Fiat has updated the 500 and Panda city cars with mild-hybrid technology. These two cars along with the all-electric New 500 take the brand’s electrification strategy further forward.
500
Jumping straight to the business end, the powertrain is a combination of a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder FireFly petrol engine, a 12-volt BSG (Belt-integrated Starter Generator) electric motor and a 11 Ah lithium-ion battery. The combustion engine puts out 51.5 kW (70 hp) at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 92 Nm at 3,500 rpm. The electric motor mounted on the engine has a peak power output of 3.6 kW (~5 hp). Transmission is a 6-speed manual.
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, Fiat said.
500
As with any mild-hybrid system, the functions include brake energy regeneration and storing it in the battery, engine start/stop, and acceleration assist. The technology allows the ICE to switch off at speeds below 30 km/h and enter into a coasting mode.
Compared to the 1.2L 69 hp Fire, the mild-hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, thus reducing CO2 emissions on average by 20% and up to 30% for the Panda Cross, without foregoing performance.
Panda Cross
Inside, the Launch Edition seats are partly made with Seaqual Yarn, a material derived from recycled plastic: 10% of which originates from the sea and 90% from the land.
The Seaqual Yarn is produced by transforming plastics collected from the sea into flakes of polyethylene terephthalate. These flakes are then used in the yarn from which the fabrics are made. In the weaving phase, marine polyester is mixed with other environmentally friendly, natural, recycled or recovered fibers.
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