Fiat To Launch Electric 500e In America In 2024, Brings 3 One-Off Specials To LA

Fiat’s neglected North American operations are finally getting some attention as CEO Olivier Francois announced that there is a new model on the horizon at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show . The Fiat 500e will arrive in North America in 2024, after the automaker reveals the US-spec version at next year’s edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show. This year, Fiat brought to LA a trio of 500-based one-offs designed by Armani, Kartell, and Bvlgari.

The fully electric Fiat 500 – dubbed “New 500” in Europe – premiered in 2020, which means it will be four years old when it arrives in North America as the “500e”. It is not clear if there will be any changes compared to the EU-spec model, but Fiat’s facelifts and model year updates are usually mild. Our guess is orange indicators and new trim combinations designed to lure American buyers. We also don’t know if the US lineup will include all three bodystyles – the regular three-door hatch, the soft-top cabriolet, and the 3+1 with suicide doors on the passenger side.

Driven: The Fiat 500 RED Is A Charming And Easy-Going Urban EV

The Fiat 500 is currently available with three bodystyles in Europe. We don’t know which ones will be offered in North America.

In Europe, the electric 500 is available with two battery capacities and different powertrain outputs. Fiat might only bring the model fitted with the more powerful electric motor producing 117 hp (87 kW / 118 PS), and the 42 kWh battery allowing a WLTP range of 260 km (162 miles) that is more suitable for the needs of North American customers.

There is also the upcoming Abarth New 500 which is expected to offer increased power output alongside a more focused chassis setup and an aggressive bodykit. We hope that Stellantis will bring the hot hatch to North America alongside the regular Fiat 500e.

Note that Fiat’s US range is currently limited to the aging 500X. The small SUV has received many updates throughout its lifecycle but it was originally introduced back in 2014, meaning it will be a decade old when the new 500e lands on US shores. Olivier Francois didn’t mention other models besides the urban EV, but we guess that more EVs could be exported to North America after 2024, depending on the suitability of European offerings at the time.

Three One-Off Specials Penned By Italian Brands

In order to make our appetite for the 500e, Fiat brought a trio of one-off specials in Los Angeles, inspired by the iconic Italian companies Armani, Kartell, and Bvlgari. In fact, those concepts are not new, as Fiat exhibited them in Turin, Italy, as part of the model’s launch event back in October 2020.

The trio of 500-based concepts that Fiat brought to the Los Angeles Auto Show was originally introduced in 2020. The photo was taken during the launch event of the 500 in Turin, Italy.

The Fiat 500 Giorgio Armani designed in collaboration with the fashion brand combines a gray/green “silk effect” exterior shade with a matching fabric roof, and GA-logo alloy wheels for the exterior, plus a sculpted dashboard insert from open-pore wood with thin layers of aluminum inlay, micro chevron wool bands, and Poltrona Frau-sourced leather upholstery for the interior.

The Fiat 500 Kartell inspired by the furniture company is distinguished by the Yves Klein Blue color covering the entirety of the exterior, with a mirror-effect finish for the body panels which are using environmentally-friendly chrome paint. The special pattern on the mirror caps, the wheels, and the dashboard insert is made out of recycled polycarbonate, reminiscent of Kartell’s Kabuki lamp.

Last but not least, the B.500 Mai Troppo – which is Italian for “never too much” – is coming from the jewelry brand Bvlgari. The saffron-colored pearlescent paint has sparkling gold powder and is combined with star-shaped alloy wheels featuring diamond-paved logos. Inside, the dashboard upholstery is made of Bvlgari silk scarves, with matching inserts on the leather seats, and three semi-precious stones (amethyst, topaz, and citrine) on the center of the steering wheel.

The Fiat 500e will arrive in North American dealerships in the first quarter of 2024. US pricing is expected to be announced next year. Unlike Europe which still gets the ancient ICE-powered 500 in mild-hybrid form, the US will only get the more modern EV model. Until it arrives, check out the videos of the one-off specials which are obviously not destined for production.