Latest news with #Mirafiori
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Standard
Stellantis to ramp up India investment, targets strategic market status
People walk next to the N.13 gate of the Franco-Italian automaker Stellantis factory of Mirafiori, in Turin, Italy October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fiat unveils new petrol car after EV sales tank
Fiat has unveiled its latest car having been forced to introduce it in response to underwhelming demand for its electric vehicles that has seen sales slide in recent years. The legendary Italian marque has revealed the new 500 Hybrid - a car it said just five years it would never produce. It is largely based on the Fiat 500e, which when launched in 2020 bosses said would be exclusively sold as an EV as part of the brand's plan to accelerate its shift to battery power by the end of the decade. But with sales in freefall due to low public demand for EVs - and older drivers in particular shunning the electric city car - the company has been forced to backtrack on its previous promise. As a result, it has redeveloped the 500e's architecture to incorporate a hybrid drivetrain to provide customers with the petrol cars they want. Olivier Francois, chief executive of Fiat, said last week that the decision to shoehorn a combustion engine into the 500e's platform is a 'bet on the customer and the future'. He confirmed production of the 500 Hybrid will start in November, with the intention of delivering 5,000 units in 2025 before upping output to 100,000 cars per year at its Mirafiori factory in Turin - the same plant where 500e is built. Both the conventional 500 hatchback and 500C cabriolet will be available with the hybrid drivetrain, which is the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder powertrain in the previous-generation 500 and Panda. It is married to a six-speed manual transmission, as Fiat opts for a traditional route to appease customers who have refused to switch to its electrified 500. From the outside, it looks almost undistinguishable from its EV sibling. In fact, the only major difference is the reworked grille, with additional venting to cool the engine. Inside, the cabin is completely reworked from the last petrol-driven 500, with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen taking centre stage. The motor industry's EV U-turn When the 500e first emerged on the scene in 2020, Fiat insisted it would be sold only with battery power. Any customers who wanted a 500 with a petrol engine were informed they would need to make do with the older version, which would remain in production - and on sale - simultaneously. However, its plans were scuppered last summer when the old 500 - a car that dates back to 2007 with little development since - no longer adhered to European safety regulation, leaving Fiat no option but to discontinue it. The introduction of the EU's General Safety Regulation II on 7 July 2024 - rules that mandate for all new models to be fitted with a suite of safety features, including Intelligent Speed Assistance ( ISA ) speed limiters - effectively killed off the old 500 with immediate effect. This created a significant problem for Fiat, given the worrying lack of appetite for the 500e in recent years. Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of 500 deliveries in 2023 in Europe were the older model, with customers wanting a conventional petrol engine despite the 500e offering the latest tech and a far more advanced package that the near 20-year-old variant. In July 2024, Francois confirmed the company would have to take appropriate measures to modify the 500e's architecture to take a petrol powertrain for European buyers who have 'turned their back on the sustainable solution,' he said at the brand's 125th-anniversary celebrations in Turin that month. He said the car company had anticipated that the 'world would go electric faster and the cost of electrification would go down faster,' but says the impact of Covid and shortage of raw materials took a significant toll on the EV revolution. He added that the company 'couldn't imagine' that all but 'the youngest' drivers would 'turn their backs' on electric cars as a result. 'This is the reality. We have to face those realities,' he said. Just two months after Francois confirmed the new 500 Hybrid would arrive by 2026, Fiat announced in September that appetite for the 500e had sunk so low that it had a surplus of cars and would suspend 500e outputs at the Turin factory for seven weeks. 'The measure is necessary due to the current lack of orders linked to the deep difficulties experienced in the European electric (car) market by all producers, particularly the European ones,' Fiat's parent group Stellantis said at the time. Official figures for 2024 show that Fiat's registrations in the UK alone fell by 14 per cent year-on-year, partly driven by its EV ambitions. Fiat's U-turn on exclusively selling new models as EVs isn't unprecedented. In fact, sister brands under the Stellantis banner have done the same in recent months. Jeep's Avenger SUV was - like the 500e - was originally intended to be sold only with battery power in the UK but in 2024 the brand opted to make a mild-hybrid petrol variant available having seen limited orders for the EV.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fiat unveils new petrol car that's born as result of tanking EV sales
Fiat has unveiled its latest car having been forced to introduce it in response to underwhelming demand for its electric vehicles that has seen sales slide in recent years. The legendary Italian marque has revealed the new 500 Hybrid - a car it said just five years it would never produce. It is largely based on the Fiat 500e, which when launched in 2020 bosses said would be exclusively sold as an EV as part of the brand's plan to accelerate its shift to battery power by the end of the decade. But with sales in freefall due to low public demand for EVs - and older drivers in particular shunning the electric city car - the company has been forced to backtrack on its previous promise. As a result, it has redeveloped the 500e's architecture to incorporate a hybrid drivetrain to provide customers with the petrol cars they want. Olivier Francois, chief executive of Fiat, said last week that the decision to shoehorn a combustion engine into the 500e's platform is a 'bet on the customer and the future'. He confirmed production of the 500 Hybrid will start in November, with the intention of delivering 5,000 units in 2025 before upping output to 100,000 cars per year at its Mirafiori factory in Turin - the same plant where 500e is built. Both the conventional 500 hatchback and 500C cabriolet will be available with the hybrid drivetrain, which is the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder powertrain in the previous-generation 500 and Panda. It is married to a six-speed manual transmission, as Fiat opts for a traditional route to appease customers who have refused to switch to its electrified 500. From the outside, it looks almost undistinguishable from its EV sibling. In fact, the only major difference is the reworked grille, with additional venting to cool the engine. Inside, the cabin is completely reworked from the last petrol-driven 500, with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen taking centre stage. The motor industry's EV U-turn When the 500e first emerged on the scene in 2020, Fiat insisted it would be sold only with battery power. Any customers who wanted a 500 with a petrol engine were informed they would need to make do with the older version, which would remain in production - and on sale - simultaneously. However, its plans were scuppered last summer when the old 500 - a car that dates back to 2007 with little development since - no longer adhered to European safety regulation, leaving Fiat no option but to discontinue it. The introduction of the EU's General Safety Regulation II on 7 July 2024 - rules that mandate for all new models to be fitted with a suite of safety features, including Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) speed limiters - effectively killed off the old 500 with immediate effect. This created a significant problem for Fiat, given the worrying lack of appetite for the 500e in recent years. Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of 500 deliveries in 2023 in Europe were the older model, with customers wanting a conventional petrol engine despite the 500e offering the latest tech and a far more advanced package that the near 20-year-old variant. In July 2024, Francois confirmed the company would have to take appropriate measures to modify the 500e's architecture to take a petrol powertrain for European buyers who have 'turned their back on the sustainable solution,' he said at the brand's 125th-anniversary celebrations in Turin that month. He said the car company had anticipated that the 'world would go electric faster and the cost of electrification would go down faster,' but says the impact of Covid and shortage of raw materials took a significant toll on the EV revolution. He added that the company 'couldn't imagine' that all but 'the youngest' drivers would 'turn their backs' on electric cars as a result. 'This is the reality. We have to face those realities,' he said. Inside, the cabin is completely reworked, with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen. As you can see, they hybrid fully goes down the traditional route with a 6-speed manual gearbox An image of the new 500 Hybrid in production at the Turin factory, with a fuel cap in situ for the first time on this latest generation of the iconic city car Just two months after Francois confirmed the new 500 Hybrid would arrive by 2026, Fiat announced in September that appetite for the 500e had sunk so low that it had a surplus of cars and would suspend 500e outputs at the Turin factory for seven weeks. 'The measure is necessary due to the current lack of orders linked to the deep difficulties experienced in the European electric (car) market by all producers, particularly the European ones,' Fiat's parent group Stellantis said at the time. Official figures for 2024 show that Fiat's registrations in the UK alone fell by 14 per cent year-on-year, partly driven by its EV ambitions. Fiat's U-turn on exclusively selling new models as EVs isn't unprecedented. In fact, sister brands under the Stellantis banner have done the same in recent months. Jeep's Avenger SUV was - like the 500e - was originally intended to be sold only with battery power in the UK but in 2024 the brand opted to make a mild-hybrid petrol variant available having seen limited orders for the EV. Citroen took the same approach recently with its C4 X. It comes as a number of major car brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi and Ford have in recent months announced significant delays to their EV plans as a result of lower-than-anticipated uptake of EVs.
Auto Blog
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Fiat's 500 Hybrid Aims to Do What the EV Couldn't
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Fiat Hasn't Been Doing Great Fiat has been in trouble for years. In the US, the brand has become more of a punchline than a presence. Sales are sluggish, showroom traffic is a memory, and aside from the quirky charm of the 500e, the brand's lineup has shriveled into near irrelevance. Even in Europe, its historical foothold, Fiat has struggled to maintain momentum in the face of fierce competition and unpredictability of electrification. 2024 Land Rover Defender V8 review: Still wild at heart Watch More Fiat's parent company, Stellantis, has seen the Italian marque underperform compared to its French and American siblings. The Mirafiori plant in Turin, once the pride of Italian industry, has been underutilized thanks in part to the modest demand for the all-electric 500e. Enter the new Fiat 500 Hybrid, serving as a lifeline for the embattled automaker. Positioned between Fiat's full-electrification push and its internal-combustion past, the 500 Hybrid wants to win over those who want affordability, character, and efficiency without going fully electric. What the Fiat 500 Hybrid Brings to the Table At a glance, the new 500 Hybrid looks just like the 500e – stylish, compact, and unmistakably Italian – but underneath, it's a different animal. It's powered by Fiat's 1.0-liter FireFly three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine, expected to produce 69 horsepower and 68 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission, it brings back an analog joy that's increasingly rare, especially in the world of electrified cars. The car will be available in three body styles: a traditional Hatchback, the quirky 3+1 with a rear-hinged third door, and a Cabrio, making the 500 still the only convertible in its class. The interior is equipped with modern features, such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a suite of ADAS features like lane keeping and emergency braking. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Production kicks off this November at Mirafiori, with 5,000 units planned by year's end and a ramp-up to 100,000 units annually. A '500 Torino' special edition will be launched to mark the occasion. Pricing and Availability In Europe, the Fiat 500 Hybrid will start at just €17,000, making it nearly €2,000 cheaper than the 500e. In the US, the fully electric 2025 500e is solely available at $35,500 for the Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition. If the 500 Hybrid makes it to American shores, it could undercut that by several thousand dollars, hopefully sliding in under $30,000, bringing some much-needed affordability to Fiat's US offerings. But that's still a big 'if.' Stellantis has not confirmed any plans to bring the 500 Hybrid to America… yet. There's also the matter of tariffs, which Fiat will have to face since it's coming from Italy. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Motor 1
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Fiat's New 70-Horsepower Gas Hatchback Is For 'Real People'
Fiat had no choice but to pause production of the 500e several times due to low demand. Realizing the situation wasn't improving, the company announced last year that it would fit its smallest hatchback with a gasoline engine. A new production line at the Mirafiori plant is already operational and is currently building pre-production cars. Customer vehicles will begin rolling off the assembly line in November. By year's end, about 5,000 units are expected to leave the factory. Fiat's CEO, Olivier Francois, describes the gas-powered model as 'the 500 for real people, the pragmatic 500.' It starts at €17,000 ($20,000) in Italy. Ok, it's not exactly cheap, but still about €5,000 (nearly $6,000) less than the purely electric version. Although it's no bargain, it's worth noting that Italians pay a 22% value-added tax (VAT). As with the EV, the combustion-powered 500 will be offered in three configurations: hatchback, convertible, and the asymmetrical 3+1 with an additional rear-hinged door on the passenger side. Photo by: Fiat Although the platform wasn't originally designed to accommodate a combustion engine, the 500 now features a small three-cylinder unit in the form of a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid unit producing 70 horsepower. This engine is carried over from the previous-generation 500 and the aging Panda , which Fiat has been selling since 2011. The FireFly-family engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, with no mention yet of an automatic option. We can assume that removing the battery pack significantly reduces weight. Until Fiat releases full technical specifications, it's worth remembering that the 500e weighs 1,255 kilograms (2,767 pounds) with the smaller 24-kWh battery. The larger 42-kWh pack increases the weight to around 1,340 kg (2,952 lbs). Visually, the gas and electric versions are nearly identical, except for a horizontal front grille slat added to cool the combustion engine. The 500 Hybrid's launch comes at a time when Stellantis is concerned it may have to scale back production of gasoline vehicles to avoid EU fines for exceeding fleet-wide emissions targets. Fiat's parent company has until the end of 2027 to comply with the newly imposed regulations. Ironically, if the gas model is a sales success, it could make achieving those targets more difficult by increasing average CO₂ emissions. Stellantis will need to ramp up EV sales to offset the added emissions and avoid penalties. 2026 Fiat 500 with gas engine 22 Source: Stellantis Fiat is introducing the gas-powered 500 as part of an effort to revitalize the plant in Turin, which produced only 25,000 cars last year despite having the capacity to build 100,000 annually. Sluggish demand for the 500e prompted the Stellantis brand to rethink its strategy and manufacture both the combustion and electric variants under the same roof. Its performance division, Abarth, is set to bid farewell to gas engines, citing steep taxes in Europe on cars with higher emissions. Consequently, don't expect a hot hatch version of the gas 500. Instead, a sporty Abarth-badged 500e is available, and even a 600e crossover. Catch Up With Fiat: Who Bought a New Fiat 124 Spider In Q2 2025? Base Fiat Grande Panda: No Center Screen, Just Plastic Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
