Fiat is popping its Panda Metropolis vehicles into an entire household of 'multi-energy' autos

Stellantis-owned Fiat has revealed 5 new ideas which it says will function inspiration for a household of future autos 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 vehicles, will start with a brand new metropolis automobile in July 2024, adopted by a brand new car yearly for the subsequent three years. Moreover, the ideas preview a pickup truck, a fastback sedan, an SUV, and a camper.

Fiat is hedging its bets and 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 clients, regardless of the place they reside on the earth.”

The announcement, scheduled for this week's Geneva Worldwide Motor Present, follows a number of months of sluggish EV gross sales development in most markets as automakers wrestle to provide reasonably priced fashions and a functioning charging infrastructure. In the meantime, hybrids are promoting at a sooner tempo than pure battery-electric autos.

Fiat is the chief in compact automobile gross sales, with 1.3 million autos offered in 2023, however is struggling to take care of its presence in North America. The model moved simply 605 autos within the US final yr, down about 33 p.c from 2022. The Fiat 500e, the corporate's new compact EV, is focused for the North American market – nevertheless it's unclear whether or not US automobile patrons will likely be considering one thing so small.

The brand new Panda lineup goals to place Fiat as a model with concepts past small metropolis vehicles. The boxy ideas will undoubtedly bear some modifications earlier than changing into actuality, so it's unclear whether or not they'll retain their daring major colours and eccentric design. Fiat says the brand new autos are supposed to be each inspirational and utilitarian. Or, because the automaker says, “Performance with out enjoyable ought to by no means exist.”

“Look, we like to have enjoyable,” Fiat CEO Olivier Francois mentioned in an enticing video introducing the ideas. “We don't take ourselves too significantly.”

Fiat describes its metropolis automobile idea as a “Mega-Panda”, barely bigger than the present technology metropolis automobile. However slightly than constructing its new idea on that earlier mannequin, the automaker's design crew seemed 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 monitor.

This ends in a variety of ovals on the sprint and elsewhere on the car, creating that acquainted take a look at monitor form. The previous Fiat manufacturing unit constructing transformed into workplace house helped encourage a design language constructed round “structural lightness, house optimization and brightness”. Fiat says this consists of its alternative of supplies for the dashboard, shows and seats – together with recycled plastics and sustainable supplies like bamboo material.

The wheels are coated with diagonal stripes, 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 the town automobile will likely be primarily based on the Stellantis “multi-energy platform”, which means it is going to be out there globally and appropriate with all forms of gasoline (or lack thereof).

There are some neat tips, too, like a “self-winding” charging cable that Fiat says will make it simpler to plug and unplug the car. The high-riding place is meant to enhance visibility for anybody driving a metropolis automobile in an city setting. However the inside house can also be supposed to ask drivers on street journeys or weekend excursions.

This pickup relies on Fiat's Strada truck which is the very best promoting truck in South America. The corporate thinks it could possibly transfer past its regional attraction into one thing extra world – thus, the Pickup Panda idea.

Fiat guarantees it would have the performance of a lightweight industrial car with the consolation of an SUV – however at a measurement extra appropriate for city environments. A modular roof rack may be adjusted to suit bicycles or surfboards, and the pixelated entrance gentle may be eliminated and reattached to the rack for off-roading adventures.

Substitute 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 Japanese and African markets, in addition to Europe.

Francois says the “sporty contact” will assist broaden the attraction. Or it may very well be supersized and become an SUV, which the corporate calls the “Giga-Panda.” A step up from the model's small automobile roots, the SUV idea will likely be aimed toward households and people in want of more room. Underneath the hood – or floorboard, because it had been – the Panda SUV idea will are available in pure battery-electric, hybrid, or gas-powered engine fashions.

And at last, a camper idea is for when you might want to take the journey off the overwhelmed path. The corporate says, “The idea pays homage to the 'fun-actionality' of the Panda of the 80s, recalling the flexibility of a automobile with the traits of an SUV and the soul of a reliable companion for the town.” Was made.”

It's unclear which of those ideas will make it to the ultimate stage and which will likely be left on the slicing room ground. Regardless of unveiling a complete of 5 ideas at this time, Fiat has dedicated to releasing solely 4 new autos over the subsequent 4 years. Hopefully the key skateboard compartment survives to the tip.