Fiat has released the first images of the new Fiat 500 Hybrid, revealing that it will feature a revamped interior and a six-speed manual transmission. Pre-launch prototypes show that it will look identical to the electric 500e, except for a redesigned grille to provide more airflow to the petrol engine.
Inside, the dashboard features a new, larger, squarer storage compartment, and the gear lever is positioned higher next to the steering wheel – just like in the old petrol 500.
Fiat has yet to confirm the powertrain of the Fiat 500 Hybrid, but it is expected to use the same 1.0-liter three-cylinder Firefly mild-hybrid engine used in the old 500 and Fiat Panda.
The presence of a manual transmission excludes the 1.2-liter Puretech three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine used in a wide range of models under the Stellantis umbrella, such as the new Fiat Grand Panda, as it is offered exclusively with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Production of the 500 Hybrid will begin in the fourth quarter of this year—before Fiat’s previously scheduled early 2026 deadline.
The move to modernize an electric car with an internal combustion engine is unprecedented in the European automotive industry. The reason for this is the need to increase production rates at the Mirafiori plant, amid sluggish sales of the 500e and its hot-rodder cousin, the Abarth 500e. This forced Fiat to halt production several times last year.
Meanwhile, the company has halted production of the older gasoline-powered 500 (which accounted for the majority of 500 sales). The 17-year-old model faced violations of new EU cybersecurity legislation, which would have required costly recertification efforts.
Fiat CEO Olivier François stated in a statement that the hybrid 500 will boost production at Mirafiori “to ensure the plant’s productivity.”
He added that launching a new 500 with an internal combustion engine in response to declining electric vehicle sales is “proof that social significance is at the heart of the brand’s message.”
Fiat’s reliance on a hybrid engine in the new Fiat 500 is a good reading of the European market’s demands, which has recently seen a rise in hybrid sales. Hybrid engines are considered the best choice between a conventional engine and an electric motor, as hybrid engines offer a longer range and multiple power sources.
