Arrivederci to Cinquecento

The petrol-powered Fiat 500 is no more, after 17 years of production. It will be replaced next year when the new-shape 500 Ibrida (hybrid) launches.

As it happens, the outgoing petrol-powered Fiat 500 is essentially the same reinterpretation of the brand’s iconic city car that went on sale in 2007 and underwent a facelift in 2016.

Fiat is taking no more orders for the 500 petrol car and the same goes for the Abarth 595 and 695. The electric Fiat 500e, however, remains on sale. It was introduced four years ago. And Abarth is getting ready to launch the 600e before year’s end.

The 500 Ibrida is essentially a 500e retrofitted with a 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine. It launches early next year.

Production moves to the Mirafiori plant in Turin, where the 500e is also made. Fiat boss, Olivier François, said that slow sales of the 500e prompted the development of the 500 Ibrida. He said that, like everyone else, “We thought that the world would go electric faster and the cost of electrification would go down faster. We now have to face those realities.”

The discontinuation of the 500 follows the end for the closely related third-gen Panda. It too is long of tooth, released in 2011. The new Grande Panda replaces that model. It is a larger crossover with mild-hybrid petrol and electric powertrains. A mid-sized SUV will utilise the same chassis to compete with the likes of Qashqai.