This story includes a speculative illustration based on the Centoventi concept that is neither related to nor endorsed by Fiat.
Fiat wants to make life difficult for Chinese automakers aiming to conquer European markets, and the way to do it is with the all-new and fully electric Panda. The production version of the 2019 Centoventi concept is set to debut next year, targeting affordability and following the steps of its predecessors.
In a recent interview with the La Repubblica, Fiat’s CEO, Olivier Francois, shared his thoughts on the upcoming model. As reported by Quattroruote, Francois said that Fiat “can and must develop a solution that puts the Chinese in difficulty”, based on the Centoventi concept.
The Fiat boss said that the new electric Panda will “re-purpose” the principles of the previous generations, adopting a “less-is-more” approach. He added that the EV will be focused on the “essentials” rather than being luxurious, in a similar manner to the Giugiaro-style first-generation Panda from the ’80s. The target is to be offered at “a lower cost” compared to rivals, despite being produced in Europe and possibly in Italy.
More: How China Is Flooding The World With Cheap EVs — And Why Europe Wants To Stop It
Italian media suggest that the new Fiat Panda will be closely related to the upcoming Citroen E-C3, sharing either the tried-and-tested eCMP platform or the more evolved STLA Small underpinnings. The French supermini is expected to debut in October 2023 – initially in EV form – with Citroen promising a starting price below the €25,000 ($27,500) mark. This figure matches the target price of the Renault 5 which is also coming in 2024, and the VW ID.2 set to follow in 2025. It remains to be seen if the Fiat Panda will manage to undercut the aforementioned models, as this would be the only way to pose a real threat to cheaper Chinese-built rivals.
On a side note, the current ICE-powered third generation of the Fiat Panda is expected to solider on until 2026, despite the fact that it was originally introduced back in 2011.
