Remember how some automakers told us EVs would replace gas cars? That doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon. In fact, Porsche recently admitted that future models originally conceived as EVs could end up with combustion engines after all. In the mainstream segment, Fiat is already making that shift.
The latest-generation 500 has so far been offered exclusively as an electric vehicle, but it won’t be long before you’ll be able to get the cutesy hatchback with internal combustion power. The Italian brand, part of the Stellantis automotive conglomerate, has kicked off pre-production of the 500 with a hybrid powertrain. Series production at the Mirafiori plant in Turin is scheduled to begin in November, with annual output projected to reach up to 100,000 units once fully ramped up.
Photo by: Fiat
As for why Fiat is adding an engine to a car that wasn’t supposed to have one, the answer is simple: the 500e hasn’t met sales expectations. Production has been paused multiple times due to weak demand, prompting the company to announce a new hybrid variant about a year ago. It’s worth noting that although the old gas-powered 500 was discontinued in the U.S. back in 2019, it continued to be sold in Europe until 2024. It’s still available in certain markets outside the EU.
Like its predecessor, the upcoming 500 Hybrid features a manual gearbox. Fiat hasn’t shared technical details about its “new” entry-level model, but these official shots clearly show a stick shift. The six-speed manual is expected to pair with a tiny three-cylinder engine. According to Motor1 Italy, it’s a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid producing a mighty 70 horsepower to match the previous 500 Hybrid and the aging Panda.
Visually, the three-cylinder 500 is nearly identical to its zero-cylinder sibling, right down to the location, shape, and size of the fuel cap on the rear-right fender. Reports from Italy say Fiat has named the car the 500 Torino, to distinguish the hybrid from the electric 500e. Inside, aside from the cue ball-style shift knob and third pedal, the instrument cluster remains hidden in prototypes, though it’s expected to differ slightly from the EV’s display.
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Source: Fiat
Typically, a new 500 with a combustion engine would hint at a hotter Abarth version, but that’s not happening this time. Fiat’s performance division is sticking to its EV-only strategy, arguing the mild-hybrid engine is too small to deliver the power expected from an Abarth.
Since the 500 was designed as an EV, packaging constraints likely prevent fitting a larger engine. Stricter emissions regulations also deal another blow to the hot hatch’s future, effectively forcing Abarth to go fully electric going forward, at least in Europe.