Fiat Grande Panda: The great legacy of the small car

"The Fiat Panda is part of Italian pop culture. In the past 45 years since its market launch, several million people have had fun with it. The great heritage of the Panda was the perfect opportunity for us to have fun with our past," says Fiat Head of Design François Leboine, explaining the starting point for the design of the new Grande Panda.

Even though the new model is more than half a meter longer than the iconic original from the 1980s at 3,999 meters, the requirements today are not so different from back then: good use of space, an affordable price and, of course, an appealing appearance.

And this is guaranteed, not only thanks to eye-catching colors, but also thanks to various loving references to Fiat's heritage. The seat covers with square embroidery already existed in the original Panda, the historic headquarters in Lingotto served as inspiration for the oval dashboard and the rectangular front and the old "five stripes" logo can be found in the C-pillar. A special detail is the small model of an original Panda in the interior.

The fact that the new Grande Panda is significantly larger than the original is no coincidence. Fiat wants to recapture the high-volume B segment, which it has been unable to cover since the end of the Punto in 2013. And wants to impress above all with high utility value. The angular design of the Grande Panda offers the best starting point for this: in addition to a comfortable seating position in the front, passengers on the rear bench also enjoy plenty of headroom.

At 361 liters, the trunk is large enough not only for the shopping, but also for a weekend trip. With the rear seats folded down, the storage space increases to a respectable 1315 liters for a small car. And a second glove compartment in the upper part of the dashboard and a practical stowage compartment in front of the front passenger provide more than enough storage space for small items.

The Fiat Grande Panda is based on the same "CMP Smart Car" platform as the C3 from Citroën, but looks surprisingly grown-up compared to the French car. Yes, the Grande Panda is also started using a conventional ignition key - just like in the past - but even the basic "RED" version comes with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system as standard, as well as wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

The Grande Panda will initially be launched as an electric car. With 83 kW/113 hp, it is lively in city traffic, while the smooth application of torque ensures a pleasant driving style. On the highway, the speed limit is 135 km/h, but in an urban environment, the vehicle scores with good all-round visibility, a raised seating position and compact dimensions. The drive is powered by a 44 kWh battery, which should provide a range of 320 km according to the WLTP.

Fiat offers a clever solution for charging: The AC charging cable for up to 7 kW charging power is integrated in the front and can be pulled out like a telephone cable - practical and space-saving. At the fast charger, the Grande Panda can achieve a maximum of 100 kW, so that the battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 27 minutes.

But Fiat also knows that it cannot (yet) do without combustion engines in its range. "Customers want electrified drives even more than electric ones," summarizes Fiat CEO Olivier François aptly. A variant with a 1.2-liter hybrid drive will soon follow, continuing the tradition of the affordable small car that the Panda once was. The Swiss prices are not yet known, but they are likely to start at around 16,000 francs. The electric model is available from 24,900 francs.

And: there will also be all-wheel drive again. It would be an innovation for the smart car platform. Olivier François explains that they do not yet know exactly how this will be implemented. But the 4×4 is owed to the legacy of the Panda.