New special-edition Fiat (500)RED priced from £16,435

Fiat has revealed pricing details and opened order books for the special edition (500)RED supermini and (500X)RED crossover, created through collaboration with international charity (RED). The mild-hybrid (RED) variant of the hatchback starts from £16,435, rising to £22,995 for the all-electric model. The (500X)RED is priced from £24,125.

The new version can most easily be distinguished from regular 500s by a unique red colour scheme, which runs from the exterior to the dashboard, floor mats and seats. However, customers can also choose from exterior shades other than red, including grey, white or black. And even if the buyer opts for a colour from the rest of the range, the (500)RED gets logos at the front and rear, as well as in the middle of the steering wheel.

Other tweaks to the 500 recipe include a contrast seat arrangement inside, where the driver’s seat is red but the others are in black. Single-colour red or black upholstery is also offered, with bespoke (RED) detailing. There’s a red anodised aluminium accelerator pedal, too, and customers will receive an email from Fiat boss Olivier Francois welcoming them to the (RED) community.

The all-electric (500)RED is offered in both hatchback and convertible body styles, and available with a choice of either 24kW or 42kW battery capacities. The convertible is only available with the larger battery option, and commands a £5,650 premium over the £22,995 asking price of the entry-level hard-top.

The mild-hybrid (RED) edition is equipped with a 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine with 69bhp. Prices start at £16,435 for the hatchback, rising to £19,085 for the (500)RED mild-hybrid convertible. 

The (500X)RED comes in Cross trim, fitted with either a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 118bhp, or a 1.3-litre unit turbo petrol unit with 148bhp. Prices start at £24,125, or £26,775 for the Dolcevita soft-top version.

The (RED) charity was founded 15 years ago to bring companies together in a bid to fight AIDS. The organisation has since expanded its remit to combat not only that disease but also Covid-19. It has generated almost $700million (£513m) and helped more than 220 million people, and Fiat plans to contribute more than $4million (£2.9m) over the next three years.

U2 lead singer Bono, one of (RED)’s co-founders, attended the reveal of the 500 model at an event in Turin that also celebrated the launch of a new exhibition at Fiat’s museum there. Casa 500 is designed to showcase the company’s intertwined history with Turin, including the development of the 500 model over three generations. It’s based at the Pinacoteca Agnelli museum and overlooks the famous test track in the old Lingotto facility. 

Fiat has also unveiled La Pista 500 on the roof of the same facility; it’s Europe’s largest hanging garden, with over 40,000 plants, and is designed to provide a natural oasis in the depths of Turin.

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