The electrical Fiat 500 could possibly be retrofitted with a petroleum engine, in accordance with reviews.
Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera first reported that Fiat despatched a letter to its suppliers asking if they might fulfil a rise in manufacturing ranges at its plant in Mirafiori, Italy, to 175,000 vehicles per 12 months.
Trade publication Automotive News Europe (ANE) cited suppliers that declare this improve of just about 100,000 vehicles (in contrast with the 77,260 constructed at Mirafiori in 2023) would virtually fully comprise petrol-engined 500s.
The unprecedented prospect of retrofitting an electric car with a combustion engine reportedly comes due to forthcoming new cybersecurity necessities within the EU.
Their introduction would forestall the prevailing petrol-engined 500 – which has been inbuilt Tychy, Poland, since its 2007 launch – from remaining on sale with out being rehomologated at substantial value.
The identical guidelines will quickly convey an end to sales of the Porsche Macan and 718 Boxster/Cayman within the EU.
Although the UK’s automotive trade sometimes follows EU precedent, these vehicles will stay on sale right here, suggesting that the Tychy 500 may too get a keep of execution.
ANE reported that Fiat has but to log off on changing the five hundred EV to petrol energy. It’s doable that it may determine to replace the Tychy 500 but once more, because it did with the associated Fiat Panda, which was granted a keep of execution till not less than 2027.
However, ANE added that the five hundred EV’s platform is an evolution of that from the Alfa Romeo Mito and the automobile is constructed on the previous Mito manufacturing line, suggesting all the things is already in place for a petroleum conversion.
The petrol 500 is a vital mannequin for Fiat. According to figures from market analyst Jato Dynamics, 173,187 Fiat and Abarth 500 fashions have been offered throughout Europe final 12 months, of which 108,943 have been petrols.
