http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/review-2013-fiat-500e-huggably-cute-hugely-entertaining-article-1.1362061 [image] 2013 Fiat 500e is small in size, but big on personality By Nick Kurczewski / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jun 4 2013
[image http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1362065.1370351739!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/500e.jpg The Fiat 500e has its own specific design of wheel and lower half of the front grille. Other than those changes, the 500e looks almost exactly like the standard model http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1362066.1370294281!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/500e.jpg This cabin is going to wake you up! The white leather seats and dash, combined with orange trim, are like a double shot of espresso. Nick Kurczewski http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1362067.1370294379!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/500e.jpg Traditional gear-levers are so last century! Push-buttons replace the standard 500's gear-lever. Nick Kurczewski ] The 2013 Fiat 500e is an entertaining twist on the electric vehicle formula. Like other EVs, including the Nissan Leaf and Honda Fit, this little Fiat comes with all the eco-car credentials you could want. The 500e is smaller, and somewhat less practical than some other electrics. But what it lacks in space, the 500e makes up for in ultimate pace. Electric cars have rarely been this much fun to drive! The Fiat 500e has its own specific design of wheel and lower half of the front grille. Other than those changes, the 500e looks almost exactly like the standard model. If you’re going to pack on 600 lbs., this is how to do it. The 2013 Fiat 500e is an electric-powered version of the 500 subcompact, the Italian automaker’s alternative to the Mini Cooper. In EV format, the 500 has also become an instant competitor to electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, Honda Fit EV, and Chevrolet Spark EV. The 500e’s mechanical transformation, from having a gasoline engine to an electric powertrain, has packed on pounds faster than a diet of lasagna and tiramisu. Except you’d never know it from behind the wheel, because this little Fiat remains incredibly nimble and fun to drive. The electric motor delivers the equivalent of 111-hp to the front wheels. That’s not much more than the 101-hp 1.4-liter gas engine used in the standard 500. But the instant torque provided by the electric powertrain makes the 500e feel much peppier. That extra weight has also been nicely balanced in the chassis, which is actually stiffer than the platform used in the standard model. Fiat has positioned the lithium-ion battery pack low and as centrally located as possible. To cope, the ride height is slightly higher. And while the batteries add to the curb-weight, at least they don’t eat into cabin or cargo room. On the road, compared to the regular 500, the 500e feels slightly sharper, even more eager to change directions and claw its way around corners. Part of this might be an illusion; given the near total-silence of the engine, the sensation of speed feels more pronounced. Those extra pounds have the effect of offering a smoother ride, however. The 500e feels notably more planted over large bumps and pavement imperfections. The seats and dashboard of my test car was finished in bright-white, with orange highlights. This interior is the equivalent to a double espresso, it’s fun and funky, and much more exciting than the cabins found in 99-percent of economy cars (much less EVs). An elegant and simple touch are the push-button controls for the transmission, which replace the traditional gear-lever. There are some penalties to be paid when opting for the 500e. Driving range is E.P.A. estimated at 87 miles, making long distance trips out of the question. Using a 110-volt plug and outlet requires almost an entire 24 hours to fully recharge – a 240-volt arrangement trims this time to a vastly more manageable 4 hours. Like every 500, room in the trunk is limited and the rear seats are cramped for tall adults. Another notable mark in the debit column is that, at least to start, the 500e is only available in California, where residents of the Golden State have access to a sweet lease deal. With Federal and state EV rebates factored into the price, the Fiat 500e can be yours for only $999 down and $199 per month. Fiat 500e owners are also granted 12 free rental car days each year, via an agreement with Enterprise. So if long-distance travel comes up on occasion, you won’t have to start pleading with your friends to borrow their gas or diesel-powered vehicle. It’s a smart maneuver around a common EV complaint. The 500e is the clear choice when it comes to blending driving excitement with zero emission mobility. It’s not the biggest EV in the market, but it’s definitely the one most certain to put a smile on your face. [© 2013 NYDailyNews.com] For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date Here are today's archive-only EV posts: EVLN: French AutoLib EV-sharing system coming to Indianapolis, IN EVLN: Electric taxis eyed for Baltimore, MD EVLN: Grant$ to improve pack life & durability in cold climates EVLN: Electric version of Verito to be launched in 2014 + EVLN: Audi R8 e-tron a model for the EV world {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-2013-Fiat-500e-is-small-in-size-but-big-on-personality-tp4663565.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
