ITALIAN style has never been confined to the runway. During Fashion Week, it appears in the details: the cut of a coat, the finish of a shoe, the particular pleasure of something that has been considered properly. And, this season, it could be found between the shows in London, too – behind the wheel of the Fiat 600e La Prima.
For two magazine editors moving between appointments across London, the car become something of a mobile front row. London Fashion Week is feat of logistics as much as it is of taste: one show in the corner of the city, another somewhere entirely different, with just enough time between the two to make getting there feel like part of the schedule. The 600e made the business of crossing town feel notably less complicated.
Fiat 600e La Prima
Fiat 600e La Prima
That ease is central to the car’s design. The Fiat 600 combines compact proportions with a raised driving position and crossover practicality, while retaining the playful, distinctly Italian character FIAT likes to describe as its “Dolce Vita” spirit. In La Prima guise, that translates into a more considered interior, with eco-leather upholstery, heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 360 degree parking system – useful details when navigating the busy streets of central London.
Inside, the emphasis is on making everyday life simpler rather than adding unnecessary fuss. There are 15 litres of storage for the things that accumulate during the day at shows – phones, bags, water bottles, gifts and plenty of show notes – alongside a 10.25 inch screen and wireless smartphone connectivity so its easy to make calls with colleagues. It is this sort of thoughtful design that we enjoy here at GLASS.
Inside Fiat 600e La Prima
And then there is the electric part. The 600s’s 54kWh battery and 156hp motor offer up to 254 miles of WLTP combined range, with a handy 100kW DC fast charging capable of taking the batter from 20% to 80% in 27 minutes – the usual length of time from sitting down to leaving a show.
Italian style, after all, is not only about what catches the eye. It is also about how something works, how it feels to use, and the pleasure of arriving exactly when you meant to. During London Fashion Week, the Fiat 600s La Prima offered a particularly modern expression of that idea: less runway spectacle, more beautiful, designed way of getting there.
by Imogen Clark
Find out more, here.