Fiat has launched the all-new third generation Fiat 500 that’s now fully electric with 42kWh lithium-ion battery capable of returning 320 km pure electric driving range. With a 85kW fast-charging system, the little 500 requires just five minutes of charging for 48 km of pure electric driving. In 35 minutes, the batteries can be charged up to 80%.
With 118 hp, 0 to 100 km/h takes nine seconds before the friendly-face electric car reaches its electronically-limited top speed of 150 km/h but that’s not what this is all about as we have already covered previously. What we’re interested in are the three “one-off” 500 models created by Fiat in collaboration with the cream of the crop of Italian design houses – the 500 Giorgio Armani, the B.500 by Bvlgari and the 500 Kartell.
500 Giorgio Armani
Using laser technology, Armani shaped the metal trims that clad the 500’s body with exclusive micro-chevron engraving, for a fabric-like texture. These trims are then finished with Armani grey-green “silk effect” colour.
The seats are upholstered in certified full-grain natural leather, sourced from Poltrona Frau, an Italian furniture maker based in Turin which has been in operation for more than 100 years. The dashboard on the other hand is finished with open-pore wood, embellished with thin layers of aluminium.
B.500
Bvlgari’s version of the electric 500 features a golden pearlescent “saffron” paint, where its trims are finished with gold powder – left over from the brand’s jewellery production. The “B” badge on the rear windows are even encrusted with diamonds!
The recycling philosophy also continues in the interior, where the dashboard is lined with Bvlgari silk scarves from past collections. The centre piece of the cabin has to be the three semi-precious stones – amethyst, topaz and citrine – positioned in the centre of steering wheel by the master goldsmiths at Bvlgari.
500 Kartell
The Kartell blue paint job was derived from Yves Klein blue – an iconic colour of the brand. As Kartell has been increasingly involved in the development of sustainable plastics, exterior elements on the front grille, wheels and mirror caps are made of recycled polycarbonate from end-of-life parabolic projectors.
These components feature a design inspired by the pattern of Kartell’s Kabuki lamp. The Kabuki pattern can also be found throughout the interior, with a polycarbonate cover on the dashboard insert and on the seats. The tactile plastics used in the cabin are 100% recycled polypropylene while the fabrics are sourced from fully recycled polyester.
GALLERY
500 Giorgio Armani
B.500 by Bvlgari
500 Kartell
