Fiat has taken the covers off its hybrid-powered 600 crossover.
Fiat may have only just revealed its all-electric 600e but another powertrain offering is on the way with the upcoming 600 Hybrid.
Pricing and specifications are yet to be revealed, but Fiat has announced details of the petrol-hybrid powertrain in the 600 Hybrid – the Italian firm’s answer to the likes of the Kia Niro and Ford Puma hybrids.
There’s also Fiat’s Stellantis siblings to contend with, many of which utilise the same eCMP architecture as the Fiat 600 Hybrid and all-electric 600e. In the hybrid there’s a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 48V system and 21kW electric motor, all powering the front wheels through a six-speed electric dual-clutch transmission.
Fiat says the electric power improves the car’s “elasticity at low RPM and during take-off, providing the driver with a quiet start and prompt response”. A 15 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions over an equivalent non-hybrid petrol has also been claimed by Fiat and the hybrid can run on electric-only power up to 32km/h. Although performance data is yet to be finalised, we expect a power output of 95kW to help the 600 Hybrid achieve a 0-100km/h time of around 11 seconds.
Like the 600e, the 600 Hybrid will be made available in two trim levels. The Fiat 600 Hybrid kicks off the range and then there’s the La Prima which, if it follows the 600e’s equipment levels, should gain extras such as massage leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free bootlid and a wireless smartphone charger.
We expect the 600 Hybrid will go on sale in 2024 in select markets; no Australian confirmation has been made yet.