UK PRICING and specifications for the new Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid and Panda Mild Hybrid have been announced, arriving in UK showrooms from February and March, respectively.

The Fiat 500 and the Panda are two Fiat icons, representing urban mobility in Europe, with around 400,000 units sold every year. Now, by introducing mild hybrid technology to the line-up, the 500 and the Panda provide all the benefits of efficient, compact, lightweight and accessible hybrid driving.

Both models mark the electrification of the brand as the first steps towards more sustainable urban driving.

The 500 and Panda will be available with a new petrol mild hybrid engine that combines the latest three-cylinder FireFly 1.0-litre engine with a 12-volt Belt-integrated Starter Generator (BSG) electric motor and a lithium battery that delivers 70hp.

Compared to the outgoing 1.2-litre 69hp petrol engine, the mild hybrid version improves fuel efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions on the road by up to 30 per cent without impeding performance. The 500 Mild Hybrid has CO2 emissions as low as 88g/km with the Panda at 89g/km.

Fuel economy for the 500 stands at 53.3mpg (WLTP Combined), while the Panda returns 49.6mpg (WLTP Combined).

The BSG system also ensures a very high standard of driving comfort.

It is mounted directly on the engine and is operated by the belt that also drives the auxiliaries. The system recovers energy during braking and deceleration, stores it in a lithium battery with a capacity of 11Ah, and uses it, at a maximum power of 3,600W, to restart the engine in Stop&Start mode and to assist it during acceleration. This technology allows the internal combustion engine to switch off by shifting into neutral, even at speeds below 18mph. The dashboard, which displays information on the hybrid system, prompts the driver when to shift.

The mild hybrid propulsion unit used in the Panda and 500 receives a six-gear manual transmission (transverse gearbox, front-wheel drive), aimed at improving fuel economy in out-of-town driving, thanks to new low-friction bearings and gaskets and the use of a specific high-efficiency lubricant.

Pricing for the Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid starts at £12,665 on-the-road with Fiat Panda Mild Hybrids costing from £13,885 on-the-road.