The Fiat Model That Could Finally Save the Brand Has Arrived

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.

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.

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.