I am a You
Tube commercial hunter. With the wonderful new technology that graces even the
most basic cable or satellite services, television viewers no longer have to
endure the onslaught of commercial advertisements that break up our beloved
shows. I’ll be honest though – I enjoy commercials…for the most part. I like
knowing what new products are out there. More so, I like making fun of certain
commercials (why does KIA think giant rodents driving their cars will prompt
anyone to go buy one) and I like finding those hidden gems, the companies that
really nail a commercial. We no longer have to wait for the Super Bowl for high
quality commercials as companies seem to be able to do more with less. But with
the joy that is the DVR, we skip over commercials and thus miss the magic. That
is why I turn to You Tube these days – to watch commercials (too much free
time, I know).
I came across one of those hidden
gems just the other days from the fine folks at FIAT. I knew little about the
Italian car designers until I saw their commercials and did some research. The new lines of FIAT 500’s, which had their
debut at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show this past November, are electric. I am really
planning to go electric once our current cars breathe their last, especially
with the gas prices continuing to climb. Plus, electric cars have come a long
way since their infancy.
Fiat states that its new electric car effectively combines zero local
emissions driving and "iconic Italian design." The 500e is powered by
a 111-hp (83 kW) electric motor and floor-mounted 24 kWh lithium-ion battery
pack that provide up to 80 miles (129 km) of range (100 miles/161 km in the
city), 147 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h). Fiat estimates
that the 500e will boast 108 mpg-e combined, making it one of the most efficient
and cleanest, cars on the road.
An electric minicar may never be the equivalent of a V8
sports car when it comes to driving excitement, but Fiat thinks the car will be
more fun to drive than competitors.
FIAT stated in a press release, "Other EVs are benign
and lifeless until the accelerator is pressed. In keeping with its sporty,
fun-to-drive character, the Fiat 500e incorporates a ‘creep’ feature, which
launches the car smoothly and assuredly as soon as its brake pedal is released,
just like a vehicle powered by an idling engine."The battery pack will
take less than four hours to charge with a 240-volt Level 2 charger or about 24
hours with a 120-volt charger.
Electric
cars aren’t for everyone, which is a good thing for anyone outside of
California where the 500e will be sold. That being said, FIATs ‘regular’,
non-electric cars are just as stylish and sporty as their competitors. To talk
to some of the best FIAT experts in the DFW area, hop on over to Holt FIATof Hurst dealership.
And the commercial
that caught my eye? You can check it out here:
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