Power Locks Power Mirrors Power Windows Automatic Fuel Efficient on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Icon's 1966 Fiat Giardinetta is a quaint electric city car

If city cars are the ideal candidates for electric powertrains, then the compact Fiat 500 is near perfect for the green technology. Fiat currently offers a brand-new 500e, but for those who like an old-school vibe, Icon 4x4 has just the number. In collaboration with Stealth EV, Jonathan Ward and his team converted a gorgeous 1966 Fiat 500 Giardinetta to full battery electric. Dubbed the Fiat Giardinetta EV Derelict, due to the maintenance of the original car's exterior, this 1966 gem was able to fit electric components while keeping its four-seat configuration. The car has six Tesla-sourced batteries, two in the front and four in the rear to keep things balanced. It uses an Orion battery management system and an AC35 motor. The suspension was bolstered up with coilovers, a bigger panhard bar was added, and the car now uses upgraded disc brakes. Hilariously, it has similar, if not better, specs than Fiat's current 500e. Icon and Stealth EV claim the car has about 80 horsepower and about 100 pound-feet of torque. Using a single-speed gearbox, it revs up to 5000 rpm, and due to the electric powertrain, has 100 percent of its torque the entire way up. The battery kit was able to achieve 120 miles of range at 65 mph in a test run, and the company estimates it could reach 150 miles on a single charge when driven in less taxing city conditions. Keep in mind, this car only has heat but no air conditioning (cold air was possible, but it would be pricey and isn't really necessary when it already has a retractable top). Extra Icon modifications included new weather stripping, new glass seals, and added Dynamat to quiet the old car down. Icon also reupholstered the seats with marine-rated vinyl and incorporated a few Italian leather accents. According to Stealth EV, similar battery modules are available for around $1,500 (remember there are six of these modules in this Fiat) and the kit is not a one-off-specific job. Now that they have the CAD specs, the setup could be replicated fairly easily. We suddenly want a completely impractical mini station wagon. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Eight people injured after Fiat crashes at LA auto show

A man crashed a Fiat 500 that was available for test drives at the LA auto show Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. He hopped a curb and struck a concrete planter, which shattered, sending shrapnel toward bystanders. The crash resulted in eight people being injured, with six of them going to the hospital. KTLA reports that one of the hospitalized people was the driver of the car. The Times reports that no one sustained life-threatening injuries. As seen in the photo above, the Fiat 500e used was a test car for visitors of the show. Fiat Chrysler is one of 11 car companies providing vehicles for guests to try out. The Times also reports that an LAPD spokesperson said the driver of the Fiat may not have had a valid license. It's surprising this wouldn't have been noticed when the driver signed up, as the LA auto show's test drive rules state that a valid license is required to drive. As of this writing, it appears that the show is continuing as normal, along with test drives. The show is open to the public until November 27. Car companies will also be offering test drives throughout the week, including the last day of the show. Related Video:

Don't buy a 2016 Fiat because the 2017s will be cheaper and better equipped

If you're considering the purchase of a new Fiat, you'll want to hold off for the 2017 model year. At the very least, take note of the following for haggling purposes, because the 2017 model year will bring some significant price cuts. The price cuts were first reported by Automotive News after obtaining dealer pricing information. We reached out to Fiat, and a spokesperson was able to confirm the reduced pricing. He also gave us details on trims and packages. The gist is that the 500 hatch, convertible, and 500L all see notable discounts, and the trim levels across the range have been, well, trimmed. For 2017, Fiat 500 hatchback and convertible will only be available in Pop, Lounge, and Abarth trims. This trim reduction removes the mid-level Turbo model from the lineup, and Fiat's spokesperson confirmed the model's 135-horsepower engine will disappear as well. The good news is that the remaining models all drop significantly in price, including the 160-horsepower 500 Abarth. The Abarth will get a $2,850 price cut to start at just under $21,000 with destination. The 500 Pop and Lounge will both drop $2,000, dropping the Pop to just under $15,000 before destination, and just under $16,000 assuming the destination charges remain $995. In addition, the convertible will simply become a $1,450 option for any 500 model, which will make it a much more affordable proposition than it was when offered as a separate model. The electric 500e is the only model not to see a price cut, and will remain priced at $32,795 after destination charges and excluding tax rebates. The 2017 500L, as well as the 500X, will see available trims shrink to down to Pop, Trekking, and Lounge. The 500L doesn't see price cuts as drastic as those for the smaller 500, but it offers additional content to make up for it. The new Pop gets all the features of the higher-level 2016 Easy, along with a standard automatic transmission. Comparing a 2017 Pop with a 2016 automatic-equipped Easy will show a $1,150 reduction. The Trekking only drops by $235, but it now gets standard heated leather seats, BeatsAudio sound system, satellite radio, and Uconnect. Finally the Lounge drops $1,100 and adds 17-inch wheels, BeatsAudio, Uconnect, and satellite radio. As for the 500X, in addition to the reduced trim levels, it sees additional options. However, it won't get any price cuts. Okay, technically the base 500X Pop will start at $19,995 before destination charges, which is $5 less than the 2016 model.