Fiat is not attending the Geneva Motor Present, however that hasn’t stopped it from going to Geneva … Italy. That is proper, there is a dainty patch of floor in Brescia referred to as Ginevra, which is Italian for Geneva. Fiat CEO and Stellantis’ chief advertising officer Olivier Francois has pulled one other sly one, internet hosting his personal miniature auto present at a bar in Ginevra to showcase Fiat’s coming vary of world fashions. The presentation is all in regards to the Panda, previous and new, with Fiat transforming the spirit and ethos of the 44-year-old nameplate into 4 ideas that begin with an all-new Panda on Stellantis’ international platform, then department into two updates on in style present merchandise and two all-new merchandise.
After successful the Stellantis household gross sales title with 1.3 million models moved final 12 months, Francois mentioned of the model, “[Our] next step will be to transition from local products to a global offer that can benefit all of our customers everywhere in the world,” embodying the philosophy that “functionality should never exist without fun.” A plan for sharing as much as 80% of components between fashions, on prime of that shared platform, is the important thing enabler. And simply as we talked about yesterday with Jeep, Fiat’s speaking large in regards to the vary of obtainable powertrains, with ICE, EV, hybrid and PHEV within the combine.
This is the guts of the brand new vary, your all-new Panda identical to it says on the door, referred to as “City Car” within the video. Fiat will current this one to itself and the world in July this 12 months through the firm’s one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary. In it may be seen the essential thought of the idea Fiat introduced to itself as a one hundred and twentieth birthday current, the Centoventi Idea revealed on the 2019 Geneva Motor Present (the one in Switzerland). We heard nothing in regards to the Centoventi after that, its fundamentals displaying up first within the Citroen C3, and from there again to Fiat with this all-new Panda. Francois referred to as this a sort-of “Mega Panda,” a phrase we would like on a T-shirt, boasting a crossover-like upright design, increased driving place, and elevated roominess.
Your entire vary will emphasize sustainability, ease-of-use, and modularity. The Panda demonstrates ease with the retractable charging cable rising from the hood. Inside, the oval motif in locations just like the dashboard and seats remembers Fiat’s authentic manufacturing unit in Turin, the Lingotto constructing with the oval take a look at observe referred to as the La Pista 500 on its roof. For those who’re in search of competitors to the dashing little Renault 5 that did make the trek to Switzerland, that is it.
This is the one that would imply essentially the most to our market, the pickup idea. Fiat owns the South American market, partially due to its Strada pickup that is Brazil’s best-seller. Fiat thinks a compact double-cab hauler like this one may keep it up the Strada’s success and open up new markets like Europe — the place Fiat’s rebadged Mitsubishi pickup did not fare effectively. Is it out of the query that involves the U.S. as a Fiat or a Ram?
The Fastback idea picks up the thread of two different favourite, Brazil’s Fiat Fastback and the worldwide Tipo that is a market favourite within the Center East and Africa, and Turkey’s best-selling automotive. Francois claims the profile on this one as “proof FIAT can improve sustainable commitment without giving up on performance.”
One other T-shirt slogan right here, the “Giga Panda” household SUV, including but extra functionality and room to the extra rugged Mega Panda. It is the upright model of the Fastback idea, desiring to problem the still-popular Dacia Duster.
Lastly, the best of the bunch for out of doors varieties, the Camper, making an attempt to attract a direct line to the hiked-up Panda 4×4 fashions that return to the Nineteen Eighties.
In 4 months, we’ll discover out what the manufacturing model of the brand new Panda appears like. Francois mentioned the model will launch one new mannequin per 12 months for the subsequent three years after the Panda, which would seem to imply that certainly one of these idea is not going to see the sunshine.