Fiat unveils a new Panda in tribute to its cult classic compact car
To celebrate Fiat’s 125th anniversary, the Italian brand has unveiled a new Panda β the first of a new range of models designed after the much-loved 1980s model.
The original Panda from 1980 was a sensation: a compact hatchback with two boxes and a disproportionate amount of interior space. The ‘box on wheels’ took the world by storm, selling more than 7.5 million copies worldwide.
Today’s new ‘Grande’ Panda is – as the name suggests – slightly larger, shifting from 1980s supermini to a family-friendly bike that’s ‘perfect for today’s urban mobility’.
It will be launched in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and will be available as both a hybrid and fully electric car.
To celebrate 125 years of car production, Fiat has unveiled a new Grande Panda β the first of a new car family designed after the beloved 1980s model
The Fiat Grande Panda is ‘designed in Italy (Turin) for the world’ and has a compact form measuring just 3.99 meters in length β below the segment average of 4.06 meters and the same length as the new Alpine A290 hot hatch just launched revealed.
As with the 1980s model β which was just 3,380mm long β every inch of functionality has been squeezed out of the small form factor, with the new Grande Panda able to seat five people and offering ‘well-organised space (…) that’ perfectly is for comfortable family life and contemporary urban mobility’.
There is a lot that the new model must meet.
The old Panda had enormous versatility with a rear seat, hammock-style seats and seven different modes.
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani, it was a two-door, front-wheel drive car that was simple, functional and made optimal use of space.
It was built around the design brief of a ‘container’, could carry 1,000 liters and weighed just 650 kg.
A spiritual successor to the original Mini, Citroen 2CV and Fiat 500, the Panda’s character and function over form made it a triumph for a wide and diverse range of drivers.
It remained in production for 23 years and was a sales success. Now it’s one of those iconic cars that everyone loves.
The Fiat Panda became a legend after its introduction in the 1980s, selling more than 7.5 million units worldwide. According to the latest MOT data, there are now 88,331 Fiat Pandas in Britain with an MOT – 0.2580 percent of all British vehicles
The functional car that made optimal use of space and was built around the design brief of a ‘container’. It could carry 1000 liters and weighed only 650 kg
The new 2024 Grande Panda promises the same ‘Italian personality’ and angular silhouette that won so many fans of the original.
The square body is certainly distinctive, as are the bright body colors β in the case of the unveiling car, a punchy yellow.
The profile lines are strongly pronounced and Fiat says they have opted for ‘a special appearance that combines structured lines with soft and bold surfaces that emphasize the thick and robust wheel arches’.
The front is a mix of orthogonal lines and square mesh arrangement, with a glossy black funky grille punctuated by a wave of pixels.
There are also opalescent cube headlights that apparently ‘reflect the windows on the facades’ of the Lingotto factory in Fiat’s home city of Turin.
The sunny, Italian look continues in the lower bumper skid plate and the daytime running lights transform into indicators and light up in a cheeseboard pattern.
The rear of the car is as bold as it is rugged, with large wheel arches protecting the 17-inch geometric X-design diamond-cut alloy wheels, a flat rear window and tall, boxed headlights that nod to the original.
Fiat features a glossy black trim with the three-dimensional Panda spelled out, keeping the 80s feel alive
Fiat has also thrown in a glossy black border with the three-dimensional Panda spelled out. Even the doors feature three-dimensional ‘Panda’ lettering.
The passenger compartment attracts attention with a defined cabin, sloping roof racks and a lowered rear end.
There is also another play on the senses: Fiat says it ‘generates a lenticular effect, a black square emblem is connected to the graphic representation of the greenhouse (passenger compartment), creating a striking effect in which the four ‘FIAT’ letters turn into four bars. walking around the vehicle’.
The side doors also feature three-dimensional ‘Panda’ lettering β this time in bas-relief, reflecting the surroundings and bringing some life to the car
The Fiat Panda supermini has always been cheap, very economical and practical – with a quirky appearance
There have been many happy Panda owners over the years, with 40 years and three generations of the car
The Grande Panda is the first product in Fiat’s new family and will be followed by the launch of a new vehicle every year until 2027.
All models will be manufactured on the same global and multi-energy STLA Smart platform ‘which works in every region of the world, allowing the brand to create many different vehicles’.
No launch details or pricing have been announced, but Fiat says the family car is “designed for the needs of customers around the world.”
Fiat CEO Olivier Francois commented: ‘The best way to celebrate Fiat’s 125th anniversary is to start writing the first pages of our future, starting with the new Grande Panda.
βWith the Grande Panda, Fiat is now beginning the transition to global common platforms covering all regions of the world, passing on the resulting benefits to its customers around the world.
‘In fact, the Grande Panda is perfectly suited for families and urban mobility in any country… a real Fiat!’
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