Fiat Phylla concept previews new Topolino electric minicar

Fiat recently revealed a new all-electric minicar concept, dubbed the Phylla, which was designed to showcase many of Fiat’s future environment friendly technologies such as electric propulsion and photovoltaic panels. It was developed by CRF (Centro Ricerche Fiat) and designed by Turin-based schools IED and IAAD, but latest reports claim the concept is a previous of a new all-electric minicar Fiat is planning to launch early next decade.

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne has revealed plans for a new minicar family under the revived ‘Topolino’ name, and now AutoExpress is reporting that one of the vehicles will be an all-electric model based on the Phylla.

Rival carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW are all planning electric minicars for their future lineups and it appears there could be even more additions to the segment further down the track.

Details about the regular Topolino are still scarce, but chances are it will be built on a shortened version of the Punto platform and feature a low-output engine developing less than a 100hp. Production of the new low-cost family will start at a former Zastava plant in Serbia, which was recently acquired by Fiat, around 2010 with the first cars to arrive in showrooms in early 2010.