The 500 Spiaggina E-Classic Combines Vintage Aesthetics With an All-Electric Powertrain

8 months, 4 weeks ago - 22 February 2024, autoevolution
The 500 Spiaggina E-Classic Combines Vintage Aesthetics With an All-Electric Powertrain
Toys for Boys, a new brand of Italy-based Aznom Automotive, has revealed an all-electric version of the Fiat 500 Spiaggina that preserves the vintage looks of the original car from the 1950s, demonstrating once again that modern EV technology can coexist harmoniously with classic design.

Called 500 Spiaggina E-Classic, the new electric restomod reflects a growing trend in the automotive industry that sees companies creating products that merge nostalgic value with technological innovation.

Aznom, the small Brianza-based manufacturer of limited edition or one-off supercars and luxury cars, has taken a purist approach to bringing back the Fiat 500, the cutest motoring icon in the automotive world. As such, it converted the car to 100% electric power to appeal to the modern, eco-friendly driver and restored all its mechanical parts and details, including the use of fine materials, but it did so respecting the DNA of the classic car.

In terms of aesthetics, the electric restomod is identical to the original. It features an awning instead of a roof, ropes instead of doors, leather upholstery, and a vibrant color palette. A small change can be observed in the instrumentation, which now boasts a circular element with a small display that shows speed and the remaining range.

Under the vintage bodywork of the small open car, though, there is updated technology and quality materials. The beating heart of the 500 Spiaggina E-Classic is an electric motor developing a maximum power of 20 kW (27 hp). It's a modest figure by today's electric vehicle standards, but it allows the small car to reach a top speed of 89 kph (55 mph) and puts it in the market segment aimed at urban and recreational use.

Actually, Aznom itself mentions on its website that the 500 Spiaggina E-Classic is "perfect for hotels, tourist resorts or rental companies" and that it "promises to be suitable for private 'summer’ use in seaside or holiday resorts."

The electric motor is fed by an 11 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery that is said to offer a maximum range of 90 km (56 miles) on a single charge, once again highlighting its suitability for short journeys, which align with the intended use of the car.

Another important aspect is that the car can recharge in six hours using public charging stations, a domestic socket above 3 kW, or a wall box, highlighting the versatility and practicality of this car, as well as its adaptability to different applications. Just like the original 500 Spiaggina.

Produced from the late 1950s until the mid-1960s, the classic Spiaggina cost twice as much as the standard Fiat 500. Its cute beach buggy design with no doors or roof, wicker seats, and ropes instead of doors made it perfect for the sea and holidays, so it became a must among the wealthiest back in the day. Heads of state, celebrities, and socialites used them to zip around their vineyards and drive to the beach or around resorts during holidays.

The 500 Spiaggina E-Classic is the first project launched under Aznom's new Toys for Boys brand and showcases the company's support for the electrified future of mobility.