The Fiat Grande Panda, a sister of the Citroën ë-C3, offers competitive prices and adds massive interior space. Here is all the information you need to know.
The “jack-in-the-box” is back. Introduced in 1980, the Fiat Panda is reincarnated today in the form of the Grande Panda. On the occasion of its 125th anniversary, the Italian brand revealed more details this Thursday about this technical sister of the Citroën ë-C3 and a rival of the new Renault 5. The promise is an electric car priced below 25,000 euros with well-thought-out practical aspects.
The Dimensions of the Fiat Grande Panda
- Length: 3.99 m
- Width: 1.76 m
- Height: 1.57 m
The Fiat Panda’s dimensions set it apart from more traditional B-segment city cars like the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio. With a length of 3.99 m, the Grande Panda nearly matches the dimensions of the Citroën ë-C3 (4.01 m) and the new Renault 5 (3.92 m). It is significantly larger than previous Panda models. The Grande Panda takes inspiration from the original 1980 model designed by Giugiaro, with a cubic silhouette, geometric grille, plastic inserts, and modern touches like pixelated lighting signature and roof bars.
And the Current Panda? Continuing its Journey
The current Panda III, launched in 2012, will continue to cater to fans of more affordable, smaller (3.65 m), and playful vehicles. Still the best-selling car in Italy, the Panda adapts to regulations by adding features like automatic emergency braking, fatigue detection, and sign recognition. The top version, now named Pandina, offers a 7-inch infotainment screen and automatic lights. The Panda maintains its 1.0 micro-hybrid engine with 70 hp. Prices start at 13,600 euros.
The Grande Panda pays tribute to the 1980 model with its design elements such as a elongated oval dashboard reminiscent of the Lingotto factory, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch central screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The trunk offers up to 361 liters of space, more than the Renault 5 (326 liters) and the Citroën ë-C3 (310 liters). Additionally, there are 13 liters of storage options in the front with door bins, center console, and glove compartment.
Range and Charging of the Fiat Grande Panda
The Grande Panda features a 44 kWh (42 kWh net) LFP battery providing a WLTP range of 320 kilometers. It is expected to have a real consumption of about 15 kWh/100 km in mixed driving conditions.
This is Not the First Electric Panda…
In 1990, the Fiat Panda had an electric version called Elettra, assembled in limited quantities for Italian government use. For more details on this history, refer to the article by Soufyane Benhammouda. The Panda will be assembled in Serbia and is set to hit the roads by the end of the year. Stay tuned to Automobile Propre for the first video preview.
The Grande Panda comes with a surprise under the hood – a coiled cable for charging, reminiscent of old landline telephones. This cable, capable of up to 7 kW charging, is primarily for home use. Fiat has not yet disclosed the DC charging power, but it is expected to be around 100 kW like the Citroën. The price is expected to be below 25,000 euros, positioning it competitively against its rivals in the electric vehicle market.