Iconic car loved by UK drivers is reinvented as hybrid boasting 6-speed gearbox, huge storage cubby & swish front grille
AN ICONIC car brand has revealed the first look of its new hybrid model set to start production later this year.
Fiat's new 500 Hybrid has been revealed through photographs of a group of pre-release prototypes.
It looks almost identical to the electric 500e, but with a reworked front grille that can feed more air to a petrol engine.
It includes an overhauled interior and six-speed manual gearbox.
On the inside, the dashboard features a larger and squarer storage cubby compared to previous versions.
The gearlever and steering wheel have also been elevated.
Read More Motors News
This marks an important milestone for the new Fiat model's industrialisation process, on track to begin production by November this year.
On top of that, there is an estimated target to produce over 100,000 units of the hybrid 500 per year at full capacity.
Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis Global CMA, said: "With the 500 Hybrid, we are strengthening production at Mirafiori to ensure the plant’s productivity and meet the demand.
"Our roots are in Italy and it’s no coincidence that the two most iconic FIAT are made here: the Panda in Pomigliano and the 500 in Mirafiori."
Most read in Motors
He highlighted the affordable, electric and iconic nature of the new model.
The move to retrofit an electric car with a combustion engine has been considered unprecedented in the European car industry.
Additionally, presence of a manual gearbox means the 1.2-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid Puretech engine that is used in a range of models is not offered.
However, ambitions were a result of two key challenges that came from a report in March 2024.
One was that Fiat needed to up production rates at its Mirafiori factory, due to slow sales of the 500e and its Abarth 500e hot hatch, which stopped production several times last year.
It also ended production of the old petrol 500, which brought a majority of the 500 sales, due to new EU legislation on cybersecurity.
The 500 Hybrid therefore hopes to boost production at Mirafiori to "ensure the plant's productivity" with its new hybrid-equipped engined cars.
Francois added Fiat's shift towards EVs and hybrids is "proof that social relevance is at the core of the brand mission."
The company's design, production, and innovation in Italy demonstrates its commitment to continuing a story of local roots meeting global vision.
