"Fix It Again Tony". This phrase was coined back in the day as an urban joke for Fiat's inability when it came to consumer connect and reliability. While things have not looked so bright for this Italian marque on US soils, things are quite different on the other side of the pond.
The Fiat E-Ulysse is a new addition to the world of electric vans. While the performance figures are humble, this van has an interior that is more surprising than the snakes on Medusa's head. There are 28 configurations to confuse you, and Fiat wants to make the E-Ulysse as hospitable as possible.
This van is a looker, and this people-carrier comes with a well-stacked safety suite. You can order the Fiat E-Ulysse now (if residing in Europe) and delivers are slated for May-end. While prices are not confirmed, we expect the MSRP to hover around €40,000.
Fiat brings "The Italian Art of Hospitality" on four wheels with the all-new E-Ulysse.
Fiat Electrifies A Forgotten Nameplate
Fiat Ulysse was a people carrier that was made between 1994 and 2002. There were two generations of this practical MPV before being phased out in 2010. The Ulysse was revered for its fine blend of handling, modularity, and practicality. This MPV managed to form a bridge between a minivan and saloon, back in the day.
The Ulysse rose quickly to fame and the platform was used by both Peugeot and Citroën to make sister models. But as soon as the MPV craze died out by the end of 2010, Fiat decided to shelve its once-popular MPV. But now, the Ulysse nameplate has been revived as an all-electric MPV. And carries the same clever formula that made this MPV so lovable in the first place.
Shares Platform And Powertrain With Its Sisters
The Fiat E-Ulysse is also joined by the E-Scudo (a cargo version of the van). Both these electric MPVs are underpinned by the same EMP2 platform that is shared with other Stellantis offerings like Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën e-Jumpy, and Opel Zafira-E. The E-Ulysee packs a single electric motor (same as all its sister offerings) at the rear wheels that churns out 136 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. This electric Fiat comes with a 50 kWh battery pack as standard that translated to a maximum driving range of 143 miles in the WLTP cycle.
A bigger 75 kWh battery is also offered with a driving range of 205 miles. The van is huge, and its power is mediocre. And so, it is not surprising to see this Fiat take a cozy 13.5 seconds to cross the 62 mph mark and have a humble top speed of 80 mph. Keeping ease-of-usage in mind, Fiat offers the E-Ulysse with standard 100 kW fast charging capability which can juice the 50 kWh pack from 0-80 % in around 45 minutes.
Fiat's First-Ever Electric Minivan Looks Both Beefy And Classy
The electric-powered E-Ulysse looks beefy and has a commanding stance on the streets. The muscular fender flares go quite well with its boxy form factor. The front fascia looks intimidated with an upswept design and angry-looking xenon headlamp assembly. The huge "Fiat" logo is perfectly sized for the minivan. The windows are tall and wide, offering heightened viewing angles for the occupants inside.
It gets sliding doors for its second-row seats which also results in the side window pane looking like one continuous piece of glass. While the base trims come with steel wheels and plastic hubcaps, the top-spec ones are drool-worthy with cool 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels.
The rear lift-gate is automatic and has a split-opening function for the rear windshield. Also, this MPV can be had in two variants based on the length - standard (195.1 inches) and long (208.9 inches). And yes, black is the color to go for!
Fiat E-Ulysse Interior Comes In 28 Different Configurations
The interior is where this electric MPV's versatility shines forth. The E-Ulysse is offered in an impressive 12 configurations for the 8-seater "Shuttle" variant and 16 configurations for the 7-seater "Living Room" variant. Comfort and space are this MPV's forte (as it was two decades ago). The modularity level is insane here as all the second and third-row seats are mounted on rails.
This offers insane possibilities of configuring the cabin, by sliding seats about. It also packs a double-folding table that can be slid between the second and third-row seats. The seats can also be taken out for a more "luggage-friendly" layout. This flexibility allows you to have a maximum load volume of 173 cu. ft. (despite having three rows of lavish seating!). This makes this the best people-carrier of recent times.
E-Ulysse Is Loaded With Tech And Safety Features
A modular interior like this requires all the love when it comes to tech and safety. And the E-Ulysse happens to pack some interesting features too. In terms of tech, it is pretty straightforward. This van has a mundane dashboard that packs an analog instrument cluster and a 7-inch LCD infotainment unit.
The top-spec trims come with all the goodies like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the Connect Nav service provided by TomTom. The cabin also opens up to the skies with a cool two-strip panoramic glass sunroof that comes standard in the "Living Room" trim. Between the sunroof is a strip of air-con diffusers with 6 adjustable vents. It is also layered with two LED strips for an "aircraft lounge" appeal.
Fiat also offers a portable air sanitizer to uphold its "Italian art of hospitality" stand. Another impressive list of features comes in the form of safety aids. The driver aid feature list includes traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitor, Forward collision warning with an autonomous emergency brain, and Grip Control traction control to name a few.
Sources: Media.stellantis.com, Autoweek.nl, Automotiveworld.com, Autoevolution.com, Carscoops.com