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Fiat Resurfaces With The Legendary 500: New Model Promises To Be Cheaper In The Market By 2025 With The Firefly 1.0 Combustion Engine From Argo And Mobi
Fiat has just made a bold decision that could redefine its global market strategy: following the disappointing performance of the 500e, the Italian automaker has decided to bring back a combustion version of its iconic compact. In uncertain times regarding the total electrification of the industry, the new Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid, equipped with the Firefly 1.0 engine already used in the Mobi – the cheapest car in Brazil, and in the Argo, promises to regain the model’s prestige — and, above all, to sell.
Fiat 500 Gains A Hybrid Version With Combustion Engine And More Affordable Price
Launched five years ago as a fully electric model, the Fiat 500e entered the European market with a starting price of €33,900 — equivalent to over R$ 200,000 at current exchange rates. Despite good reviews in technical tests, the compact faced strong resistance among consumers. Its high cost and lower range compared to direct competitors such as the Renault Zoe and Peugeot e-208 limited its appeal in major European cities.
According to the portal AutoExpress, Fiat quickly identified that the public is not yet fully prepared for a complete transition to 100% electric vehicles, particularly in the urban segment, where cost-benefit is still decisive. The automaker’s response was strategic: to launch a more affordable version, equipped with a combustion engine and mild hybrid system — the new Fiat 500 Hybrid.
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Expected to reach the European market between late 2025 and early 2026, the model will have an estimated starting price of €18,000, according to the portal ItalPassion. This amount represents a small increase compared to the previous hybrid version, produced in Poland, which started at €17,700. The price difference is justified by the inclusion of more modern technologies and improvements in safety systems.
With this new price range, the 500 Hybrid positions itself as a much more competitive alternative compared to the 500e, whose current price hovers around €29,000. Fiat’s expectation is clear: to attract consumers who want an efficient, modern, and urban car, but with a more balanced cost and less technological complexity compared to pure electric vehicles.
Style Preserved, Mechanics Transformed
Despite the return to a combustion engine, the new Fiat 500’s appearance remains practically unchanged compared to the 500e. The wheels, bodywork, and even the 10.25-inch multimedia center are the same. The main difference lies in the new front grille with real openings for cooling the thermal engine, as well as the return of the six-speed manual transmission and the traditional third pedal.
The model, which is expected to be commercially dubbed Fiat 500 Torino, is already in pre-production, with full-scale manufacturing scheduled to start in November 2025. The goal: to sell at least 100,000 units per year, according to sources linked to Stellantis, the conglomerate responsible for Fiat.
Fiat 500 Hybrid Will Have Engine From Argo And Mobi
According to information gathered by Motor1 Italy, the engine chosen to power the new hybrid 500 is the Firefly 1.0 three-cylinder, already known to Brazilians for equipping the Fiat Mobi and Fiat Argo models. The engine will be combined with a mild hybrid system (MHEV), with a 12V battery, similar to that used in the Fiat Pulse and Fastback SUVs.
The technical choice aims for simplicity, low maintenance costs, and urban efficiency. The decision not to adopt the full hybrid 1.2, common in other Stellantis models, is due to the limited space in the front hood of the 500.
New Fiat 500 Hybrid Car Combines Tradition And Technology
Internally, the new 500 hybrid combines tradition and technology. The dashboard retains the horizontal design and the two-spoke steering wheel, while the manual transmission stands out as a differential in an increasingly automated market. The infotainment system remains centered on a touchscreen, with connectivity and integration compatible with European standards.
Sporty Combustion Version Is Not Expected To Return
Despite the reintroduction of the combustion engine, sources close to the brand indicate that the Abarth version with thermal engine will not return. Currently, the sporty line of the 500 is offered only in an electric version, with a power output of 155 hp and artificially generated sporty sound, following the same concept as the Dodge Charger EV.
Fiat Responds To The Changing Winds Of Electrification
Fiat’s decision goes beyond a simple product adjustment. It represents a repositioning in the face of uncertainties regarding electrification. The European Union itself, which had set strict emission targets and a ban on combustion engines by 2035, has begun to review its timelines and allow exceptions, as highlighted by Euractiv.
This flexibility opens space for more hybrid strategies — in a technical and commercial sense — like the one now adopted by Fiat. According to industry experts interviewed by Reuters, “automakers that can balance the advancement of electrification with accessible combustion solutions will still have a significant competitive advantage in the next decade.”
And What About Brazil? Fiat 500 Remains Electric — For Now
In Brazil, the Fiat 500e remains on sale in the ICON version, with a 87 kW (118 hp) engine and 42 kWh battery, delivering 22.4 kgfm of torque. The price, however, is high: starting at R$ 214,990, with units from the 2022 line still available on the brand’s official website (Fiat Brazil).
There is currently no official forecast for the mild hybrid version with the Firefly engine to reach the Brazilian market, but global success could pave the way.
And you? What do you think of Fiat’s decision to bring back the combustion engine in the 500?
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