Stellantis has begun accepting orders for the Fiat Topolino, an ultra-compact electric vehicle aimed at city drivers seeking an affordable, small-scale transportation option. Priced starting at $13,995, the Topolino resembles more of a golf cart than a traditional car, with a top speed of just 19 mph and a driving range of around 46 miles on a single charge.
This vehicle is classified as a quadricycle or low-speed vehicle, which allows it to bypass many of the safety and crashworthiness regulations that apply to conventional cars. The Topolino can be fitted with a free kit to increase its top speed to 25 mph, enabling it to legally operate on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
Built in Morocco, the Fiat Topolino measures approximately eight feet in length and weighs about 1,000 pounds, dimensions comparable to the former Smart cars that were once sold in the US. It will be available in limited quantities within the year in two body styles: a hardtop with doors or a soft-top that uses a rope instead of doors. Its design features playful touches like very short racing stripes, enhancing its quirky, upbeat appeal.
The Topolino is positioned by Fiat as a lifestyle vehicle, reflecting a shift in the brand’s focus after dramatic decline in US sales, which dropped from nearly 44,000 units in 2012 to roughly 1,300 last year. Fiat’s chief executive envisions the vehicle as a way to make urban mobility “joyful” and “beautifully simple,” targeting consumers who prioritize ease and fun over speed or long-distance travel.