Shortly after the Fiat Topolino’s arrival in the U.S., an American tuning company has pushed the tiny electric car far beyond its original speed limits. 500 MADNESS, a Texas-based specialist in Fiat and Abarth models, offers a performance upgrade that nearly triples the Topolino’s top speed, lifting it from a modest 19 mph to around 50 mph.
From Low-Speed Vehicle to Faster Urban Runabout
Fiat recently provided U.S. owners a free upgrade that raises the Topolino’s top speed from 19 mph (30 km/h) to 25 mph (40 km/h). This tweak was mainly to fit legal requirements for Low-Speed Vehicles, allowing limited road use.
However, 500 MADNESS has taken a bolder approach. Their MAXPower Performance ECU retunes the car’s electric motor, boosting output from about 8 horsepower to roughly 14 hp and increasing torque to 43 Newton-metres. This power jump of about 75% powers the car to speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h), according to the company.
Simple Installation, Legal Caution
The upgrade is plug-and-play, replacing the original engine control unit with the new one preconfigured for higher performance. It’s reversible, meaning owners can switch back to the stock ECU easily.
Despite the dramatic boost, 500 MADNESS warns users that this upgrade could affect the Topolino’s classification and legality for on-road use. Because rules vary by state, they offer the ECU with a disclaimer for “Off-Road and Race Use Only.”
A Growing Range of Customization for the Topolino
This ECU upgrade is just one part of 500 MADNESS’s efforts to customize the U.S. version of the Fiat Topolino. Their catalogue includes adjustable suspension parts, short springs, aftermarket rims, a MOMO steering wheel, tubular doors, body accessories, and throttle controllers.
With a deep background in tuning Italian cars, 500 MADNESS has quickly turned the Topolino from a slow city car into a more spirited ride, surprising many with the compact EV’s newfound speed potential.
Source: italpassion.fr