Home / Design

Vintage Fiat 500 Transformed into Modern Electric Vehicle

By Jessica Stewart on June 3, 2019

Garage Italia - Fiat 500 - Electric Car Conversion

In a bid to merge the spirit of vintage vehicles with the trend of electric cars, Italian creative agency Garage Italia has created the Icon-e project. By converting classic cars into electric automobiles, they're celebrating the past while looking toward the future. As a first step, Garage Italia has converted the beloved Fiat 500.

The firm has removed the roof and door panels, giving a light and airy feel that doesn't compromise the classic lines of the car design. Seats made from woven natural rope add an elegant, yet slightly rustic touch. Supervised from start to finish by Garage Italia to ensure quality, the Fiat 500 Jolly Icon-e combines high style with reliability.

Discreet technological flourishes finish out the model, including a digital instrument panel with a 5-inch screen. The electric engine was developed in collaboration with Newtron Group and is flanged directly to the original gearbox. Additional touches include LED headlights, a Fiat medallion that opens to reveal a charging port, and a shift stick with two symbols to denote the two gears—tortoise and hare.

As the first vintage vehicle to undergo the Icon-e treatment, the Fiat 500 Jolly Icon-e is a tantalizing result. In Garage Italia's bid to demonstrate how a passion for cars and a desire for sustainable transport aren't mutually exclusive, they've managed to retain the essence of what makes the 500 iconic while introducing much-needed upgrades.

The Fiat 500 Jolly Icon-e is just the first of many refurbished classic cars to come, as Garage Italia continues to support tradition while catering to modern needs.