First Fiat 500 Hybrid Rolls Off Mirafiori Line Ahead Of Fall Launch

First Fiat 500 Hybrid Rolls Off Mirafiori Line Ahead Of Fall Launch​

Production Gears Up In Turin For New Gas-Electric Fiat 500 Ibrida​

Big news out of Italy—FIAT has officially assembled the first pre-production units of its all-new Fiat 500 Ibrida at the historic Mirafiori Assembly Plant in Turin. The gas-electric hybrid is on track to enter full production in November 2025, with Stellantis confirming that preparations are running on schedule.

First Fiat 500 Hybrid Rolls Off Mirafiori Line Ahead Of Fall Launch

The iconic Fiat 500 Hybrid is here! The first unit rolls off the Mirafiori line, ready for its much-anticipated fall launch.

moparinsiders.com

 

[bill burke]

If you have never experienced a Fiat 500, if like me, the car will amaze you. Comfortable, lots of little storage areas and updated tech housed in a very user friendly dash and controls. That experience leads me to say, why does this Fiat not sell well in the U.S.? I really never really considered the 500, too small for my lifestyle, but as a city car, it’s a home run. There should be a line of urban dwellers give the 500 a look see, perhaps in hybrid form it will catch on, but never giving ones a try is an experience no one should miss. Now go and experience one and be amazed, like me.

 

[patfromigh]

If you have never experienced a Fiat 500, if like me, the car will amaze you. Comfortable, lots of little storage areas and updated tech housed in a very user friendly dash and controls. That experience leads me to say, why does this Fiat not sell well in the U.S.? I really never really considered the 500, too small for my lifestyle, but as a city car, it’s a home run. There should be a line of urban dwellers give the 500 a look see, perhaps in hybrid form it will catch on, but never giving ones a try is an experience no one should miss. Now go and experience one and be amazed, like me.

The marketing of the Fiat brand in our market is totally wrong. The 500 is sold as a bauble in boutique-like dealer outlets, and that has led to a series of sales flops. The 500L and the 500X didn't resonate with buyers. We didn't receive the sportier and lighter front drive 500X that showed up in other markets, while the newer 1.3-T GSE appeared well after the failure of the 500L wagon here.

Right now I can get a cheaper lease on a Jeep Wagoneer S, than on a lease for the Fiat 500e. I don't live in Colorado where there were some great deals. Fiat-USA chose not to import the base entry level 500e, nor the Grande Panda.

The BSG mild hybrid with a manual transmission as seen in the photo above is a hard sell in our market. Maybe if they could slip in a hot turbo four and sell it as an Abarth, it might have potential. What Fiat needs to do for our market is offer the 500e with a range extender option. They have used Magna and Aisin transmissions in the past and both companies offer small ReEV solutions. The 500e does have space for batteries and a 10kw/h pack is plenty for an ReEV of that size.

Finally the sales strategy needs to be changed. I would leverage the Free-2-Move business unit to make the Fiat products more visible and allow the brand to offer more affordable options. Filter Fiats through the network then allows qualified dealers to bid on the used units at the auctions. It worked for the original Fiat 500e California compliance car. It should work again.

 

[redriderbob]