Stepping into a new future, the new generation Fiat 500 was announced with a 48-volt hybrid technology.
The improved powertrain is expected to lead the brand’s vision and its production version will be launched in 2019.
With an idea to reduce emissions, Fiat Chrysler is working on eco-friendly technologies and the newest range of powertrains they have developed stand proof to it. Some of the hybrid engines are already being used in the top of the line Alfa Romeo and Maserati models. However, bringing them to the entry level, budget friendly cars matter the most which is what the Fiat 500 will accomplish.
“The superminis were the next logical step. When we set to create new powertrains that are energy efficient, we played with all the options available to us. Experimentation continues at all points and we found that hybrids are inevitable in the automobile industry. Introducing new technology is not a big deal but it is when the customer is willing to pay for it and adopt it that matters the most,” said Sergio Marchionne.
The Fiat boss added that in order to make hybrids and superminis a common choice among buyers, cost of components should come down significantly. He said that the company plans to select a bunch of Fiat 500 and Panda cars in which the hybrid technology will be implemented. The 48 volt system is the first step and it has to be introduced into the mainstream marketed.
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In such a scenario, the Fiat 500 is expected to give a new lease of life to the brand. The cars are inexpensive, will be much faster and performance driven with the 48-volt technology that should help reach their audience in a better way. However, the waiting period is going to be really long as the company aims for 2019. It might be another year before the car is properly available in dealership stores for people to buy and use them.
Many competitors including Volkswagen, BMW, Audi are moving towards all-electric cars slated for 2019 launch and they are already exploring the possibility of making autonomous driving the general norm in all regions. Going by the announcement, the Fiat 500 might be a tad slow to adopt this newer technology but they may have other models that are not made public yet. They could help strengthen the brand’s position in the mainstream market where buyers are always fascinated by innovations in the automobile sector.