Series production of the new FIAT 500 hybrid will begin in November

The FIAT 500e arrived on the market five years ago as an exclusively electric model that was going to do away with the combustion engine altogether. In principle, this idea seemed to make complete sense, since a vehicle like this is designed primarily for urban use. However, an essential characteristic of a model intended for everyday city driving, and which will normally be a second car for many families, is that it is also affordable.

With a price of more than 30 thousand euros in its fully electric version, buying a FIAT 500e means paying practically double what its combustion-engined predecessor cost until it was withdrawn from the market. A price gap that is difficult to justify for many customers.

To fill the gap that the FIAT 500e was leaving in the market, the Italian manufacturer is preparing to sell a new hybrid version, with the aim of selling more than 100 thousand units per year. This new model is based on the same platform as the electric FIAT 500e, and does not appear to include radical changes beyond those necessary to integrate a combustion engine and a manual gearbox.

A straightforward adaptation of the electric version

The images published by the manufacturer show that even the wheels are the same and the exhaust pipe has been discreetly hidden under the bumper. The only visible difference on the exterior is the grille, which, as in any vehicle with a combustion engine, requires an opening for ventilation.

That said, it is important to point out that although no confirmed details are available today, it seems quite likely that this is not a full hybrid model, but a mild one. Currently, there are no hybrids with a manual gearbox, except for those that Honda offered for a time. And it does not seem to make much sense for FIAT to have invested time and money in developing a manual gearbox for a hybrid model like this one, where reducing costs is essential.

If it ultimately turns out to be a mild hybrid, it will most likely feature a three-cylinder, one-litre engine like its predecessor, which delivered 70 horsepower. In any case, it should also not be forgotten that this new combustion-engined FIAT 500 is somewhat larger than the previous one, so if the same engine specifications are kept, the vehicle’s dynamic performance could suffer.

Either way, what is clear is that incorporating a combustion engine into a vehicle designed from the outset to be exclusively electric is a step backwards in the Italian manufacturer’s ambitious plans for the transition towards more sustainable mobility. But reality rules, and this has been the only option FIAT has found to adapt to current market conditions.