Fiat has launched a new ute, but it’s not designed to take on Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger, rather it’s a last-mile delivery vehicle currently aimed at Africa and the Middle East, but possibly coming to Europe in the not-too-distant future.
The new Fiat Tris is a three-wheel electric ute measuring just 3.17m from head to tail. For reference, kei cars which are popular in Japan — and increasingly seen on Australian streets as used imports — are 3.4m long.
Available in pickup truck, flatbed or chassis-cab configurations, the tiny Tris has 2.25 square metres of load space out the back. The cargo area can accommodate a standard euro pallet, and payload capacity is rated at 540kg.
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For those who fear it’ll tip over like a Reliant Robin, Fiat says it has optimised the Tris for stability with a wide rear track and long wheelbase. It rides on 12-inch wheels, and is said to be “well-suited for both urban and rural environments”.
The Tris is powered by a 48V electric motor making 9kW and 45Nm, which is capable of motivating the three-wheeler to a top speed of 45km/h.
It is powered by a 6.9kWh lithium battery that’s good for 90km of range under the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC).
Recharging can only be done via a standard 220V plug, and takes 4 hours and 40 minutes for a full recharge, while going from empty to 80 per cent requires 3.5 hours.
There are no doors to hinder entry and exit, and the cabin features a 5.7-inch instrumentation display, three-point seat belts, a 12V outlet, USB-C port, storage nets, and a closed glovebox.
Judging from the photos it seems like the seating cushion is placed directly atop the car’s battery. Other niceties include LED headlights, a reversing buzzer, and a washer tank.
Although the Tris is only being launched in Africa and the Middle East for now, it is homologated for EU regulations. Fiat says European sales are a possibility as “this kind of smart, sustainable solution speaks a universal language”.
The Fiat Tris is latest in a line of not-quite-a-car vehicles from Stellantis. Starting in 2020 the automaker has launched the Citroen Ami, Opel Rocks, and Fiat Topolino (above), a series of tiny two-seat electric city vehicles.
Due to their small size, light weight, and limited power and top speed, they are classified as two-door quadricycles, allowing them to be driven without a licence in some EU countries.
MORE: Everything Fiat