After almost 70 years, the Fiat Topolino is returning… but this time as a fully electric quadricycle, not a car.
The Topolino – which translates as 'baby mouse' – will be the Italian brand's second EV, a smaller option to the 500 and decent competition for sister brand Citroen’s Ami.
The name Topolino hasn’t been seen or heard of for almost 70 years – it was the original name for the 500 from 1936 because it was then one of the world’s smallest cars.
It’s now being reborn as a doorless retro quadricycle with only two seats, described as a city-only machine aimed predominantly at young drivers both with and without a full licence (because it’s not technically a car).
Fiat has already turned its 500 electric as part of its bigger plan to exclusively create battery-powered vehicles before the end of the decade.
The super-cute Topolino features a 6kW electric motor and a 5.5kWh battery, topping out at under 30mph and delivering up to 47 miles of range – perfect for pootling around city centres.
Its uber compact size means it should be easy to navigate narrow streets and park in impossibly small spaces.
A Fiat spokesperson said: “The all-electric Fiat Topolino quadricycle is ready to contribute to expanding urban electric mobility and bring all the optimism of its namesake to an accessible, all-electric version that encapsulates all the coolness of the Fiat 500.
“The Topolino brings a new notion of la dolce vita to the city streets, designed for a wide audience, including younger customers and families – aligned with Fiat's mission of providing urban sustainable mobility solutions that are accessible to everyone.
“This renowned and evocative name immediately calls the first Fiat 500 to mind – the iconic car that revolutionised the concept of the motor vehicle, produced by Fiat from 1936 to 1955, commonly known as Topolino.”
Now for the bad news – it’s not expected to be sold in Britain. While we’ve got a huge sad face about this, its lack of doors probably wouldn’t be suitable for our weather pattern. This just means we’ll need to get the keys to one during any trips to Europe!
We’ll keep you posted on the Topolino’s availability, price and whether it could appear on UK roads when more details are released.
