Could Fiat find its niche?

Recently, Fiat presented the new Fiat 500 all-electric hatchback to Italy’s President Mattarella. What does this mean for Fiat?

Fiat has been a brand that has publicly struggled in North America. They were thrown into Large Dodge/Chrysler stores and after a brief surge of momentum they fizzled out. A lot of these dealerships have stopped carrying the brand based on its lackluster performance. The small car market in Canada is not one that is growing. Trucks and SUVs have been all the rage over the last few years and there doesn’t seem to be an end. There is one exception, however.

Electrified

Electric cars are starting to gain momentum. What started with Chevy Volt/Bolt and Tesla has now seen a surge in electric vehicles. Volkswagen is set to make a charge and recently the MINI Cooper SE landed in Canada. It seems as if the small car market may have a chance if it exists in the electric category.

Welcome back Fiat

This category presents an opportunity for the struggling Fiat. The small hatch is making a move in sustainable driving by launching an all-electric model. The new hatch is rated at 199 mile of range which equates to about 320km. This number is about 100km further than the MINI Cooper SE. The new Fiat comes with a 10.25” touchscreen system and level 2 autonomous driving. Driver assists that include adaptive cruise control, intelligent speed assist, and blind-spot monitoring are all featured.

On the exterior, the Fiat maintains its fun appearance. Panoramic Moonroof will remain on the vehicle and comes with super slick looking LED lights. 17-inch diamond-cut rims and an eco-leather seat come standard to round out its curb appeal. The battery is an 85kW fast-charge system that needs only 5 minutes charging to go 30 miles. The fast charger can also get to 80% of a full charge in about 35 minutes. With a 0 – 100 mph in 9 seconds it’s plenty quick and the 3 driving modes will help you decide how the car will perform.

Conclusion

The question is will this be enough to bring Fiat back in Canada? I think so. There is a strong eco-minded movement towards electric vehicles. Range anxiety is a real thing in this category and Fiat seems to have this figured out. It’s filled with cool technology and maintains the quirky fun that Fiat is known for.