Fiat has unveiled its new Topolino, a 100% electric microcar that embodies the brand’s latest take on the future of urban mobility. Built on the same platform as the Citröen Ami, the new vehicle represents Fiat’s commitment to sustainable mobility solutions for city dwellers, especially younger ones. 

The Topolino, Italian for “little mouse,” is also a tribute to the original Fiat 500, a widely popular car that revolutionized Italian's automotive landscape when it first launched in the 1930s. 
Fiat is resurrecting the name, along with a design that draws from the later classic 500, the diminutive car that powered the mobility needs of millions of Italians during the post-WWII economic boom. Some of the design choices hark back to two specific models of the 500, the Jolly and the Spiaggina. 

The new Topolino is a contemporary take on that long heritage. The car is a fully electric quadricycle (i.e., it will probably have a 45km/h top speed limit), featuring a rope attachment instead of doors and a canvas roof that can be rolled open. The car is expected to share more or less the same setup as the Citroën Ami, with an 8hp motor and a 5.5.kWh battery that will offer an approximate range of 70Km between charges.

The Citroën Ami has gained a sizeable market share in the European micro car segment. If FIAT gets the Topolino price right, the new microcar will certainly have a chance to be a hit as well, especially in Italy and other southern European countries where the weather allows for the open-roof car to be driven for longer, and not just during the summer season.