FIAT Unveils Its 2022 “Dolcevita” Special Editions For 500X & 500 Cabrio!

FIAT has pulled back the covers on its new “Dolcevita” special edition for the Fiat 500 and 500X models. What the Italian brand calls the “ultimate expression” of Italian dolce vita, combines electrified hybrid engines with the freedom of open-air driving allowing the driver and their passengers to be surrounded by nature. The announcement comes just as the warmer weather is starting to arrive in Europe.

500X Dolcevita Special Edition – 

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The 500X Dolcevita stands out with its Gelato White exterior paint, which is exclusively paired with an Ivory-colored convertible soft-top. Designed to keep the truck space unaltered, the elegant soft-top opens in mere seconds with a single push of a button. Finishing off the “refined” look, are fine chrome and satin details, on things like the front grille trim, fog lamp bezels, and mirror caps. A set of 18-inch aluminum wheels with Grey details and the “Dolcevita” logo are written out in elegant italics.

Inside, the Ivory-colored Soft Touch seats stand out with their piping and white “500” logos. A white dashboard and chrome shift knob help set this special edition apart from the rest. Standard equipment includes a power driver’s seat, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, a rear backup camera, and a 7-inch Uconnect infotainment system which comes complete with navigation, HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto^TM.

The 500X Dolcevita special edition features the new turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine (which is part of the Stellantis Global Small Engine or “GSE” family). The engine delivers 130 horsepower and 176 ft.-lbs. (240 Nm) of torque, mated to a new 7-speed 7HDT300 dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The new propulsion system includes a built-in 48-volt 15 kW (20 horsepower) electric motor delivering 41 ft.-lbs. (55 Nm) of torque – equalizing to 99 ft.-lbs. (135 Nm) of torque at gearbox input level – which can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine (ICE) is turned off. The new Hybrid engine offers up to 15% lower consumption and CO₂ emissions than the previous gasoline models.

The new turbocharged 1.5-liter engine has been designed to be the best fit for hybrid usage, to optimize thermodynamics, and therefore to save on fuel consumption. It operates on the Miller cycle which improves thermal efficiency and offers a high compression ratio (12.5:1), a new cylinder head with a compact combustion chamber, dual variable valve timing, and special ‘high-tumble’ intake ducts. Also new is the high-pressure direct injection system, operating at up to 350 bar. 

The braking system of the new Hybrid model includes the Intelligent Brake System which includes an ‘auto-charge’ feature using mixed regenerative braking to maximize the recovery of kinetic energy and improve efficiency.

500 Dolcevita Special Edition – 

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Only available in the Cabrio version, the new 500 Dolcevita includes the same Gelato White exterior color, but this time matched with a Beige-colored soft-top. The mirror caps have been chromed, while the 16-inch aluminum wheels feature a black diamond-cut pattern. To elegantly cap it off, the logo “Dolcevita” is also written in italics.

The interior is even more elegant thanks to the addition of Ivory seats with Frau leather inserts and white “500” logos. A wooden dashboard fascia, leather shifter knob, 50/50 double rear seats, and exclusive floor mats with white borders, help to showcase how upscale the interior of the second-generation 500 can look.

There is also the addition of a 7-inch Uconnect infotainment system with navigation. 

Powering the 500 Dolcevita is the 1.0-liter (FireFly) three-cylinder engine. Equipped with a 12-volt Belt Start Generator (BSG) electric motor and a lithium battery that delivers 70 horsepower (51 kW) and a peak torque of 68 ft-lbs. (92 Nm). 

The cylinder head has two valves per cylinder and a single camshaft with continuous variable valve timing (the timing is chain-driven). The structure includes a compact combustion chamber, high-tumble intake ducts, and external Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), providing a remarkably high compression ratio (12:1), which translates into better thermal efficiency.

The crankcase, developed in collaboration with Teksid, is made of high-pressure die-cast aluminum alloy with cast-iron cylinder liners, to reduce start-up times and contain the weight of the engine to just 170 lbs. (77kg). Additionally, friction is reduced using a crank mechanism with a bore/stroke ratio of 1.24 and a connecting rod/crank device with a 10mm offset to maximize efficiency.

The BSG system is mounted directly on the engine and is operated by the belt that also drives the auxiliaries. The system recovers energy during braking and deceleration, stores it in a lithium battery with a capacity of 11Ah, and uses it, at a maximum power of 3,600-watts, to restart the engine in Stop & Start mode and to assist it during acceleration.

This technology allows the internal combustion engine to switch off by shifting into neutral, even at speeds below 18 mph. The dashboard, which displays information on the hybrid system, prompts the driver when to shift.