Turin gets back on trackAt the Mirafiori Office Building, Stellantis has officially started production of the new Fiat 500 hybrid. And so, it Turin plant returns to generating volumes, to rehire staff and to position itself at the centre of the Italian Plan. The first deliveries will start in January 2026, while the factory will be able to produce up to 100 cars a year, with 400 new hires expected as early as February.
What is the new hybrid 500 like?
The model presented at Mirafiori is a modern reinterpretation of Italy's most famous city carThe line remains recognizable, faithful to the style of the 500 embodies since 1957, but the whole appears more mature and technological. The passenger compartment is close to that of the electric 500, with equipment that is updated especially in the higher versions: more refined materials, 7-inch digital instrumentation and, in the richer levels, infotainment with a 10,25-inch screen and connected services.
Lo interior space The classic version remains, with four full seats and a 185-liter trunk, perfect dimensions for the city without sacrificing everyday comfort. A 3+1 version will also arrive in 2026, with its characteristic half-door on the passenger side for easier rear access.
What's new under the hood
The turning point is technical. The new 500 adopts the Firefly engine A one-liter, three-cylinder engine paired with a 12-volt mild hybrid system and a new six-speed manual transmission. It doesn't focus on speed, but rather on efficiency: 0-100 km/h acceleration in 16,2 seconds (certainly not a speed champion, so much so that it's the slowest car to get going, even surpassing the Dacia Springs). low consumption at 5,2 litres per hundred kilometres and a driving style designed for the urban environment, where lightness and simplicity make the difference.
The choice of the mild hybrid is a direct response to the market, a bridge between gasoline and electric, capable of reducing fuel consumption without the costs and compromises of pure electric. A recipe aimed at reaching a broad audience, one that currently struggles to find truly affordable options in the city car segment.
Fiat 500 Hybrid: Prices and Range
Il list it was built for bring the 500 back into a competitive rangeThe Pop trim starts from 19.900 euros, the Icon sale at 21.400 and La Prima reaches 24.400, with the Convertible which maintains a €3.000 premium. The first series available is the Turin, a tribute to the city that hosts the production, launched at €20.900.
A range that aims to combine style and rationality.
Filosa: "It's the product Europe needs."
In the opening, the CEO of Stellantis, Antonio Filosa, makes no secret of the strategic importance of this vehicle. "Mirafiori is our home and Fiat's home," he says, highlighting the investments made in 2025 and the start of a second shift that marks a new phase for the plant.
And he reiterates the reason for the choice. "It's exactly the product Europe needs to rejuvenate its car fleet," recalling that 150 million vehicles on European roads are more than ten years old.mild hybrid therefore becomes a concrete solution, immediately applicable, capable of restarting a sector in crisis.
Elkann: "The market wants freedom, not impositions."
The presentation of the new 500 hybrid was then closed by Chairman John Elkann, with a message addressed to both customers and European institutions. "We have done everything to be 'ready for the future,' as have our colleagues in European industry. But if we are ready, the market certainly isn't“The heart of the message is freedom. “They don't want to be told which car to buy. They want their freedom back to choose the car that's best for them.” The new 500 hybrid responds exactly to this need.
And then there is the call to the city"Here in Turin beats the heart of Fiat and of an adventure that began in this city 126 years ago." The relaunch begins here, with an iconic model brought back to the place where it all began, and with an industry striving to put Italy back at the center of European mobility.
