Back in January Fiat and Chrysler struck a deal that saw Fiat get a 35 percent stake in Chrysler for which they’d get to use some of Fiat’s engine designs. Now, according to Quattroroute Magazine, it looks like Fiat is designing a hybrid system specifically for small cars which Chrysler will get to make use of.
The new hybrid vehicles would see Fiat’s new 900cc 2-cylinder turbocharged engine working with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Interestingly this hybrid system will also be able to be plugged in.
While plug-in hybrids aren’t breaking any new ground, Fiat is looking to put the system into their little 500 series as well as the soon to be released Topolino. This would be a landmark for hybrid vehicles in that a 500 would be the smallest hybrid out there.
This type of vehicle might see some decent sales in the US which would be great for a struggling Chrysler assuming that they really do get some Fiat models with this hybrid system.
June 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Like the Mini, the 500 is iconic. It is believed that a good percentage of the 50 plus Italian population has been conceived in the back seat of a 500. There are songs and of course many jokes in Italy about the subject.
Bringing back the 500 is a great idea reminiscent of the times when people used to talk to each other instead of……texting.