These days, hybrid engines are a common sight, but if we look deep into motoring history, we uncover an early attempt at hybrid technology from Fiat—the Fiat 131 Ibrido, introduced in 1979.

Unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, this pioneering prototype paired a 903cc four-cylinder petrol engine from the Fiat 127, detuned to 32bhp, with a 26bhp, 24kW electric motor. The boot housed lead-acid batteries, giving the car a modest top speed of 75mph. Performance, however, was far from impressive, with a sluggish 0-60mph time of 27 seconds, and fuel consumption of just 22.8mpg.

Fiat employed a parallel hybrid system, where the petrol engine was constantly running, while the electric motor engaged only under heavy torque demand. Instead of a conventional gearbox, it had a 1:1 ratio differential, with an 8-inch torque converter replacing the clutch. The electric motor was mounted on the driveshaft, and 12 batteries in the boot powered it. Like modern hybrids, the system allowed for energy recovery during braking and deceleration.

Despite its innovation, the Fiat 131 Ibrido never made it past the prototype stage and was ultimately deemed a failure. But the name Ibrido (Italian for hybrid) is likely to be reused and reports suggest that a Fiat “500 Ibrido” could arrive in 2026.