Fiat 500e To Gain ICE Sibling With Mild-Hybrid Assistance

Given the aforementioned, why not update the 500? For starters, it came out in 2007, only to be facelifted in 2016. As for the primary reasons why Fiat preferred the 500e's platform over the 500's, those would be European cybersecurity and safety regulations. The 500's platform is way too antiquated for said regulations, which is why Fiat will move 500 production from Poland to Algeria.

According to Federazione Italiana Metalmeccanici union leader Ferdinando Uliano, the 500e-based combustion vehicle will enter series production during the first quarter of 2026. Sources close to Fiat understand that a 1.0-liter engine with mild-hybrid assistance will have to suffice, most likely an updated version of the 70-ps FireFly of the 500 Hybrid and Panda Hybrid. As for the conversion to mechanical horsepower, that would be 69 ponies.

Reengineering the 500e for internal combustion is one thing, but homologating said model for sale in Europe is a lengthy process in and of itself. Considering how poorly managed Fiat is, there is a high possibility for the 500e-based model's production to be deferred to summer 2026 or later.

As per the attached release from Stellantis, the yet-unnamed 500e mild hybrid will be manufactured at the Mirafiori plant. Stellantis also confirmed that Jeep intends to make a new hybrid version of the Compass at the Melfi plant, most likely referring to the next-generation Compass. The forthcoming crossover is based on the STLA Medium platform, which was designed from the outset for both battery-electric and combustion-engined vehicles.

In addition to Melfi, the Brampton assembly plant in Canada is gearing up for STLA Medium vehicle production as well. Obviously enough, Brampton's Jeep Compass will be sold exclusively in North America. As for the sister plant in Windsor, which currently makes the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager minivans, that one is tasked with manufacturing the STLA Large-based Dodge Charger in EV and ICE flavors.

Available as a coupe or as a sedan, the all-new Charger cannot be had with V8 muscle. Instead, the combustion-engined SIXPACK makes do with a 3.0L twin-turbocharged I6, which is referred to as the Hurricane engine in Stellantis vernacular.

Turning our attention back to Fiat and the European Union, it appears that the Italian manufacturer has finally realized that electric vehicles won't replace fossil-fuel vehicles anything soon in this part of the world. Just over 100,000 units of the 500 were sold in the Old Continent last year, whereas the 500e moved a little over 60,000 examples of the breed.

As Fiat prepares to bid farewell to the old 500 in Europe in favor of the 500e-based 1.0L three-cylinder mild hybrid, the Panda Hybrid will continue production at Pomigliano d’Arco until 2027 under a different moniker, that being Pandina, to differentiate itself from the next-gen Panda. The newcomer will adopt Centoventi concept styling cues and the CMP-based Smart Car Platform of the Citroen C3 and e-C3. The redesigned Panda will be revealed in July 2024.