Fiat is popping its Panda metropolis automobiles into a complete household of ‘multi-energy’ autos

Stellantis-owned Fiat revealed 5 new ideas that it says will function inspiration for a future household of autos that may 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 automotive, adopted by a brand new automobile 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 automobile but additionally hybrid and inner combustion engine variations. The automaker says that is to “guarantee most relevance to clients wherever they reside on this planet.”

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

Fiat is a frontrunner in compact automotive gross sales, having offered 1.3 million autos in 2023, however has been struggling to keep up its presence in North America. The model solely moved 605 autos within the US final yr, down about 33 p.c 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 automotive consumers are curious about one thing so small.

The brand new Panda lineup is meant to place Fiat as a model with concepts that reach past tiny metropolis automobiles. The boxy ideas will undoubtedly undergo some modifications earlier than they change into actuality, so it’s unclear whether or not they’ll preserve their daring main colours and kooky designs. Fiat says the brand new autos are meant 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 a captivating video introducing the ideas. “We don’t take ourselves too significantly.”

Fiat describes its metropolis automotive idea as a “Mega-Panda,” measuring barely bigger than the present technology metropolis automotive. However somewhat than construct 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 check monitor.

That interprets into plenty of ovals, within the sprint and elsewhere across the automobile, constructing off that acquainted check monitor form. The previous Fiat manufacturing facility constructing turned workplace house helped encourage a design language constructed round “structural lightness, house optimization and brightness.” Fiat says that features its selection 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 the town automotive might be primarily based on the Stellantis “multi-energy platform,” that means it is going to be out there globally and appropriate with every kind of gas (or lack thereof).

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

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

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

Change the rear mattress with a extra aero-focused rear finish, and also you’ve obtained 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 be supersized to remodel it into an SUV, which the corporate calls its “Giga-Panda.” A step above the model’s small automotive roots, the SUV idea might be aimed toward households and people in want of extra space. 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 you’ll want to take the journey off the overwhelmed path. “This idea pays homage to the ‘Enjoyable-ctionality’ of the Panda from the 80s, recalling the flexibility of a automotive that was made for the 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 chopping room ground. Fiat is just committing to releasing 4 new autos over the following 4 years, regardless of unveiling a complete of 5 ideas at present. Hopefully the key skateboard compartment survives to the tip.