The Fiat brand in Europe has released details on its new hybrid-powered Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda. The two models are the top-selling cars in the City Car segment in Europe and are the first FCA models in this category to adopt hybrid technology. The Fiat 500 and the Panda are the symbol of urban mobility in Europe, with about 400,000 units sold throughout the year.
These new Hybrids usher in a new era of sustainable mobility for the brand and are being introduced just ahead of the all-electric 500 that will be introduced in the next few months.
The new models will debut the new gasoline Mild Hybrid system that combines the latest 3-cylinder FireFly 1 liter 70 HP engine family with a 12-volt BSG (Belt-integrated Starter Generator) electric motor and a lithium battery.
The company says compared to the gasoline-powered 1.2L 69 HP engine used on 500 and Panda models, the Mild Hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, reduces CO2 emissions on average by 20%, and up to 30% for the Panda Cross. This is achieved without losing any performance. The BSG system also allows for quiet, vibration-free restarting of the internal combustion engine in Stop&Start mode, further enhancing driving comfort.
The new hybrid-powered Fiat 500 and Panda meet Euro 6D Final-compliant emission standards. This compliance is considered vital in the European city-car segment as some cities there restrict access and movement of vehicles with internal combustion engines. Additionally, tax breaks and other perks like discounted parking are available for cars that meet these standards.
The Fiat 500 and Panda Hybrid will be recognizable by the "Hybrid" logo on the tailgate and an exclusive "H" shaped badge on the B pillar. A "Launch Edition" of the Hybrid 500 and Panda will be available and features for the first time in the automotive industry, an interior upholstery made with "SEAQUAL® YARN". An ecological and "green" material made from recycled plastic, of which 10% of marine origin and 90% of terrestrial origin. Plastic collected at sea is turned into flakes of polyethylene terephthalate and then mixed with other ecological, natural, recycled or recovered fibers and made into yarn.
The Fiat 500 and the Panda Hybrid Launch Edition can be ordered now at Fiat dealerships across Europe. The 500 Hybrid will hit dealerships starting in February and the Panda Hybrid in March.
The upcoming all-electric Fiat 500 is rumored to be unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show, and expect a big launch on this July 4th, the 52nd anniversary of the launch of the iconic 1957 Nuova Fiat 500.
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Below is a full description of the Fiat 500 and Panda Hybrid system, courtesy of the FCA Press release.
How the FCA Mild Hybrid Technology Works
The new gasoline Mild Hybrid engine, which builds on the heritage of the famous Fire engine, more than 30 million of them were produced, implements a 1-liter, 3-cylinder engine configuration with a peak power output of 70 hp (51 kW) at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 92 Nm at 3,500 rpm.The cylinder head has two valves per cylinder and a single camshaft with continuous variable valve timing (the timing is chain-driven). The structure includes a compact combustion chamber, high-tumble intake ducts, and external EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), providing a remarkably high compression ratio (12:1), which translates into better thermal efficiency.
The crankcase, developed in collaboration with Teksid, is made of high-pressure die-cast aluminum alloy with cast-iron cylinder liners to reduce startup times and contain the weight of the engine to just 77 kg. Additionally, friction is reduced using a crank mechanism with a bore/stroke ratio of 1.24 and a connecting rod/crank device with a 10 mm offset to maximize efficiency.
The BSG system is mounted directly on the engine and is operated by the belt that also drives the auxiliaries. The system recovers energy during braking and deceleration, stores it in a lithium battery with a capacity of 11 Ah, and uses it, at a peak power of 3,6 kW, to restart the engine in Stop&Start mode and to assist it during acceleration.
This technology allows the internal combustion engine to switch off, even at speeds below 30 km/h, simply by shifting into neutral (the dashboard, which displays information on the hybrid system, prompts the driver when to do so). In coasting mode, the lithium battery powers all services, ensuring the driver has full control of the vehicle.
The Mild Hybrid propulsion unit in the latest Panda and 500 Hybrid Launch Edition is combined with a 6-gear C514 manual transmission evolution (transverse gearbox, front-wheel drive), with contents aimed at enhancing maneuverability and improving efficiency, including new low-friction bearings and gaskets, the use of a specific high-efficiency lubricant and a never seen before 6th gear ratio that improves fuel economy in out-of-town driving.
The comfort-related aspect has also been taken into consideration by optimizing the gearbox system support. Lastly, the new system involves lowering the entire power unit 45 mm so the car behaves better on the road thanks to the lower center of gravity.
The new FireFly family was developed by FCA to offer a range of downsized gasoline engines, featuring good fuel efficiency and benchmark performance in a wide range of applications. The basic structure of the new engines guarantees efficiency, modularity, and a considerable degree of standardization in terms of components and manufacturing process, flexibility and potential for future developments.
Fiat 500 and Panda
The new Hybrid Launch Edition once again positions the two Fiat icons as the stars of the show, thanks to continuous technological innovations and a timeless style. At the same time, they also complement each other: in the city car segment according to Fiat, the 500 represents the more "aspirational" side and the Panda the more "functional".
The Fiat 500 is one of the most representative examples of Italian ingenuity, winning over customers for many generations. Launched in 1957 and recreated in 2007, the iconic Fiat 500 got Europe onto the roads in the 1960s, then completely revolutionized the city car category in the first decade of the 21st century, offering an extraordinary never seen before blend of style and technological innovation in this segment. And now, thanks to the 500 Hybrid Launch Edition, it will continue to play a leading role in urban mobility where last year, in its eleventh, it recorded the best number ever, with about 194,000 registered units.
One of the ingredients in this success is the special series: over 30 of which have been issued which have allowed the exploration of territories uncharted by a city car. It is now time for the 500 Hybrid Launch Edition to continue the technological journey towards the future of urban mobility in the third millennium.
Equally fascinating is the history of the Fiat Panda. For more than 40 years, the Panda has unmistakably represented the daily relationship with the automobile: more immediate, more carefree. The secrets of its popularity include its compact exterior dimensions, the large interior space that can be configured to any transport need, the wide range of engines and the numerous color combinations.
In total, more than 7.5 million customers have been won over by the simplicity and attractiveness of the model, a true compendium of the characteristics of the Fiat brand.
In addition, the Panda has always been the torchbearer of innovation for the entire segment. For example, it was the first four-wheel drive city car (1983), the first in its segment to win the prestigious "Car of the Year" (2004), and in the same year, the first city car to reach the Everest Base Camp, located at an altitude of 5,200 meters.
The long set of records continued in 2006, when the Fiat Panda was the first large-scale methane-powered city-car put into production. Back in 2013, it was the first in its class to introduce automatic emergency braking. And today comes the Panda Hybrid Launch Edition, ready to revolutionize urban mobility by meeting the new needs of the "Panda people," a global community that looks to the future with an ever-increasing respect for the environment.
Source and images: FCA NV
