The Fiat 500 Hybrid is Already in Italy
AUTO: Announced in spring 2024, the hybrid version of the Fiat 500 is finally beginning its commercial career. But not everywhere. For the moment, it is only offered in Italy, in a version which pays homage to its origins
The previous generation of the 500, relaunched in 2007, disappeared from the catalogs in the summer of 2024 due to new standards which disqualified it in Europe. Only the most recent Fiat 500e, 100% version, remained in dealerships electric as the name suggests. The latter unfortunately never met with the expected success, so much so Fiat decided to develop at great expense what was initially not planned: a version hybrid from its emblematic city car.
After two years of effort, orders are opened in Italy since mid-september. The rest of the’Europe should follow in a few weeks, and here is what Fiat will offer.
A valued cradle
While the previous one Fiat 500 was produced in Poland, the electric version (and therefore its hybrid version) leaves the historic Mirafiori factory, at Turin, cradle of the brand and the 500. That’s why the launch version is called… Torino.
Mechanically, the 500’s hybrid system is not based on the 1.2-liter engine Big Panda, but on the 3-cylinder 1.0 liter Firefly, with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The system develops a whopping… 65 hp.
Yes, it’s meager, especially for a bill of 20,500 euros. But to make it easier, this 500 Torino has just about everything from automatic climate control to the DAB+ multimedia system with wireless connection from Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, to the large 12’’ touchscreen and aids essential driving skills (but not the superfluous ones). A very generous car, therefore. Enough to relaunch the model’s career?
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