As per a Fiat bulletin to my work yesterday.........

Effective from Friday 15th November, the current range of Fiat 500 (Series 7) will be closed for factory ordering as we prepare the launch of series 8.
Full details of the new range line up, product availability, pricing and product strategy will be released early December. However we can already anticipate the following:
- Introduction of a brand new engine 1.0 70hp engine with Hybrid technology. - The 1.2 69hp Manual and the 0.9 85hp TwinAir will no longer be available. The only engines available will be the brand new mild-hybrid 1.0 70hp, whilst the 1.2 69hp Dualogic will continue to exist as per its current form. - The range to be in line with Series 7. - Improved levels of equipment to respond to customer feedback, align or exceed competition equipment levels and anticipate new regulations.
Should you have any outstanding customer sold orders, please make sure they are inserted in the system (or an existing order varied) by Friday 15th November.
Due to limited availability the production slots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis with priority given to customer sold orders. After the deadline please do not quote / sell a Fiat 500 Series 7 unless available in stock as you will no longer be able to place a factory order.
In order to facilitate the sellout of the available stock, the online Car Configurator will continue to show the current 500 Series 7 range until stock depletion.

Bugger !

About time and frankly about 2 years overdue

Fire and TA

LECCY..

AS STATED.. a bit late..but hopefully will be well sorted.. and well received with the new car buying public.

chris3234 said:

About time and frankly about 2 years overdue

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It’s not a whole new car just an update, given the last one was 4 years ago and they still haven’t got a new model to release, I’m gonna guess it’s going to be some tech updates an a very mild facelift

A whole new model is likely to make an appearance at Geneva next year but that usually is followed by a long period before a car makes it into production, for example the 500x was briefly shown in 2014 in Paris but then not released till 2016 fiat have an odd history of doing a facelift just before a new model is unveiled. The best example was the mk2b Punto in late 2003 when the Grande came out in early 2005.

Why do I see "brand new engine" and read "brand new problems"?

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

Why do I see "brand new engine" and read "brand new problems"?

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Not heard of any issues with the engine in the 500x yet

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

Why do I see "brand new engine" and read "brand new problems"?

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It's not your fault .. some people still believe that Fiats rust when you wash them... Don't listen to the Negs.

Fiat engines are cool. Apart from the odd issue, it the one thing they consistently get right. Look up Jaguar, Ford, VW or BMW engine problems and marvel how Fiat thrashes them for engine reliability.


Ralf S.

Ralf S. said:

It's not your fault .. some people still believe that Fiats rust when you wash them... Don't listen to the Negs.

Fiat engines are cool. Apart from the odd issue, it the one thing they consistently get right. Look up Jaguar, Ford, VW or BMW engine problems and marvel how Fiat thrashes them for engine reliability.


Ralf S.

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Granted; probably conditioning from a less than stellar past reputation in this country. I must confess that when I found my new car had a Twinair engine I was more than somewhat apprehensive, but it has proved a model of reliability and, indeed, 'spirited' performance.

What about the Abarth?

typecastboy said:

What about the Abarth?

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Probably end up with the higher spec 1.3 turbo engine my guess?

Someone more knowledgeable will confirm whether the electric motor bit will give same performance as 1.2 despite any extra weight?! Take it this the 59bhp that was in Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo until recently with extra 10bhp electric motor. Goudrons you understand this sort of thing. ??

Al D said:

Someone more knowledgeable will confirm whether the electric motor bit will give same performance as 1.2 despite any extra weight?! Take it this the 59bhp that was in Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo until recently with extra 10bhp electric motor. Goudrons you understand this sort of thing. ??

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VAG motor.. I doubt it.

3cyl firefly derivative..?

I’m actually quite excited about this announcement. Looking forward to see what subtle design changes there are too.

Al D said:

Someone more knowledgeable will confirm whether the electric motor bit will give same performance as 1.2 despite any extra weight?! Take it this the 59bhp that was in Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo until recently with extra 10bhp electric motor. @Goudrons you understand this sort of thing. ����

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It's not really about performance, it's efficiency and emissions.

The battery and motor help the ICE when it's running inefficiently, like accelerating, the extra weight is meant to be over come.


You might have noticed no one really quotes the power outputs on the two combined motors as they don't work together at peak outputs at the same time, one helps the other. (except perhaps Porsche, Ferrari and Maclaren)


Some systems are pretty simple and crude, like an integrated starter/generator system (ISG)

A beefed up starter motor/generator pulls power from a traction battery to aid the ICE when pulling away that then recovers power by using the drive chain to turn the motor/generator when the brakes are applied to put power back into the traction battery.


In between the two situations the ICE is operating as efficiently as it can so the electric motor does nothing to help unless you call for a boost of power.


Toyota's hybrid is a bit more advanced.
For a start the ICE runs a mock Atkinson cycle, this makes the engine more efficient as it extracts more throw on the crank out of a smaller bang and reduces some pumping losses as the valve timings are different but it lacks a heap of torque.

If it were to be used to solely drive the wheels is would be pretty hopeless and very inefficient, which is where the integrated electric motor/gearbox steps in to help.


So the ICE and electric motor work together like above but now the ICE can plod away not connected to the gearbox but running super efficiently charging the traction battery and as the electric motor is integrated into the gearbox it can be disconnected from the ICE and run on electric alone for short distances.


The key to both is how much inefficient motoring you do and which system you have.
Do lots of stop start city driving and the benefits should outweigh the weight.

Lots of motorway slogs and the weight tends to effect efficiency as the electric motor and battery are not always helping out the ICE.

The Toyota system tends to be a bit better on the motorway slogs than the ISG systems as the ICE tends to be more efficient, from what I see and hear they tend to give diesel sort of mpgs on these sort of trips where the ISG systems normal petrol mpg.

chris3234 said:

Probably end up with the higher spec 1.3 turbo engine my guess?

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I wouldn't hold your breath for one in a Panda or straight 500.


If you think about it they'd have to uprate the suspension and brakes over the stock 69/70hp versions to tame the more powerful engine but they'll probably only do that once, for Abarth versions.

I seem to think they already have a 180hp Firefly 1.3 that would suit an Abarth version.

I can imagine, like currently there being 150 and 180 or so versions of the Abarth, but not 120 to 150 versions on the Panda/500.
I think like now they'll get 70 to 90 or so engines.

Goudrons said:

I wouldn't hold your breath for one in a Panda or straight 500.


If you think about it they'd have to uprate the suspension and brakes over the stock 69/70hp versions to tame the more powerful engine but they'll probably only do that once, for Abarth versions.

I seem to think they already have a 180hp Firefly 1.3 that would suit an Abarth version.

I can imagine, like currently there being 150 and 180 or so versions of the Abarth, but not 120 to 150 versions on the Panda/500.
I think like now they'll get 70 to 90 or so engines.

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That is for the arbarth I was talking about

Thanks Goudrons. Would guess this new design may be less fuel efficient. 60mpg average on 1.2 was pretty good. Reckon could get well into the 50's in one.