FIAT 600 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

One of the most successful cars in Fiat's history was the 500, a model that received many upgrades along its lifespan. Moreover, that little car paved the way for new vehicles that evolved from it, including its bigger sibling, the 600. Furthermore, both cars shared the same platform, including one powered by electrons, not by gasoline or diesel. To keep the car's price low, the automaker offered the 600e in just two versions: red and La Prima.

Customers asked for more crossovers, and Fiat thought about how to answer that request better, and the answer, in 2023, was the 600e. While the automaker made it to fit in the B-segment, the higher ground clearance and some of its details pushed it into the crossover area. Yet, it was mainly created to tackle cobblestone roads, pavement, and curbs. It was not the car someone would choose to go in the woods. The 600e featured a front fascia that resembled the same look as its smaller sibling, the 500e. Its LD headlights sported a half-circle design. They flanked the main grille, which was mostly blocked, and on the lower bumper, the designers placed a mesh grille with a squares-pattern look. From its profile, the five-door hatchback 600e boasted black plastic moldings around the wheel arches that matched the black matte side sills. Fiat offered the vehicle with up to 18" light-alloy wheels that created a powerful image for the little vehicle. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate was available with either a manual opening or a hands-free power one. As a final exterior detail, the 600e sported the nameplate embossed in the rear bumper adorned by the Italian flag.

Inside, Fiat created a cozy cabin fitted with ivory manmade leather that sported the carmaker's logo embroidered on them. Unusually for a car from this segment, customers could order the vehicle with back-massage seats and three heating levels. A 7" digital instrument cluster showed information about the car's function, while a 10.25" touchscreen had its place atop the center stack. In the back, there was enough room for three passengers on short jaunts that could fill the 60/40 split-folding bench seat. Fiat knew its customers, and that's why it tried to provide the car with enough storage areas that could hold up to 15 liters (0.5 cu-ft) of various small-sized items. At the back, the trunk could accommodate up to 385 liters (13.6 cu-ft) of space.

Fiat took the safety assistance systems very seriously, so it fitted the 600e with all the technology an urban driver would need. As a result, there was a radar behind the front bumper, in the middle of the lower grille, that helped with the adaptive cruise control or the automatic emergency braking system. For the drivetrain, Fiat offered just one choice: a 115 kW (156 HP) motor fueled by a 54 kWh battery pack.

For the 50th anniversary of the original Fiat 600, the Italian carmaker changed the name of the Seicento (six hundred) into 600. But it was more than that.

Since Fiat introduced the Seicento in 1998, it sold 1.1 million units sold worldwide by 2005. It was a great success for the Italian brand and, somehow, it wanted to show its appreciation for the historic model 600. It wasn't just a badge on the fenders and different upholstery.

At the front, the 2005 model 600 featured the same Fiat's badge design as it was in 1955 with white on blue lettering inside a chromed ring, plus two wings on its sides. A special, limited edition, a 50th-anniversary model was also introduced. It was offered in a light tan color with unique markings on the sides. The light-alloy wheels featured a special design with eight spokes.

As most of the anniversary car editions, it also featured distinct upholstery, with the Fiat logo printed on the front seats' seatbacks. Its specific colors, with light beige and gray, offered a luminous interior for the four passengers who could sit inside the car. The 600 was the smallest four-seat car on the market when it was introduced, and the 2005 model stepped on its paths.

Fiat's intention was to build efficient cars with great fuel efficiency and enough ability to find parking spots where most of the other cars could just dream of. Under the hood, the 2005 600 featured a 1.1-liter four-pot engine, paired to a 5-speed manual.

Two years before the first Fiat 500 Nuova rolled out of the assembly lane, Fiat introduced the 600 model, a car that redefined the family vehicle.

The 600 started its career in 1955 as a replacement for the Fiat Topolino, which was on the market since 1936. But the Italian carmaker didn't have too many resources after WWII, and that made it look to the small segment. It was the first Fiat with a rear-engine, and it was its first big success after the war. While it wasn't as successful as the 500, the 600 was the car to get for four adults on a long trip. It was more than a city car.

Fiat hired Dante Giacosa to design the 600. It was the same man that designed the Topolino. The Italian carmaker insisted on having a rear-engine vehicle, despite the designer being a big fan of front-wheel-drive cars. Giacosa created the vehicle big enough to fit four adults inside, but not bigger than that. The bubble-like roof was needed to offer decent headroom for the rear seat passengers. There was plenty of room in the front, anyway. The 600 featured flush to the fenders doors and rounded edges.

Inside, the 600 featured a long, metallic dash panel with the speedometer installed in an instrument cluster right in front of the driver. Since the car was very narrow, the designer installed handles to close the doors and vinyl pockets. Under the dashboard, he mounted a shelf.

Under the hood, Fiat installed a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that produced just 21 hp. It was paired to a 4-speed manual gearbox.