Due to arrive in Californian dealers, known as Fiat Studios, from the second quarter of this year, the 500e was rated at an electric equivalent of 116mpg. The MPGe figure calculates equivalent energy consumption to a US gallon of petrol.

The 500e recorded 108MPGe on the highway, and 122MPGe city-cycle rating – the former being the highest of any electric vehicle on sale in the United States.

Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand North America, said: ‘The FIAT brand is about unique Italian style, fuel efficiency and great value. Now we have taken a page from our own playbook to change the expectations of what an electric vehicle can be.’

Based on a conventional 500, the 500e uses a 111bhp battery-electric drivetrain and charges in less than four hours using its 240-volt on-board charger. Fiat has no plans to bring the model to European markets as yet.