The Fiat 500 – the little Italian hatch that first blessed our shores in 2011 – is being discontinued for North America, according to a report from Autoblog that was later confirmed by CNET. It was the car that marked the return of Fiat to America, and spawned a slew of other models that the brand will continue to offer alongside the Miata-based 124 Spider.
According to Fiat, the current-generation 500 and all-electric 500e will be discontinued, with the remainder 2019 model-year cars to be sold off into 2020. This includes the convertible and high-performance Abarth models.
The loss of the 500 means Fiat’s lineup now consists of the 500X crossover, the 500L, and the 124 Spider. While it wasn’t perfect, the 500 was still a fun hatch that got good gas mileage and could fit into the tightest of parking spots. It was cheap to buy, and the sporty Abarth model was a hoot to drive. But as Americans move further and further away from small cars into SUVs and crossovers, 500 sales have declined steeply in its eight years on the market. We’re going to miss it.
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