Fresh off its U.S. debut, there are already talks of a faster version of the Fiat Topolino. With Fiat aiming to make a big impact in the micromobility market, a faster, sportier version may just be what younger buyers crave.
Topolino Sport
Fiat is headquartered in Italy, where a Topolino is classified as an L6 quadricycle. In the EU, this means drivers can be as young as 14. The younger market is one Fiat wants to go after. Reportedly, the average age of a Topolino buyer is mid-40s.
Fiat recently launched the Topolino Sport in Italy as an attempt to appeal to a younger audience. These Topolinos are decked out with racing stripes, new colors, and a removable Bluetooth speaker. But this could just be the beginning. More Topolino variants could be on the way.
Not So Fast
Abarth, Fiat’s high-performance division, may include a Topolino in the future lineup. Fiat CEO Olivier Francois teased the idea of a Topolino Abarth to auto industry news outlets. The only hiccup: an L6 quadricycle has limitations. This vehicle class cannot exceed 45 kmh — or about 28 mph — and its maximum continuous rated power cannot surpass 4 kW. This means an Abarth Topolino would likely not offer much extra performance. For U.S. models, the Topolino’s max speed is 25 mph. So enhancements would likely come in the form of styling elements instead.
Fiat’s European chief, Gaetano Thorel, says the Topolino is the most successful quadricycle in Italy, it’s just not what young people drive. When compared to other vehicles in its class, the Topolino feels more “gentle,” and that’s why younger people are not as interested. Maybe a souped-up Topolino could change that.
As for us in America, Fiat has not shared any plans to launch a Sport or Abarth edition of the Topolino in the U.S. at this time.
