Fiat’s beloved 500 hatchback, which has until now been sold exclusively as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), is set to make a return in a hybrid version, reintroducing internal combustion power to the lineup. Fiat, part of the larger Stellantis group, has officially begun pre-production of a hybrid variant of the 500 at its Mirafiori facility in Turin, Italy. Full-scale production is scheduled to commence in November, and Fiat anticipates an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 units once operations are fully up and running.
The decision to add a combustion engine to a model originally envisioned as an all-electric car stems from underwhelming sales of the 500e. Fiat has had to pause production multiple times in response to weak demand for the electric-only model. To address the market shortfall and attract a broader customer base, Fiat announced plans for a hybrid version approximately a year ago. While the fully gas-powered version of the Fiat 500 was phased out in the United States back in 2019, it continued to be available in Europe until 2024 and remains in select markets outside the European Union.
The new 500 Hybrid is expected to be equipped with a manual transmission, similar to its predecessor. Although Fiat has not released full technical specifications, official images show a six-speed stick shift, signaling that the car will likely come with a small three-cylinder engine. Reports from Motor1 Italy suggest the powertrain will be a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid unit delivering around 70 horsepower, mirroring the output of the previous-generation 500 Hybrid and the Fiat Panda.
In terms of design, the hybrid version of the 500 will look almost identical to the electric 500e, including subtle details like the fuel cap position on the rear-right fender. According to reports from Italian media, Fiat plans to call this version the 500 Torino, helping distinguish it from the electric 500e. Inside the cabin, notable additions include a manual gear shifter and a third pedal, but the instrument cluster remains concealed in early prototypes. However, it’s expected to differ slightly from the digital layout seen in the EV model.
As for the high-performance Abarth variant, fans may be disappointed. Fiat has confirmed that its Abarth division will not be producing a combustion-powered hot hatch this time around. The mild-hybrid engine is simply not powerful enough to meet Abarth's performance standards. Additionally, due to design limitations inherent in the 500’s electric-focused architecture, it would be challenging to install a more powerful engine. Stricter European emissions regulations further complicate matters, effectively pushing Abarth toward an all-electric future for its performance offerings.
This new hybrid strategy demonstrates Fiat’s effort to strike a balance between electrification and consumer demand, offering more choice while continuing its gradual transition toward sustainable mobility.