7 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 9
NEW FIAT SPORTS CAR UNLIKELY
A new version of the Fiat
and Abarth 124 Spider is
unlikely, according to Fiat
CEO Olivier François.
Although the Fiat and
Abarth 124 Spiders have
been withdrawn from UK
sale, both loss makers here,
the two continue to be
offered in mainland Europe
and the US.
Despite sharing aplatform and factory with
Mazda, which assembles
the 124 Spiders alongside
the MX-5 upon which
they’re based, these
economies of scale are
not enough to overcome
the perils of currency
fluctuations, nor the cost
of shipping Fiat engines to
Japan for the cars.
Sports cars are
notoriously inconsistent
money makers, but
François’s suggestion
that the brand has “no
legitimacy” in this field issurprising, given the Fiat
Barchetta, Coupé, X1/9, 124
Spider, 124 Coupé and 850
Spider from its past. That
said, these models are far
less well known than the
MX-5 and BMW Z4.
models will sit within 3.5m and
4.5m. This is where Fiat will
play. We need more EVs. And
we need more 500 models that
look legitimate enough to take
higher pricing.”
Autocar now understands
that the new electric 500
will make use of a space-
maximising ‘suicide’ door
arrangement, as our image
(above) suggests. As on the
BMW i3, a pair of small rear
hinged rear doors are expected
to be used to improve access
and allow the model to compete
with premium superminis
such as the five-door Mini. The
m ove a l s o r efl e c t s a s i g n i fi c a nt
decline in the sales of three-
d o o r c a r s i n r e ce nt ye a r s.
I n a d d i ti o n , F i a t w i l l r e p l a ce
the 500X SUV but not the
slow-selling 500L MPV.
Instead, the 500 Giardiniera
estate announced at Fiat’s
2018 investor conference will
appear as a bigger, five-door
C-segment model with plenty
of 500 character and a stylishly
opulent interior.
The fresh range of family-
oriented models will be led
by the new Panda, which is
likely to be based on the highly
acclaimed Centoventi concept.
François said its “looks are very
faithful to the next-generation
Panda”. The new Panda shouldappear in 2021, and two years
after that, an electric version
will be launched with modular,
add-on battery packs to keep
its price low.
The Tipo will also be
replaced, probably by an
SUV, given François’s desire
for more such models. It may
well be based on the Jeep
Renegade platform, which will
be shared with the Alfa Romeo
Tonale and provide a plug-in
hybrid option. The new Fiat
SU V w i l l b e d e s i g n e d i n th e
mould of the Centoventi and
the base version will be sold
at a keen price with plenty of
scope to add options.
The 500 family will carry
premium pricing in its segment
to allow the models to absorb
the considerable extra cost
of the all-electric drivetrain.
“There’s no compromise oncontent, on feel or refinement,”
François said. “It’s another
approach to design. More is
more, but it’s relevant. It’s
green and opulent.
“Everyone is embedding
th e h i g h co st of a n E V i nto a
h i g h - co st c a r, l i ke Te s l a. S o th e
extra cost is diluted. It’s harder
to do this in the A-segment.
But the 500 has the strength
to carry it. There’s a lot of cost
in accommodating the battery,
so we’ll use a modular 62-mile
battery, which you can upgrade
by renting, buying or leasing.
“Only the A- and B-segments
can generate hundreds of
thousands of EV sales. We want
to leverage the fact that Fiat
sells one in three small cars
with the 500 and Panda.”RICHARD BREMNER
Fiat’s boss doesn’t
expect to make a 124
Spider successor
Tipo is likely to make way for a Jeep-based SUV
Giardiniera will inspire a new 500 estate model
500X (pictured) will be replaced, but the 500L MPV won’t be
`
The 500 family will carry
premium pricing to absorb
the extra cost of the
all-electric drivetrain
a