Fiat has just unveiled the new 500 with a combustion engine, a compact little car that was definitely not made for the race track.
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That’s because the hatchback takes 16.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h, giving the small 500 the title of the slowest-accelerating car in Europe. If you want the convertible version, that time stretches even further to 17.3 seconds.
Of course, the 500 is a car designed for urban use, so its owners are generally not concerned with quick acceleration and won’t often go much beyond 100 km/h in daily driving. After all, the hatchback’s top speed is only 155 km/h, while the convertible reaches just 150 km/h.
Its three-cylinder engine produces only 65 hp and 92 Nm of torque, power that is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. The hatchback version of the Fiat 500 weighs 1055 kg, but the convertible is heavier at 1102 kg.
Besides the lack of power, the absence of an automatic transmission is also worth noting. If shifting gears is an issue for you, Fiat highlights that the 500e is a more suitable option.
The launch of a combustion-engine car comes after Fiat had suggested it would become a 100% electric-car manufacturer. Apparently, that is no longer the case.
Still, if the European Union truly follows through with its plans to ban combustion cars by 2035, Fiat’s new model may meet its end even before it begins its life cycle.
Photo: Fiat. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
