This story was updated with a new set of spy shots and fresh information on March 20, 2023.
Stellantis has officially confirmed that Fiat will debut two all-new EVs in 2023, with one of them rumored to be the Italian sibling of the Jeep Avenger, known as the Fiat 600. A camouflaged red-painted prototype of the small SUV was caught by our spy photographers during winter testing in February, while a white-painted model appeared in Germany in March. Both came with a zero-emission powertrain but there is a chance Fiat adds a mild-hybrid ICE-powered option to the range.
The Fiat 600 is expected to look like a chunkier and slightly longer version of the 500 with a more practical five-door bodystyle, a roomier cabin, and a higher seating position. At the front, Fiat designers played it safe with the split round LED headlights and a slim grille above the large central bumper intake. The latter features a similar pattern as in the 500 and houses the sensors for the ADAS. The profile is reminiscent of the Fiat 500X, but appears to be more compact. The same applies to the rear end which adopts the usual retro-styled taillights with clear sections and C-shaped LED graphics.
Read: The Fiat 500 RED Is A Charming And Easy-Going Urban EV
We also got a glimpse inside the cabin where lies the familiar 10.25-inch free-standing infotainment touchscreen and a round-shaped digital instrument cluster just like in the electric 500. Predictably, the rest of the dashboard is covered, as with the badge on the steering wheel.
The Fiat 600 is thought to be positioned in the lower spectrum of the small SUV segment, allowing room for the rumored successor of the Fiat 500X to grow in size and compete with compact SUVs. The supermini-sized model will likely have a similar footprint to the 4,084 mm-long (160.8 inches) Jeep Avenger, and an identical 2,560 mm (100.8 inches) wheelbase. Another close relative will be the upcoming Alfa Romeo Brenero. The aforementioned trio shares the CMP / eCMP architecture from the Stellantis parts bin with plenty of other models including the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, the DS 3 Crossback, the Peugeot 2008, and the upcoming Citroen C3 Aircross.
The fully electric model is expected to be fitted with the single front-mounted electric motor producing 154 hp (115 kW / 156 PS) and 260 Nm (191.8 lb-ft) of torque as in the rest of Stellantis offerings. Energy will likely be stored in the 54 kWh battery pack which offers 400 km (249 miles) of combined WLTP range in the Jeep Avenger.
Our sources suggest that Fiat could also offer an ICE-powered variant of the 600, hinting at the widely used turbocharged 1.2 Puretech three-cylinder petrol. In the Jeep cousin, the latter is only available in Italy and Spain, making it an EV-only proposal elsewhere in Europe. We don’t know if Stellantis will follow a similar strategy with the Fiat 600, prioritizing the zero-emission variant in most markets. Another plausible scenario could be the recently announced 1.2-liter Puretech 48V mild-hybrid engine, which would be more in line with Fiat’s electrification strategy in Europe and allow a lower price tag compared to the pure electric version.
The Fiat 600 will be produced at the Tychy factory in Poland, next to the Jeep Avenger. The official debut is rumored for late 2023, which sounds plausible judging from the state and the camouflage of the pictured prototypes. Fiat will bring the electric 500 to North America starting in 2024, but there are no details on whether the electric 600 could also join the range in the future.
