ShareThisCHRYSLER IS SET to show an electric version of the Fiat 500 at next month's Detroit Auto Show, alongside a Lancia Delta wearing a Chrysler face, according to new reports today.
Little is known about the electric Fiat 500, although it is expected that components from Chrysler's cancelled ENVI electric vehicle project will feature. According to industry paper Automotive News, neither of the cars are scheduled for production.
Chrysler showed two electric vehicles at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, in the form of the Chrysler 200C and the Dodge Circuit EV.
Speaking of the ENVI project at the time, CEO for the Jeep brand, said electric vehicles had been made a top priority.
“Our goal is to provide creative solutions to the challenges that our customers face around the globe,” Michael Manley, Executive Vice President said.
“We’ve made electric vehicles the primary path to developing clean vehicles for all our product lines. We will produce at least one of these vehicles for North American markets in 2010 and for European markets after 2010.”
Chrysler officially cancelled the ENVI project in November as part of CEO Sergio Marchionne's plans to return the US carmaker to profitability. It is unclear at this stage if the electric 500 is a preview of things to come for Fiat and Chrysler.
As for the Chrysler-faced Lancia Delta, CEO Sergio Marchionne is reportedly looking at ways to merge the operations of the Lancia and Chrysler brands in the coming years.
Adding credence to the reports, Lancia CEO Olivier Francois was recently appointed head of the Chrysler brand.
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