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2024 Fiat 500e U.S. specs and pricing revealed

After announcing it would bring the electric 500e to the U.S., Fiat has finally revealed pricing and specifications for the American version. It's not quite the value proposition as it is in Europe, but it will still deliver superb styling with some advantages in range and weight over current competitors. As far as design and performance, the American 500e is effectively identical to the European version. It has the same single front motor making 118 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque paired with a 42-kWh battery pack. Range is lower than for Europe, but this is certainly a result of the EPA testing procedure. As such it returns 149 miles on a charge, which is identical to the base Leaf S. It's also better by 35 miles than the current Mini Cooper SE. The Fiat also boasts faster 85-kW DC charging than the Nissan and Mini, and unlike the Nissan, the Fiat has liquid-cooled batteries (which helps keep range and charging more consistent and is good for battery longevity). Fiat claims the 500e will charge to 80% in 35 minutes. Suspension uses MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam setup for the rear. Braking duty is split between front discs and rear drums. At just 2,952 pounds, close to 200 pounds less than the Mini and more than 500 pounds less than the Nissan. Only one version of the Fiat will be available at launch, the 500e RED, which is a special edition collaboration with the RED charity that raises money to combat AIDS. So a portion of the purchase goes to that program, like all RED products. It's also, naturally, only available in a bright red paint scheme with matching interior accents. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment screen, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, manually adjustable seats, automatic climate control, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. A level 2 home charger or public charger credits are included, too, all at the 500e RED's base price of $34,095 (including $1,595 destination charge). That makes it a little more than $2,000 more expensive than the base Mini Cooper SE and more than $4,000 more expensive than the Nissan Leaf S. It goes on sale in the first quarter of next year. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

FCA to pay buyers $1,700 to swap out of scandal-mired VWs

FCA is trying to gain some sales from arch-rival VW in the competitive European market by offering potential buyers in Italy up to $1,700 to swap into an FCA group car. While the promotion isn't specifically targeted at TDI owners affected by the emissions scandal, it is clearly intended to turn dissatisfaction with VW's defeat device cheat into additional sales, Bloomberg reports. The 500-1,500 euro incentive (roughly $560-1,700, depending on vehicle) stacks on top of any other rebates or deals applicable, and applies if a buyer brings in any of Volkswagen Group's cars – including Audi, Skoda, and SEAT, among (many) others. As Bloomberg notes, it's normal for automakers to offer "conquest" deals – giving a buyer cash for trading in a competitor's vehicle. Those deals aren't usually limited to one company's products, however; FCA's program looks specifically to take advantage of VW's legal and public relations nightmare. FCA isn't the only automaker trying this trick in Italy. Automotive News Europe also reported that Ford is offering approximately $840 in incentives across its entire range to owners of VW vehicles seeking to trade in for a Ford. No word of yet as to whether these incentives will spread beyond Italy or to other automakers.Related Video:

Mazda and Fiat finalize deal for Alfa roadster, next-gen MX-5 Miata

Although a little bit later than expected, Mazda and Fiat have signed a final agreement that will bring a next-generation MX-5 Miata to the Japanese automaker and a new roadster to Alfa Romeo. When the proposed arrangement was announced back in May, the two automakers had hoped to seal the deal last year, but it doesn't appear that the production timeline for these cars has slipped any, with both expected to start rolling off assembly lines in 2015.
Other than a shared chassis with a rear-wheel-drive layout, it sounds like the two cars are still planned to be distinct in their own ways from their styling right down to their engines. Mazda will produce both cars at a plant in Hiroshima, Japan, but it isn't clear what role each automaker will play in the cars' developmental process. The big question, of course, is what clever portmanteau name we can come up with, like Toyobaru. Mazda Romeo is the easy choice, but Alfazda might roll off the tongue a little better.
Scroll down for a brief press release from both automakers.