I test drove Fiat 500e La Prima car endorsed by opera legend Andrea Bocelli

BONO. DiCaprio. Bocelli. Not a bad little line-up, is it?

Fiat is doing something right when this lot choose to endorse its electric car.

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DiCaprio, a climate change activist, starred in 500e ads across Europe.

Bono designed RED special editions in aid of his global health charity.

Now Bocelli has put his name to a posh 500e with a top-notch 320W JBL sound system.

We’ve tried it. It’s class.

Flick between four individual settings personally approved by the singer — opera house, open-air arena, music room and recording studio.

They all sound very different.

All electric cars are whisper quiet.

But this is the first time a car firm has harnessed the silence of an EV to give us something truly special.

Fiat boss Olivier Francois said: “We’ve gone the extra mile.

“We have used sound mapping to bring the huge space of an open-air arena or an opera house inside a small car.

“The sound is amazing. It is a beautiful Italian experience mastered by Maestro Bocelli’s ‘absolute ear’.”

As for the car itself, Bocelli liked it so much he’s ordered one for his family.

He told me: “I’m having one for sure.

“My 500 story starts now. I will be more than happy to go around Italy and Tuscany with the 500e.

“It is a fantastic car. I hope it has the same success as the original 500.”

It turns out Bocelli, who is performing at the Queen’s Platinum Party At The Palace on Saturday, is a bit of an EVangelist.

He’s had a Tesla since 2008.

Francois added: “He has not been as vocal as Leonardo DiCaprio when it comes to driving electric and sustainability but he is very sincere.

“That is what he stands for.”

With or without Bocelli’s sound system, the 500e is an absolute peach.

Small, cool, and very Italian.

Every time you set off, it plays a little bit of opera. There are little nods to Turin dotted around the cabin.

Choose between two battery sizes, 24kWh or 42kWh, and two body types, hatchback or convertible. Prices from £22k.

We tried the top-rung La Prima by Bocelli with the fabric roof, 10in screen and lush interior crowned by that JBL sound system. Big battery only.

It’s a chunky £34k — but roof open, sound up, there’s nothing quite like it.

Bet you a tenor.

A touch of X-tra space

OUTGROWN the Fiat 500 but still want those cutesy looks and a peel-back fabric roof?

Then you’ll want a 500X.

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This baby SUV has a bigger boot, more cabin space and five doors, making it the obvious step up for young families who like what Fiat do.

There’s something else to consider as well.

New for 2022, Fiat has added battery power to the 500X.

Not pure electric like the 500e.

The 500X gets a 48v hybrid so it doesn’t need plugging in – and it’s always ready to go.

It sets off in EV mode, reverses in EV mode and uses the e-motor whenever it can at speed to maximise efficiency.

It’ll do 49mpg – about 5mpg more than the outgoing 1-litre petrol version – and is a little kinder to the planet.

It’s also got a bit more poke.

The 1.5-litre petrol/electric combo is officially 130hp but you get an additional 20hp with kick-down. Fiat don’t quote that.

Body control is decent. The steering is nice and light. You sit nice and comfy. The touchscreen talks to your phone.

But I do have one grumble. The seven-speed auto needs a shot of espresso.

It felt a little sluggish when moving between ratios.

As for prices, the 500X Hybrid starts at £27,595, which is a £3,750 uplift over a regular 500X.

Is it worth the extra outlay? I’m not so sure.

I’d rather tick the box for the Dolcevita fabric roof and pocket a grand.

That said, you’ll have to be quick because the 1-litre petrol goes off sale next month.

Fiat will give us a 500X-sized EV next year, using the same 50kWh battery as the Vauxhall Mokka, and will only sell EVs in Europe from 2027.

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