Stellantis’ Fiat division used the 2023 Client Electronics Present to advertise the North American debuts of its 2024 500e electrical automotive and the brand new “Metaverse Retailer” that can be used to assist promote it. The automobile and its digital showroom are already out there in Europe, and the corporate hopes these items can assist revive the struggling Italian model discover extra success throughout the pond.
Extra from CES
2024 Fiat 500e
Little is thought in regards to the North American-spec 500e, however we think about it’s going to intently comply with its European counterpart. The subcompact two-door hatchback doesn’t look a lot completely different than the 500e that was bought solely in California and Oregon from 2013-2019. Anticipate the 2024 version to make use of a 117-horsepower electrical motor powered by a 32.3-kWh battery. Underneath US laws, the estimated driving vary will possible be lower than the 199 miles of the European mannequin.
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The Metaverse Retailer makes use of digital actuality expertise to move patrons to a digital showroom the place they’ll get an in-depth tour of the automobile with out leaving their houses. A “Product Genius” avatar will assist facilitate the procuring and buy course of. The Metaverse Retailer is accessible through a suitable pill, smartphone, or PC and doesn’t require any specialised VR {hardware}.
Fiat additionally plans to associate with Free2move as a part of an initiative to additional enhance EV consciousness with the driving public. Free2move is an organization that works like a mix of Zipcar, Turo, and a new-car lease/subscription service. Folks will have the ability to hire or lease a 500e in areas throughout the nation for as little as a couple of minutes or so long as a number of months.
Full options and pricing for the US-spec 2024 Fiat 500e can be out there nearer to when it and the Metaverse Retailer come on-line early subsequent yr. We estimate a base worth of round $32,000 earlier than tax incentives.
CG Says:
The Fiat 500e looks like an honest sufficient EV that might see some success with its Free2move partnership. The Metaverse Retailer idea is what has us scratching our heads. We perceive the corporate desirous to do one thing completely different, however contemplating most metaverse ideas have largely been failures, we are able to’t envision a state of affairs the place this one can be completely different.
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2024 Fiat 500e Gallery
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2024 Fiat 500e
2024 Fiat 500e
2024 Fiat 500e
2024 Fiat 500e
2022 Los Angeles Auto Present: 2025 Fiat 500e
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