Fiat is gearing up to reveal the highly awaited fourth generation of the Panda, scheduled for a 2024 summer debut, and it’s coming with a fully electric powertrain. This next-gen Panda is aimed at Chinese-built competitors, boasting an affordable price tag. Anticipated to take inspiration from the Centoventi concept, the production model is expected to embrace crossover styling while maintaining the simplicity and practicality of its predecessors, spiced up with a touch of adventure reminiscent of the legendary 4×4 versions.
The current third-generation Fiat Panda has been around pretty much unchanged since 2011 and is expected to soldier on until 2026, when it will be 15 years old. Thankfully, the new model will bring the much-needed clean sheet design a lot earlier than that, as its official debut is expected to coincide with Fiat’s 125th anniversary on July 11, 2024.
More: 2024 Fiat Panda EV To Target Chinese Rivals With A Less-Is-More Approach
Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops
As depicted in our speculative renderings, the 2024 Panda will look like an evolution of the Centoventi concept from 2019. For the sake of reducing costs, the Panda could share its greenhouse, hardpoints, and some exterior components with the 2024 Citroen e-C3, as the two urban EVs are expected to be closely related. Still, Fiat will likely invest in brand-specific body panels, as the Panda is one of the core models of its lineup with a long history dating back to the ’80s.
The first-generation Panda, making its debut back in 1980, is hailed as a masterpiece of automotive design, courtesy of the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro. In this light, Fiat’s CEO, Olivier Francois, has unveiled that this iconic model will be a key source of inspiration for the upcoming version. It will inherit the “less-is-more” philosophy and prioritize the “essentials,” just like its revered predecessor.
These remarks suggest a return to a straightforward interior design, eschewing costly tech gadgets in favor of clever, practical solutions that enhance daily life with both convenience and enjoyment. For instance, base models might incorporate a smartphone dock instead of a traditional infotainment screen, similar to the Fiat 500e and Dacia’s entire lineup. Whether Fiat opts to embrace the smart head-up display feature seen in the Citroen e-C3, rendering the digital instrument cluster obsolete, remains to be seen.
Despite the Fiat Panda’s typical A-Segment (city car) classification, the upcoming generation might bridge the gap into the B-Segment (supermini), especially when it comes to interior space. With the EV platform, we can anticipate more passenger room compared to previous iterations, paired with a more spacious trunk. This transformation is made possible by the EV architecture and a lengthier body that could approach the symbolic 4,000 mm (157.5 inches) threshold, marking a substantial increase over the current model’s 3,653 mm (143.8 inches).
EV-Native Underpinnings
The 2024 Panda will ride on Stellantis‘ new Smart Car platform, which is an evolution of the widely used CMP / eCMP architecture designed for low-cost models. The same underpinnings are used in the brand-new 2024 Citroen e-C3, giving us a great idea of what to expect from the upcoming Fiat.
The French counterpart to the Panda made its debut with a solitary electric motor, churning out 111 hp (83 kW / 113 PS). This powertrain enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in a reasonable (for a city car) time of 11 seconds, with an electronically restricted top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Complementing this is a 44 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, boasting a WLTP-estimated range of 320 km (199 miles), making it a fitting choice for urban-centric electric driving.
More: Stellantis’ New Budget Platform To Underpin 7 Models, Including Citroen C3 And Fiat Panda
In addition, Citroen has revealed plans to introduce a more budget-friendly version by 2025, boasting a range of approximately 200 km (124 miles). While Citroen hasn’t divulged specific technical details, it’s anticipated that this variant will employ a smaller and more cost-effective battery pack, possibly paired with a less powerful motor. These specifications are likely to be adopted by the Fiat Panda as well, as the two models are expected to share a significant portion of their mechanical components.
The Smart Car platform was designed primarily for fully electric vehicles but it is also compatible with ICE powertrains. This means that the new Panda could potentially be offered with derivatives of Stellantis’ 1.2-liter mild-hybrid three-cylinder petrol, at least for certain markets, although the Italian brand has only mentioned the EV.
Affordable Pricing
Even though the 2024 Fiat Panda will be manufactured in Europe , potentially in Italy, it is anticipated to be among the most budget-friendly electric vehicles available. Fiat’s CEO, Olivier Francois, has openly expressed the company’s intention to “make life difficult” for Chinese-produced electric vehicle competitors by delivering an affordable urban EV accessible to a broad audience.
If you’re curious about the potential affordability of an electric Panda, you can look to the pricing strategy of its sibling, the Citroen e-C3, for some clues. The French model starts from as low as €19,990 ($21,050) for the base trim with a 200 km (124-mile) range and at €23,300 ($24,535) for the version with the extended 320 km (199-mile) range battery.
These figures already undercut the targeted sub-€25,000 ($26,326) starting price of several upcoming supermini rivals including the Renault 5 and the VW ID.2. This could also mean that the new Panda might compete with the sub-€20,000 ($21,053) price range of the smaller VW ID.1 urban crossover, confirmed for 2026. It remains to be seen whether Fiat can successfully undercut the Chinese-built Dacia Spring, which currently holds the title of the cheapest electric car in Europe, excluding the ultra-affordable heavy quadricycles.
Note: This story includes imaginative illustrations that have no official connection or endorsement from Fiat.
