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All you J.Lo fans hankering for the chance to get behind the wheel of an emissions-free Fiat 500, the wait is (almost) over.
Visually, the Fiat 500e (for electric, natch) has only a few subtle changes, presumably to make it more aerodynamic. The 500e has been said to be a “compliance car” to appease California regulators who demand a certain number of EVs per year. The 500e is also expected to be a serious money-loser for Chrysler, to the tune of $10,000 per car.
18 Comments on “Fiat 500e Breaks Cover...”
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$45k for such a small car, that’s hilarious.
Actually, the article says the selling price will be closer to $32k.
The shame is that the company has no pride in producing them, making it clear they’re doing so out of necessity to cook the emissions books.
They should make about 20, set the price to $42K and if no one buys it then they really don’t lose much money but comply. And if customers buy it, they didn’t lose any money either. How’s the Nissan Leaf doing by the way?
No auto company should be put in a position to lose money. It’s asinine.
@pg:
The Leaf is doing quite well; I’m really enjoying it.
But as the weather cools here in western PA I’m finding that answering people’s range questions is not so simple. Range burned from the battery during a commute depends on many variables, only about half of which are driver-controllable.
Nissan has engineered a good EV. Fiat’s half-hearted attempt probably won’t be quite as nice.
Just making the car wont comply with the law, Chrysler has to sell a certain amount of them.. so they will lower the price until it sells.. in any case, Chrysler needs the emission credits so it can sell more gas hogs, that has monetary value.
Cute and Eco-friendly? It’ll sell; it just won’t be advertised in Field and Stream. This does give a chance for the 500 haters, not targeting or inferring you are one, to double their hate. Fiat may come out with an insane leasing deal on this.
I am not against small car, and the 500 is cute. But there is no way this car could be worth $45k, and even at $35k (losing 10k of public money investment on each car) it would not sell more than the Leaf.
cars should be priced by the pound.. GM would win
GM usually loses badly on that count with vehicles heavier than their competition. At least that’s most of the reviews say.
Not sure why this is necessarily a bad thing. Every car maker seems to moving in the direction of at least providing an electric vehicle option and the maker itself states ‘the primary reason for launching the EV was to enhance the company’s electric mobility expertise, which it hopes will lead to advancements in its future gasoline-electric hybrid models.’ No different to the super cars such as the Ford GT which didnt make the mark a ton o’ cash but certainly enhanced its image.
I think these will sell well to the Hollywood crowd and wealthy philanthropists who want the exclusivity of ownership of the rare cacique of the 500e.
I prefer this 500e, even if it pollutes more. And it costs less!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500e
I think it may do better than expected. It sure looks a lot better than a Leaf. But I am a little biased, I drive a 500c. (and am more than a little tired of the JLo jokes)
All you J.Lo fans hankering for the chance to get behind the wheel of an emissions-free Fiat 500…
What about J.Lo fans who simply want to get behind J.Lo?
As someone not quite up to date with pop ‘culture’ references, I don’t get what this car’s connection to J. Lo is. Do they have her in Fiat 500 ads or something?
They put her in the orginal debut ads for the 500. For some reason TTAC editors think this is freaking hilarious… As for me it just makes me want to go watch YouTube clips of the Fly Girls or grab my wife’s copy of “Selena” and watch again.
I like it. I’d daily drive it.
And as for the J-Lo thing, who would you rather see on a 500 ad, Señor Montalban?…
I think that Chrysler believes that shoppers will infer a capacious front seat by the fact that J-Lo can inhabit it.
For a car that obviously would attract females it would only make sense to use a female in the commercial. Who else should they have used, Hulk Hogan?