This Modified Fiat Topolino Could Cost You More Than A New Honda Civic Hybrid

But you can’t put a price on exclusivity, can you?

Fiat’s all-electric Topolino microcar is small in stature but big on style and character, evoking a time when cars weren’t unnecessarily big, heavy, or boring. It has now attracted the attention of Belgian firm Cavalier, which has unveiled a slew of customizations that boost its looks and performance. The only catch is price: a fully equipped Topolino from Cavalier costs as much as a brand-new Honda Civic Hybrid in the U.S. With that in mind, only the most enthusiastic Topolino owners will probably be interested.

Cavalier’s touches start with the paint. Customers can order their bespoke Topolino in one of ten available two-tone paint schemes, ranging from Ivory White with Sage Green to Deep Black and Deep Bordeaux Red, and our favorite of the bunch: Light Silver Grey with Warm Terracotta Orange. If you don’t like the two-tone finish, 13 single-tone paint options are available. Complementing the bespoke paint options are a set of small 16-inch forged wheels with distinctive center caps. Cavalier also offers the Topolino with a special Night Package that replaces the exposed grey exterior parts with painted black elements.

The microcar’s interior has also been changed. The seats, steering wheel, door cards, and headliner are now clad in a mix of plush Nappa leather and genuine Alcantara with several color options. The Topolino then benefits from a panoramic glass roof that transitions from clear to opaque as well as leather grab handles, wool floor mats, and configurable ambient lighting. The firm has also added a small 3.7-inch central screen for some added convenience. Usually, a standard Topolino owner has to use their smartphone as the main display. Cavalier is promising a bespoke audio system with Bluetooth for the Topolino, but it hasn’t specified how many speakers it includes.

A bigger battery and more range

As the standard Fiat Topolino was only designed for inner-city use, it uses a tiny 5.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack with 47 miles (75 km) of range and a front-mounted electric motor delivering 8 horsepower. Cavalier’s version can be configured with a larger 10.8-kWh battery, boosting the microcar’s driving range to 93 miles (150 km). Additionally, adjustments made to the vehicle’s control unit boost the top speed from just 28 mph (45 km/h) to 43 mph (70 km/h). That’s not enough for highway use, but it might be enough to ensure owners don’t hold up traffic whenever they get behind the wheel. A 2-kW Webasto diesel heater is an option and should keep the cabin warm without draining the tiny battery pack.

Cavalier’s Topolino ticks plenty of boxes for those looking for something small and exclusive. However, it comes at a cost. The Belgian firm says upgrades start at €12,000 ($13,300) for the simplest configuration and rise to about €20,000 ($22,200) for the full package. That’s a serious amount of coin, especially since the regular Topolino starts at just under €10,000 ($11,100) in Italy and $13,995 in the United States. All up, you’re looking at a tiny two-door that can cost upwards of €30,000 ($33,300) or about the same as a new Honda Civic Hybrid in the U.S.

Cavalier

Source: www.carscoops.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.