At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Fiat CEO and Stellantis CMO Global Olivier Francois made an official announcement about bringing the Fiat 500e all-electric to North America. The new 500e, FIAT's flagship electric vehicle, will hit the US market in the first quarter of 2024, marking the automaker's first foray into the North American market.
According to Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat and CMO Global of Stellantis, "since 1899, Fiat has played its role in the development of mobility, and it has done so not just by supplying vehicles to the masses but also by following a social mission, riding the wave of "what's next." Customers aren't only shopping for a car anymore; we want to accommodate their varying requirements. The new Fiat 500e is more than just an electric car; it's a societal endeavor that will accelerate the shift toward sustainable mobility in the United States. It's the right thing to do, and we want to accomplish it by introducing electric vehicles to American households with our iconic Fiat 500. From a business perspective, we need to forge new ground, and it will be an honor for our new Fiat 500 to play a role in pioneering that shift. When we say, "We're going to take you into the future of mobility again," we're making a promise to you, the client, on a human level.
There has been a recent shift toward eco-friendly transportation in the vehicle sector. With the classic Fiat 500e, Fiat is ideally positioned to introduce many Americans to electric vehicles in the United States. The new 500e is indeed the ultimate fashion accessory; it is seductively hip, diminutive, and Italian. The only way it will be sold in North America is as an electric model, so buyers who want it have no choice but to make the switch.
The move toward increased electrification is about more than simply technology; it also requires a reimagining of the customer experience, considering the various requirements of both people and the planet.
During the press conference, FIAT North America head Olivier Francois detailed the company's future ambitions. It revealed that the 2024 Fiat 500e electric car would make its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2023. We anticipate having the first units available in the first quarter of 2024.
All eyes will be on him and the three limited editions signed by Armani, Kartell, and Bvlgari that he will carry on stage during the conference. In line with FIAT's goal of being environmentally friendly, the three different models show the three different styles of the new 500e: ecologically friendly fashion, design, and luxury.
Giorgio Armani, the undisputed king of Italian elegance worldwide, was the only one who could have interpreted the style. The designer has reimagined the electric Fiat 500 as the Fiat 500 Armani to promote classic tailoring and environmental responsibility. The plan was to use laser technology to carve a unique micro-chevron pattern into the metal. This would make the metal look woven and give it a two-tone look without using harmful paints.
The "silk look" color designed by Armani, a grayish green, only helps to improve the final product. In addition, the exterior matte paint is a cutting-edge eco-friendly solution, with a transparent top coat activated by UV light to cut down on airborne pollutants and bacteria.
The amber-colored crystals make the whole thing elegant and classy, while the "GA" emblem boldly characterizes the design of the circles and individualizes the soft top fabric.
Gray, full-grain natural leather seats plated with micro chevron wool and accented with features borrowed from Poltrona Frau's artisanal leather goods maintain the same muted elegance as the exteriors.
The smooth and sculptural dashboard insert, inspired by the beauty and modernity of the Armani Casa line, is made of reconstituted wood with open pores and thin aluminum wires inlaid into it.
The one-of-a-kind Fiat 500 Kartell was made by the famous Italian industrial design company Kartell. It was inspired by creativity and innovation. Kartell has been working hard to find and develop more environmentally friendly plastics in recent years.
The new Fiat 500 by Kartell is made of the perfect mix of materials that work well together to make a real piece of modern design.
For the outside, Kartell took inspiration from Yves Klein's signature blue to create their version of the color, which they called "Kartell blue," which they used across all of their products. Sandblasted polycarbonate gives the bodywork surfaces a sense of material and depth, which goes well with the Kartell blue mirror look made with an eco-chrome paint that makes the logos of the two brands stand out.
The front grille, wheels, and mirror caps are all created from recycled polycarbonate from the headlamp reflectors and are among the most distinctive features of the exterior, alongside the color effect. The designer Ferruccio Laviani presented and developed the pattern of the Kartell Kabuki lamp as a leitmotif of the identity of the new car, complete with specific details that adopt the lamp's textured surface to become distinctive features of the vehicle. The exceptional Kabuki design is on both the dashboard insert's polycarbonate cover and the seats' transparent parts.
The interiors exhibit a bright and light environment by mixing warm and chilly tones, contrasting the exterior's Kartell blue. Fabrics with a natural and inviting look are made from 100% recycled polyester. In comparison, interior plastics with a textile feel are made from 100% recycled polypropylene, as are the chairs in the newest Kartell line.
The Fiat Bvlgari B.500 "MAI TROPPO" is an exquisite one-off that celebrates art and design. The Dolce Vita, an emblem of Italy that emerged from a passion for aesthetics, has always found expression in the Fiat 500. Bvlgari, the symbol of Italian quality, interprets these ideals through a brand that has been able to innovate throughout the years, redefining what it means to be a jeweler in the global market and setting fashions that have become enduring hallmarks of modern aesthetics. The new Fiat 500 bearing his name is a veritable auto-jewel, with interiors crafted from premium materials and decorated with attention to detail and unique finishes that evoke Maison's vivid color combinations and identifiable motifs, as well as Maison's Roman roots.
Therefore, "NEVER TOO" was the only option for his name.
The unique piece is painted with saffron-colored metalized paint, a signature Bvlgari color that was reportedly inspired by the chromatic variety of Roman sunsets; the look is heightened by a nuance of the paintwork that was achieved through careful manual technique. By incorporating gold dust salvaged from scraps of jewelry creation into the "saffron" paint, the car's "jewel" status is emphasized. As a result, we have an eco-friendly vehicle that can illuminate its surroundings without additional power. The exterior of the Fiat B.500 is painted not only gold but also features enameled side moldings and frontal mustaches, black lacquered rims with gold finishes, and a "jewel" logo in polished gold with the B.500 mark in pavé diamonds.
The natural crowning glory of the cabin is a trio of semiprecious stones—amethyst, topaz, and citrine—set in a detachable pin that was crafted with goldsmith's finesse by the Bvlgari jewelers and placed smack dab in the middle of the wheel.
