IF YOU SAW

IF YOU SAW THIS HEADLINE, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD THINK? ME, YOU MIGHT THINK, 14 GRAND FOR A NEW CAR IN THIS ECONOMY? WHAT A GREAT DEAL! WELL, IF YOU HAD A SIMILAR THOUGHT, DON'T GET TOO EXCITED. THE FIAT TOPOLINO IS IN FACT NOT REALLY A CAR AT ALL AND FUNCTIONS MORE LIKE A GOLF CART. THIS BRINGS ABOUT A NEW QUESTION. DOES ANYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES ACTUALLY WANT THIS THING? THE TOPOLINO TOPS OUT AT 19 MPH, OR 25 MILES PER HOUR WITH A LOW SPEED VEHICLE CONVERSION KIT ADD ON. A LOW-SPEED VEHICLE CONVERSION KIT CAN BOOST THE TOP SPEED TO 25 MPH TO MAKE IT STREET LEGAL ON ROADS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 35 MPH OR LESS, ACCORDING TO THE TRANS-ATLANTIC AUTOMAKER. A STELLANTIS SPOKESWOMAN SAID THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THE CONVERSION KIT BUT CONFIRMED A MANDATORY DESTINATION FEE WILL ADD $990 TO THE BASE PRICE, BRINGING THE CUSTOMER PRICE TO $14,985. THE TOPOLINO, WHICH TRANSLATES TO "LITTLE MOUSE" IN ITALIAN, IS PRODUCED IN MOROCCO. THE COMPANY SAID IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN LIMITED QUANTITIES THIS YEAR AS A HARDTOP MODEL AND THE DOLCE VITA SOFT-TOP CONVERTIBLE TYPE INSTEAD OF DOORS. IT CAN GO 46 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE, AND THAT RANGE SHRINKS TO ABOUT 40 MILES IF THE LOW-SPEED VEHICLE CONVERSION KIT IS ADDED. CURRENTLY THE TOPOLINO IS ONLY SOLD IN ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND VATICAN CITY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ORIGINAL HEADLINE, WILL BE COMING TO THE US IN 2027. IN ALL THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH WALKABLE CITIES AND WHERE HAVING A HYPER COMPACT VEHICLE AND THE LOW TOP SPEED WOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH OF A DRAWBACK. IN THE UNITED STATES, I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT A TOPOLINO. WE ARE A CAR DEPENDENT SOCIETY. EVERYTHING IS VERY SPREAD OUT, AND IF SOMEBODY DID WANT SOMETHING SLOW AND COMPACT TO TAKE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY COULD BUY A GOLF CART FOR HALF THE PRICE. AM I CRAZY? CAN YOU THINK OF A USE FOR THIS IN AMERICA?