After months of seeing test vehicles out on public roads in Italy, FIAT has finally unveiled its new 500X Hybrid and Tipo Hybrid lineups for the 2022 model year. The introduction of the two new electrified FIAT models means that the brand now has a full lineup of electrified options for the European marketplace. It started with the launch of the 500 Hybrid and Panda Hybrid, continued with the new 500e and Ulysse van, and now those models are joined by the 500X Hybrid and Tipo Hybrid with the new Stellantis turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with a 48-volt hybrid system.
New Turbocharged 1.5-liter Hybrid Powertrain –
The new Hybrid models feature the new turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine (which is part of the Stellantis Global Small Engine or “GSE” family). The engine delivers 130 horsepower and 176 ft.-lbs. (240 Nm) of torque, mated to a new 7-speed 7HDT300 dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The new propulsion system includes a built-in 48-volt 15 kW (20 horsepower) electric motor delivering 41 ft.-lbs. (55 Nm) of torque – equalizing to 99 ft.-lbs. (135 Nm) of torque at gearbox input level – which can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine (ICE) is turned off. The new Hybrid models offer up to 15% lower consumption and CO2 emissions than the previous gasoline models.
The new turbocharged 1.5-liter engine has been designed to be the best fit for hybrid usage, to optimize thermodynamics, and therefore to save on fuel consumption. It operates on the Miller cycle which improves thermal efficiency and offers a high compression ratio (12.5:1), a new cylinder head with the compact combustion chamber, dual variable valve timing, and special ‘high-tumble’ intake ducts. Also new is the high-pressure direct injection system, operating at up to 350 bar. The gasoline engine delivers an output of 130 horsepower, while peak torque reaches 176 ft.-lbs. (240 Nm). A Belt-Starter Generator (BSG) is also installed in the gasoline engine, to guarantee fast and silent transitions when restarting.
The braking system of the new Hybrid models includes the Intelligent Brake System which includes an ‘auto-charge’ feature using mixed regenerative braking to maximize the recovery of kinetic energy and improve efficiency.
New “EV” Engine Features –
Courtesy of the new propulsion system, the hybrid models deliver a versatile and relaxing driving experience, with various features allowing the vehicle to move in electric mode (“EV features”). These include:
- Silent Start: starts the vehicle with no need to turn on the gasoline engine, by using an “EV” pure-electric, silent driving mode
- Energy Recovery: recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the vehicle decelerates (e-Coasting) and during braking (Regenerative Braking);
- Boost & Load Point Shift: ‘e-Boosting’ allows an increase in torque to the wheels thanks to the electric motor that supports the gasoline engine; moreover, by taking advantage of the (drive or braking) torque delivered by the electric motor, it is possible to optimize the operating point of the gasoline engine;
- Electric Drive: the vehicle can travel in silence and with zero emissions using only the electric motor, while the gasoline engine is turned off.
The new Fiat 500X Hybrid and Tipo Hybrid can run in various driving scenarios using only the electric motor (and with the gasoline engine turned off). This is made possible courtesy of an array of electric operating modes known as “EV capabilities”, which include:
- e-Launch: starts the vehicle using only the electric motor, when starting up or restarting at traffic lights
- e-Creeping: the electric motor provides the start-up normally seen in automatic vehicles, at a speed that can vary from 0 km/h to the equivalent of the gasoline engine idling in first gear, or in reverse (for example when maneuvering)
- e-Queueing: the vehicle can keep going in a traffic jam, following a ‘stop & go’ pattern in full-electric mode
- e-Parking: simplifies parking maneuvers, which can be carried out using electric propulsion only, to ensure a practical and quiet experience.
EV capabilities are available depending on battery charge status and the power output required.
500X Hybrid –
The 2022 Fiat 500X is the ideal car for young people seeking a unique style, who move around the city on a daily basis but also like to get out of town with no holds barred.
For 2022, the 500X’s exterior has been refreshed. The front takes on the “500” logo, while the rear includes dynamic “FIAT” lettering. The two new exterior cues make the vehicle more contemporary while giving a nod to the new 500e.
Available in Cult, Club, Cross, and Sport trim levels and two body variants (Hatchback and Dolcevita with soft top), the 500X continues to provide gasoline and diesel options. Together with the new Hybrid model, the 500X offers customers every need for mobility.
Tipo Hybrid –
Tipo Hybrid is the ideal car for families looking for a versatile and functional car to meet everyday travel needs, also thanks to the reintroduction to the line-up of automatic transmission. Tipo is a car to go anywhere, from city centers to trips out of town; a practical and spacious vehicle that still respects the environment.
Tipo Hybrid, therefore, fits into the line-up of a model that has sold over one million units since launch, making it the epitome of the “family mover”. It is available in four trim levels (Tipo, City Life, City Cross, and Cross), all in the hatchback body variant and as a very spacious station wagon
Just like the 500X, the Tipo offers both gasoline and diesel options to meet every customer’s needs.
Fuel Economy –
This is the first FIAT Hybrid that uses the electric motor by completely disconnecting the gasoline engine, which can remain off for up to 47% of the time according to the total WLTP cycle. In the urban cycle alone, the percentage rises to 62%. As a result, the new 48-Volt Hybrid is a gasoline engine that consumes less than diesel in the urban cycle (WLTP):
- 4.7 L/100 km compared to 5.0 L/100 km for the 1.6 diesel engine in the Tipo;
- 5.1 L/100 km compared to 5.4 L/100 km for the 1.6 diesel engine in the 500X.
The benefits of the new 48-volt 1.5-liter Hybrid engine are even greater than the previous turbocharged 1.3-liter (500X): in the new version, the CO2 emissions are up to 11% lower (WLTP cycle). Performance is never sacrificed, and the car is very comfortable to drive, courtesy of the practically imperceptible shifts between the electric motor and the combustion engine.
Orders for the Fiat 500X Hybrid and Tipo Hybrid – produced at the Melfi plant in Italy and at Tofas, Turkey, respectively – open in February for the main European markets. The models will be available in dealerships from April.
