THE LONG-running Fiat Panda model is to return this year after being launched in Italy – and it’ll be one of the cheapest EVs in the UK when it’s released.
Boasting retro styling and plenty of new tech, the Grande Panda will replace the current model of the much-loved city car after a 13-year run.
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The incredible new Grande Panda was officially launched in Turin on Tuesday – representing the beginning of a new family of Panda’s.
Taking inspiration from the iconic model of the 1980s, a hybrid version of the vehicle will be available starting from £18,975.
And, ahead of the UK ban on new petrol cars being sold from 2030, the Grande Panda EV will start from just £20,975 – making it one of the cheapest electric models on the road this year.
The Panda larger than ever before – hence the name ‘Grande Panda.’
The Grande Panda is at just under four meters long and 1.763m wide, with Fiat saying the vehicle is “designed to be compact but practical and roomy inside, seating five adults in comfort.”
It boasts a dashboard crated out of bamboo-cane fibre and door inserts and cabin parts formed from recycled cups and cartons.
The fully electric model will come with a 44kWh battery and 83kW motor, with an “official” range of 199 miles.
It can also accelerate from 0 to a whopping 62mph in 11 seconds, up to a top speed of 82mph.
Families will also be buoyed by the 361 litres of luggage capacity.
At the launch there are two versions.
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One is the entry-level Grand Panda Electric Red from £20,975, while the other is the Electric La Prima from £23,975.
Fiat also says it will come with a “market first” integrated charging cable, capable of up to 7kW AC power delivery.
The hybrid will feature a 100 horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 48-volt battery.
It will have a six-spreed automatic transmission to accelerate from rest to 62mph in 10 seconds up to 99mph.
The new Hybrid starts from just under £19,000.
The current Panda, now commonly known as the Pandina, will remain in production until “at least” 2027, Fiat has confirmed.
The Italian car brand will also expand the Panda family with a new derivative every year until 2027.
This comes as Audi could discontinue two luxury EV models and may even close their Belgium-based factory where it’s built.
Elsewhere, a number of car brands are preparing to revive iconic nameplates in the coming months – including Ford with the Capri.
History of the Fiat Panda
By Tom Malley
The Fiat Panda has gained a major cult following since its production in 1980 and is considered one of the most affordable cars ever made.
Now in its third generation, it remains the bestselling model in Italy.
Panda I – 1981-1995 (UK)
The first Panda was remarkably simple yet incredibly exciting.
Its box-like appearance, utilitarian dashboard and hammock-like seats were an instant hit with drivers universally.
Originally supplied with a sole four-cylinder, 903cc petrol engine and just one standard trim level, the Panda’s range would expand as the years advanced.
Panda II (2004-2012)
The second generation Panda hit the market in in the UK in 2004 and continued its predecessors legacy of practicality, simplicity and manoeuvrability.
That same year, it won the European Car of the Year award.
Buyers could choose from 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre engines but in 2005 the range grew to a diesel model – Fiat’s 1.3-litre Multijet – and a new Panda 4×4.
Panda III (2012 – present)
Since 2012, the third-generation Panda has been a staple on roads across the world.
Adding plenty of funk into its styling from the previous model, the Panda is dominated by the square-circle hybrid known as a squircle both inside and out.
A 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engine were carried over, before the 4×4 made its return a year later.
A two-wheel drive model, the Panda City Cross, soon emerged, as did other special editions including the Panda Waze, Panda Antarctica 4×4, the Panda Trussardi and the latest model, the Panda Hybrid.