I attended the New York International Auto Show last year, and honestly, it was kind of boring. Sure, there were some cool brands there and lots of nice industry people to mingle with, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, the show has been a shadow of itself.
That is, except for one specific display. Tucked all the way in the corner of the Jacob Javits Convention Center, on display at Fiat’s booth, was, amazingly, a Fiat Topolino. It’s a tiny, city-minded EV based on the Citroën Ami with a top speed of 28 mph, and it looks absolutely adorable. Our own Matt Hardigree got to see it up close and got trapped inside.
The Topolino was designed to be used in European cities, but now, it’ll finally come to the United States, according to Fiat. Interestingly, the announcement has nothing to do with the Trump administration’s declaration to bring small cars to America, according to the brand. Either way, I’m hyped.
I Need More Details
Fiat CEO Olivier Francois revealed the news yesterday while presenting a Topolino art car created by artist Romero Britto at Art Week Miami. As it turns out, Fiat showing the Topolino at a few auto shows in the U.S. last year wasn’t just for fun.
“The Fiat Topolino, our small, joyful, colorful car that is now everywhere in Europe, has made several appearances in the U.S. over the past year, including last month at the LA Auto Show, where it’s creating tremendous excitement among consumers. So much so that I’m happy to share that we’ll be bringing the Fiat Topolino to the U.S., with more details to come next year.”
This announcement comes just one week after President Trump claimed to have legalized smaller kei-style cars for assembly and sale in America, but according to Fiat, the decision to bring the Topolino to the U.S. is unrelated to the administration’s comments. Its statement to CNBC lines up with what the CEO said in the release:
A Stellantis spokeswoman said Fiat’s announcement was unrelated to Trump’s comments last week and that the automaker has been gauging customer interest for the Topolino at U.S. events such as auto shows.
Fiat hasn’t shared any details on when the Topolino might come stateside, though it sounds like American buyers will have to wait until at least next year to know anything more. Considering the car is already in production and the president says cars like this are legal to drive in America, it might be as simple as putting it on a boat and selling it at dealers.
As for how much it’ll cost, the Topolino is priced from €9,890 (around $11,500) in Europe. Fiat hasn’t said anything about pricing in the U.S., though, seeing as how it’s built in Morocco, the microcar will certainly be subject to tariffs if imported.
Will Anyone Actually Buy This Thing?
I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure there’s a real market for the Topolino in the U.S. The car is inexpensive and straightforward, but it also comes with a healthy set of limitations for use on public roadways. Its single electric motor makes just 8 horsepower, fed by a 5.4-kWh battery that gives it just 46 miles of range. That makes the Topolino pretty much useless outside of suburban side streets and dense city landscapes. That’s on top of the fact that American buyers just don’t like small cars.
Personally, I’m over the moon. Living in New York City, I’m one of the very few people who might actually benefit from owning a car like the Topolino. I love using my Range Rover in the city, but this Fiat would be much more convenient and cost-effective. The Rover is annoying to park because it’s so big, and the back-up camera sucks, and it absolutely guzzles fuel in low-speed environments.
But even I, a target buyer for this car, still see limitations. Its low top speed means I can’t ever take the Topolino outside city limits, which is half the reason anyone in a dense city owns a car in the first place. As it’s designed right now, it uses a wall plug to charge, which means it’s not compatible with any real charging station (though U.S. market Topolinos might be different).
Even with those limitations, it’s hard to imagine the Topolino will sell worse than the current Fiat 500. Fiat has sold just 1,076 examples so far this year through September. While that car can be driven on highways, it also starts at $37,695, which is likely far more expensive than the Topolino will be. Even if the Topolino sells in minuscule numbers, I’d consider that a win. Because a few adorable microcars are better than no adorable microcars at all.
Top graphic image: Fiat
Yeah, this is cute and fun but fits into the smallest of niches . . . it’s a covered golf cart for posh suburbs as a third vehicle.
I would love to pick one up and throw the Citroën fascias on it.
Too slow. Even if it could only go 35 it would be way more practical. My ebike does 28 tops. Where I live they made golfcarts legal to register and drive on neighborhood roads, so I guess this can compete with that, but not much else which is very unfortunate because I really like it! Just outside my neighborhood the main road is 45mph, there is NO way I’d take anything out there that can only go 28, even if it’s car shaped. At least I can ride my ebike on the substantial shoulder.
It would have to be under 10K, probably more like 5K for an american to consider it for a runabout.
The 5.4kWh battery is so small that even 7.2kW Level 2 AC charging (below the realistic limit of ~11kW) would necessitate an actual charging curve like an EV when it DC fast charges, instead of a flat charging ‘curve’ like normal. Said 7.2kW charger could likely do 10-80% in ~30 minutes, though it may be more like 45-60 minutes due to the limitations of air cooling. A standard 120V US wall outlet should charge it from 0-100% in 3.5 hours, which is likely just fine.
It weighs 485kg (1070lb), of which only 60kg (132lb) is from the battery.
You know who will buy a ton of these? Municipalities. Sure, they’re going to sell some to consumers — but fleet sales will probably be a measurable portion of their sales.
The NY Parks Department will buy a ton of these, and because they’re made by Stellantis they can probably be made Buy American compliant. I bet the NYPD will even look at them to replace the fleet of Smart ForTwos that are slowly melting into the pavement.
They must be planning to limit it to 25mph. Then becomes a neighborhood electric vehicle and competes with the GM GEM vehicles and can be legally operated in the USA.
https://www.gemcar.com/neighborhood-electric-vehicles/
My nightmare comes to life. If they don’t change the insane door situation on these I would bet money many people won’t know how to open their door or get out of in an emergency situation.
These are going to be, like, every 4th vehicle in Key West within 2 years
Do they come in pink?
Not sure, but vinyl wraps certainly do
to quote George Harrison “its been done” . I remember living in metro detroit and seeing an orange 500e around troy
This would be perfect for a teenager’s first “car”. Too bad that it can’t legally be driven anywhere useful in the States. The speed limits on suburban roads would limit where it could be driven. That’s a regulatory change, which we can do if we wanted it badly enough.
I’d be surprised if they can move 1,000 Topolino units a year in the USA.
And that’s only if they do something about the paltry 28mph top end.
I’d love to love a car like this, but it’s more or less useless unless you’re in the biggest of big cities in the states.
Is there a Fiat dealership in The Villages? Because that’s where these will be sold.
They should sell a roofless version with a fabric “surrey” top and wicker seats. Everyone at the links would be so jelly (jolly?)
I am curious about the charging for the US. Charging a full-on car from a wall plug seems like an area where European 230V would be a big advantage over lower North American 120V
SCCA Spec Topolino Class, let’s go!
Do they make a Rival in 13″?
No, but the new Toyo Proxes Sport R will come in 13″
This is leaps and bounds ahead of a golf cart.
The Topolino likely could be sold and registered/licensed in the US as a “Neighborhood Electric Vehicle” in states that have regulations that accommodate them. (Basically, a legal framework for golf cart-like vehicles.)
The trouble is that sometimes the NEV rules are really too limiting, especially if they limit the kinds of roads they can drive on which keeps them trapped in suburban developments and unable to access city centers. Because USA.
But then why not buy a used Nissan Leaf at that point? Edit, responded to the wrong comment
This looks like it is cheaper and more water proof than the golf carts and SxS ATVs people are driving around.
Does it have AC? If so that’s another benefit over most golf carts.
hope so. I think Polaris is putting HVAC in side by sides now, but I am not 100% sure.
Yes they are. Matt’s Off Road Recovery rescued a flipped one not too long ago. Cosmetic damage only and the AC worked fine on the drive out.
I’m addicted to that channel. I’m never going to go offroading in Utah or anywhere else nor am I going to build an offroad buggy based on a Corvair any time soon so I don’t need any of the information I learn watching those videos but I can’t stop watching them anyways.
But then why not buy a used Nissan leaf at that point
28 mph is disappointing. My used 25 year old golf cart does 22. Give me something that will do 50 and I’d be interested.
28 mph is the legal limit to drive without a license, I believe, in some European countries. Also look at the thing. If you see a car, you’ve misunderstood what it actually is.
Here in the UK the Citroen Ami, for example, is classed as a quadricycle so it’s also limited to 28mph for legal reasons.
I’ve heard of people mapping out the software speed limiter and hitting 50mph or so in them…
This is the perfect car for communities driving with the obnoxious golf carts all over the place. For some reason golf carts are so expensive, very close to this Fiat.
It’s cute, but it’s a lot of money for so little car. It’s hard seeing the use case in Europe, because for many applications a bicycle would be preferable, and for those where it is not, a secondhand actual car with actual room to haul stuff. It’s even harder for the U.S.
I would take it over a Golf Cart in the podunk towns that allow that. The problem is that these will likely be sold at urban dealerships well away from the rural powersport dealerships selling golf carts…