharper take on the 500's styling, using LED lighting elements to great effect, along with a new typeface for the 600 badging on the nose and side sills. Alloy wheels are available in sizes up to 18 inches.

Inside, the 500 theme is retained, with a rounded dash housing full-width vents, a seven-inch digital instrument binnacle, ambient lighting, and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen running Uconnect software with full smartphone integration.

The five-door hatch seats five occupants, and Fiat boasts about the 0.5 cubic feet of interior storage and 13.6 ft³ of trunk space behind the 40/60-split folding second-row seats. The upholstery is all synthetic leather, with the default color scheme being Ivory with turquoise stitching and accents. The driver also benefits from heating and massage functions.

A great focus has been placed on technology, with the 600 featuring Level 2 assisted driving technologies like adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking. Park sensors and a panoramic rearview camera are also included.

Pricing for the Fiat 600 starts at the equivalent of $21,300 at current exchange rates for the hybrid model, with the 600e's price starting at the equivalent of $39,000. However, it remains unlikely the 600 will make its way stateside, as Fiat has committed to being a one-model brand in the US when it brings back the 500.