Fiat to Start Production of New 500 Hybrid in November
Fiat has announced that production of the new 500 Hybrid will commence in November. The first official images of the vehicle showcase significant updates to the interior, as well as the introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox.
Manufactured at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Fiat plans to produce over 100,000 units of the new model annually. Both hatchback and cabrio variants will be available for purchase.
The latest images of the pre-production models reveal that the new 500 Hybrid bears a striking resemblance to the electric 500e, with the only noticeable difference being a redesigned front grille to facilitate increased airflow to the petrol engine.
Powering the vehicle is the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid Firefly engine that was utilized in the previous 500 and the Fiat Panda.
Internally, the new Fiat 500 Hybrid mirrors the interior of the 500e, featuring Stellantis’s 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Additionally, the dashboard now includes a larger and more angular storage compartment, with the gearlever positioned next to the steering wheel – a design element reminiscent of the previous petrol 500.
This unconventional transition from an electric vehicle to a hybrid model represents a unique approach within the European automotive industry.
Reports from March 2024 indicated that this decision stemmed from two main challenges faced by Fiat.
Firstly, the company needed to ramp up production rates at the Mirafiori factory due to sluggish sales of the 500e and its performance-oriented variant, the Abarth 500e. This resulted in multiple production halts throughout the previous year.
Additionally, Fiat discontinued production of the older petrol 500 model, which constituted the bulk of 500 sales, as the outdated vehicle did not comply with new EU cybersecurity regulations. Adhering to these regulations would have necessitated a costly rehomologation process.
