I commute over 100 miles round trip to work, but I doubt I’d want a city car for it. If anything, a compact car would suffice, but it can’t be so small as to be not useful for other tasks (for me). A city car is basic transport from a to b, with not much room for anything else.
In the US, yes, but they've been selling models overseas still. Compact and such crossovers, which makes no sense why they wouldn't have brought them over here but it's Mercedes. If they ever did anything right, they'd probably be one of the richest car companies as DaimlerChrysler still.
It is not a matter of "tarnishing" the appeal of 500; it is a matter of building a brand that appeals to consumers.
1. There are three versions of the Fiat 500e
Yep, you can point it out, and it is true, but it is only part of the story. There are only a few Boroughs, Districts, neighborhoods, etc. in those metro areas that have the population density and old colonial sized roads that would make you ever want to drive something as small as a 500e. So in over 90% of those places something the size of a Versa is perfect. That cuts down the potential customers a lot.
| 500e | Versa | |
| Wheelbase | 2,322 mm (91.4 in) | 2619 mm (103.1 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,632 mm (143.0 in) | 4496 mm (177.0 in) |
| Width | 1,683 mm (66.3 in) | 1740 mm (68.5 in) |
How is a Corvette better? It's a sports car. High prices and high margins that a low production car needs to make sense. Kids buy posters and hang them on their wall. It's a halo that brings folks in to look and buy a mainstream car. It makes all kinds of sense that a 500e city car doesn't.
Yep, the Mini is a subcompact, the 500 is a mini car.Ah, the Subaru Legacy, a niche vehicle for the ages.
Niche vehicles are just that - not for the average customer. Someone who spends most of their time in a small area within a city is suited just fine with a city car and is OK with finding a vehicle to suit their other needs as necessary. Your points #2 and #3 demonstrate you clearly understand this, so I really don't understand your hangup on #1.
It is quite obvious this was never going to appeal to a broad array of consumers even if it did have 200mi of range. It's simply too small. It says something when even the 2025 MINI electric which will get close to EPA 200mi of range is 10in. longer with a 7in. longer wheelbase while being 3in. wider to boot.
No it wouldn't, it would be an insult. Dodge and Chrysler have never had a mini car. Let them keep this a Fiat. This is the smallest a new Dodge or Chrysler should be:
| 500e | Versa | New Compact Dodge /Chrysler | |
| Wheelbase | 2,322 mm (91.4 in) | 2619 mm (103.1 in) | 2700 mm (106.3 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,632 mm (143.0 in) | 4496 mm (177.0 in) | 4500 mm (177.2 in) |
| Width | 1,683 mm (66.3 in) | 1740 mm (68.5 in) | 1800 mm (70.9 in) |
Just to, hy now, help with cafe, and electrification mandates, that's all.
I do not believe that to be true. New York City has millions of people on its own and all of it is dense enough for a 500e to be all you need. Does it get to the airport and back? Of course CHARGING in a city is another question - that narrows the scope. Oddly enough New Yorkers are far more likely to get a Wrangler, which is a small car with terrible gas mileage, instead Of, say, a Corolla.
Thing is, if they want to add an EV to their household fleet, those 800,000 people that buy a Ford F1-Series every year already have direct access to Mach-E through their current dealer. They do not need to bother taking a chance with unfamiliar, unproven Fiat.
Dimensions
| 500e | Versa | New Compact Dodge /Chrysler | |
| Wheelbase | 2,322 mm (91.4 in) | 2619 mm (103.1 in) | 2700 mm (106.3 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,632 mm (143.0 in) | 4496 mm (177.0 in) | 4500 mm (177.2 in) |
| Width | 1,683 mm (66.3 in) | 1740 mm (68.5 in) | 1800 mm (70.9 in) |
That is all true. Though any intelligent person who has to park in the city regularly will favor a smaller (bumper to bumper) car, finding people who are intelligent and have to park in the city regularly can be difficult
I'm amazed by how many people commute in a freakin' F-150 because “they like the look” or “I've always had a truck.” It's one place the two-door Wrangler has a good fit.
Yes, that 30 inches comes in VERY handy at times. So does the smaller width though it's not as important.
This is the smallest a new Dodge or Chrysler should be:
| 500e | Versa | New "Compact" Dodge /Chrysler | |
| Wheelbase | 2,322 mm (91.4 in) | 2619 mm (103.1 in) | 2700 mm (106.3 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,632 mm (143.0 in) | 4496 mm (177.0 in) | 4500 mm (177.2 in) |
| Width | 1,683 mm (66.3 in) | 1740 mm (68.5 in) | 1800 mm (70.9 in) |
| passenger/cargo | 77/8 | 89/15 | 90/20-95/15 |
very few people drive 100 miles a day.
