Fiat is considering the release of a sporty version of the Topolino under the Abarth brand. Olivier François, the brand's CEO, spoke about this prospect, noting that the project is still under discussion but could get the "green light."
At first glance, the idea seems unusual. The Topolino is not a full-fledged car but an electric quadricycle, which in some European countries can be driven by teenagers from the age of 14. The compact two-seater model has a range of about 74 km and a top speed of 45 km/h, and in North America, it will be offered as a Low-Speed Vehicle with a speed limit of 40 km/h (25 mph).
Legislation is the main obstacle to a truly "hot" version. European regulations for quadricycles strictly limit power and top speed, and in the US, exceeding the established limit automatically reclassifies the vehicle into another category with stricter certification requirements.
Despite this, Fiat believes that an Abarth version could attract a young audience. According to Gaetano Torela, head of the brand's European division, the average age of Topolino buyers today is around 40, while the company would like to attract teenagers aged 16–17. French micromobiles like Ligier remain competitors in this segment, perceived by young people as more sporty.
So far, no technical specifications for the future Topolino Abarth have been disclosed. It is most likely that the new model will receive a sporty exterior and interior design, while a significant increase in power is unlikely due to existing regulatory restrictions.
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