Motoring

Fiat’s latest hybrids are too mild to spark much interest

The Italian company is now offering hybrid versions of the 500X and Tipo models, but the powertrain in question just doesn’t deliver enough

The Fiat 500X hybrid is something of a stopgap until the next generation comes along in a couple of years

Were it not for the overnight success of the 500 when it first went on sale in 2009, Fiat might not have survived as we know it. The retro-styled city car was an instant hit with buyers across Europe, capturing the charm of the original Cinquecento and instilling it into a modern package in a more authentic way than BMW initially managed with the Mini.

It has been such a hit that, aside from some ...