You have got to love a Fiat Panda! The car is a 1980s icon. Hell, it was my first car way back in 1988, writes Tim Barnes-Clay. To be fair, it doesn't feel that long ago, but it was the first vehicle to give me a complete and utter sense of freedom. And I really do mean freedom, because I lived in the back of beyond on the Norfolk coast - before the Internet and way before social media was even heard of. The Fiat Panda was my only means of getting a social life. Honestly, the village I lived in had one bus a day to anywhere that even vaguely contained a social life.
This is why my Fiat Panda, back then - and now - remains a car I will always remember fondly. Yes, I can forgive its rustiness at only four years old - and I can forgive its deckchair-thin front seats and uncomfortable yet strangely practical hammock rear seat.
The Panda - and Fiat - have become burnt into my grey matter to the extent that I always get a feeling of warmth whenever I go to a Fiat media event. The Italian company’s events are always colourful, full of pomp and delightfully chaotic. The most recent media event in Turin - the home of Fiat - lived up to all expectations.
So why was I there? Well, the clue is in the numerous mentions of the words 'Fiat' and 'Panda'! But really, I was invited, along with loads of other media around the world, to attend Fiat’s 125th birthday. This anniversary provided the perfect showcase to showboat the new version of the Fiat Panda.
The occasion, titled 'Smiling to the Future,' kicked off at the famous Lingotto building. Fiat told me this theme reflects the automaker's commitment to innovation and optimism as it embarks on the next phase of its journey.
Indeed, the ceremony celebrated a milestone few automakers have reached, heralding a new chapter in the brand's long history.
As mentioned, international press members, including us at Regit, attended the event. But obviously, bosses from Fiat's parent company, Stellantis, such as John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis and Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO and Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO and Stellantis Global CMO, were at the party. They couldn't really miss it, right?
The celebrations involved a stunning parade of classic and contemporary Fiat vehicles, including the iconic 500, showcased on the Lingotto building's legendary track. Since its beginnings, Fiat has produced cars worldwide while keeping its heart in the Piedmont capital, where it was founded.
But the star of the Italian show was the Fiat Grande Panda, marking Fiat's return to the global mainstream market.
The Grande Panda, a vehicle inspired by that wonderful original Panda from the decade of Boy George, neon hair and soap operas, is designed to be perfect for every occasion and every driver.
Fiat claims that its unique design elements offer an affordable and family-friendly vehicle. The fully electric version will be available for less than £22,000, and the hybrid Grande Panda will be available for under £20,000. Now, that’s not bad for a new car and is edging in on the budget car territory claimed by the likes of Dacia.
Designed in Italy at the Fiat Centro Stile in - you’ve guessed it - Turin, the Grande Panda uses a simple idea: a platform that’s installable anywhere in the world. Indeed, it’ll be the first Panda to belong to the B-segment (if you don’t know what that means, it’s the second smallest European segment for passenger cars).
It will also be the first vehicle on the market to include an integrated charging cable, which works in alternating current up to 7 kW. The spiral cable has a unique housing under the bonnet, which saves space in the boot and encourages practical everyday use.
As with its original predecessor, the Grande Panda sports a colourful personality and an innovative and intelligent use of space. The model sets itself apart from other cars in the B-segment with its compactness and well-organised capacity. Despite its small size, the Grande Panda offers a roomy boot of 361 litres. What’s more, there is a total capacity of 13 litres in the storage compartments in front of the front passenger, demonstrating the Grande Panda’s practicality and innovation. It is a simple and ingenious trademark-Fiat solution that recalls the 1980s Panda's timeless "pocket" dashboard.
The car is set to be the ideal affordable companion for families and today's urban mobility as it can comfortably transport five people. Furthermore, the new vehicle's Italian spirit is showcased through its structured lines, bold surfaces, and robust wheel arches. Silver skid plates, black pillar finishes, privacy windows, and 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels make everything even more distinctive.
The icing on the Grande Panda’s cake is the 3D-branded letters on the doors – a nostalgic nod to the classic Panda. Seven shades of paint are available, too: red, white, black, green, brown, blue and yellow. Inside, more nods have been made - but in the direction of the Lingotto building's track, which inspired some of the elements of the interior. Indeed, the dashboard and the polycarbonate frame, including a 10-inch cluster and 10.25-inch digital radio, feature a style that echoes the Lingotto track's shape and creates an evocative vibe.
The first of a new Fiat family, the Grande Panda, will be available in electric and hybrid versions. With a 44kWh battery and an 83-kW e-motor, the Panda will offer over 195 miles of range, making it a real-world vehicle for daily use in town, on the school run, or weekend trips away.
Speaking at the big birthday bash, Fiat chief, Olivier Francois, said: "Fiat has been synonymous with social relevance over the last 125 years, offering our customers what they really need based on the times in which they are living. Our customers want iconic and affordable city cars, frugal and inclusive compacts, family mobility, commercial vehicles, and, last but not least, Abarth for everyday fun, which is exactly what Fiat offers.”
Francois added: “We have launched Fiat's comeback to the global mainstream based on three pillars: Italian design and development, global platform and local relevance - and the Grande Panda is the first member of our new global family. Therefore, over the next decade, we'll have the right offer for every customer. Because the customer is at the centre of everything for us."
As I said at the top of this piece, I have a soft spot for the Panda. Okay, I'm meant to be objective - but you always remember your first car, right? There's no logic involved here - it's pure emotion - so, for me, Fiat will always be synonymous with the late 1980s and my glory days of true youthful motoring independence.
Let's hope the Grande Panda lives up to expectations. But we won't know that until Fiat allows the media behind the wheel of the new incarnation at its official media launch – so watch this space.
You can expect to see the Grande Panda trundling along British streets in 2025.
