Retro Fiat Topolino EV to take on the Citroën Ami
Fiat has revealed its first image of the new Topolino quadricycle – an urban mobility solution that the company reckons will bring the wonders of the (electric) motor car to a new audience of buyers, much like its 1930s namesake.
Based on the Citroën Ami, the Topolino takes its name from the classic Topolino that went on sale in 1936 and was nicknamed 'little mouse' thank to its ability to get in space larger cars couldn't.
The new Topolino trades the Ami's French chic for effortless Italian style thanks to its cutesy face, simple wheel trims and old-school rollback open-top roof. Doors, meanwhile, have been scrapped in favour of delightfully retro (but in no way safe) rope guard rails that nod to the old Fiat Jolly beach car.
While details have yet to be confirmed, you can expect the Fiat to share its powertrain with the Ami, which uses a 5PS (4kW) electric motor to (eventually) hit a top speed of 28mph. Its 5.5kWh battery will give the Topolino a range of 46 miles and takes two hours to charge using a domestic three-point plug.
Performance figures miss the point of the Topolino, though, it's designed to be an accomplished city slicker that you can park almost anywhere, helped by tiny dimensions and a tight 7.2-meter turning circle.
With prices starting from around £8,000 and a full charge costing less than a fiver, the Topolino is designed to appeal to city-based buyers put off by the sky-high running costs of a traditional car.
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