Fiat is turning its Panda city cars into a whole family of “multi-energy” vehicles

Stellantis-owned Fiat revealed 5 new ideas that it says will function inspiration for a future household of automobiles that can are available in a wide range of powertrains whereas sharing the identical platform.

The brand new lineup, impressed by the Italian automaker’s Panda metropolis automobiles, will kick off in July 2024 with a brand new metropolis automobile, adopted by a brand new car annually for the next three years. As well as, the ideas preview a pickup truck, a fastback sedan, an SUV, and a camper.

Fiat is hedging its bets, committing to producing not solely electrical variations of every car but additionally hybrid and inner combustion engine variations. The automaker says that is to “guarantee most relevance to prospects wherever they stay on this planet.”

The announcement, timed for the Geneva Worldwide Motor Present this week, follows a number of months of slowing EV gross sales development in most markets, as automakers battle to supply reasonably priced fashions and a working charging infrastructure. Hybrids, in the meantime, have been promoting at a brisker tempo than pure battery-electric automobiles.

Fiat is a pacesetter in compact automobile gross sales, having offered 1.3 million automobiles in 2023, however has been struggling to keep up its presence in North America. The model solely moved 605 automobiles within the US final yr, down about 33 % from 2022. The Fiat 500e, the corporate’s new compact EV, is aimed on the North American market — nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not US automobile patrons are inquisitive about one thing so small.

The brand new Panda lineup is meant to place Fiat as a model with concepts that stretch past tiny metropolis automobiles. The boxy ideas will undoubtedly undergo some modifications earlier than they turn into actuality, so it’s unclear whether or not they’ll maintain their daring main colours and eccentric designs. Fiat says the brand new automobiles are supposed to be each inspirational and utilitarian. Or, because the automaker places it, “Performance ought to by no means exist with out Enjoyable.”

“Look, we like having enjoyable,” Fiat CEO Olivier Francois mentioned in an enthralling video introducing the ideas. “We don’t take ourselves too critically.”

Fiat describes its metropolis automobile idea as a “Mega-Panda,” measuring barely bigger than the present era metropolis automobile. However somewhat than construct its new idea on that earlier mannequin, the automaker’s design workforce regarded to structure for its inspiration, particularly the enduring Lingotto constructing in Turin, Italy, with its helix entry ramp and well-known rooftop take a look at observe.

That interprets into a lot of ovals, within the sprint and elsewhere across the car, constructing off that acquainted take a look at observe form. The previous Fiat manufacturing unit constructing turned workplace house helped encourage a design language constructed round “structural lightness, house optimization and brightness.” Fiat says that features its alternative of supplies for the dashboard, show, and seats — which incorporates sustainable supplies like recycled plastics and bamboo materials.

The wheels are capped with diagonal straps, and the entrance grille is dotted with tiny pixels. And do my eyes deceive me, or is {that a} particular compartment only for skateboards within the driver-side door??

Francois says town automobile might be based mostly on the Stellantis “multi-energy platform,” that means it is going to be obtainable globally and suitable with every kind of gasoline (or lack thereof).

There are additionally some neat methods, like a “self-winding” charging cable that Fiat says will make plugging and unplugging the car simpler. A high-riding place is supposed to enhance visibility for anybody driving town automobile in an city setting. However inside house is supposed to ask drivers to take street journeys or weekend excursions as effectively.

The pickup is supposed to construct on Fiat’s Strada truck that could be a high vendor in South America. The corporate thinks it may possibly develop past its regional attraction into one thing extra world — thus, the pickup Panda idea.

Fiat guarantees it’s going to have the performance of a lightweight industrial car, with the consolation of an SUV — however in a measurement extra appropriate for city environments. A modular roof rack will be adjusted to suit bicycles or surfboards, and the pixelated entrance lights will be eliminated and reattached to the rack for off-roading adventures.

Exchange the rear mattress with a extra aero-focused rear finish, and also you’ve acquired the fastback idea. Impressed by the Fiat Fastback in Brazil and the Fiat Tipo within the Center East and Africa, the idea is aimed on the South American, Center Jap, and African markets in addition to Europe.

Francois says the “sporty contact” will assist broaden the attraction. Or it may be supersized to remodel it into an SUV, which the corporate calls its “Giga-Panda.” A step above the model’s small automobile roots, the SUV idea might be geared toward households and people in want of more room. Below the hood — or floorboards, because it had been — the Panda SUV idea will are available in pure battery-electric, hybrid, or gas-powered engine fashions.

And lastly, a camper idea is for when it’s worthwhile to take the journey off the crushed path. “This idea pays homage to the ‘Enjoyable-ctionality’ of the Panda from the 80s, recalling the flexibility of a automobile that was made for town with the options of a SUV and the soul of a trusty companion,” the corporate says.

It’s not clear which of those ideas will make it to the ultimate stage and which might be left on the slicing room flooring. Fiat is just committing to releasing 4 new automobiles over the following 4 years, regardless of unveiling a complete of 5 ideas at the moment. Hopefully the key skateboard compartment survives to the tip.