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Fiat has unwrapped its all-new 2025 Fiat Grande Panda that will eventually replace the long-serving third-generation Panda city car, which was discontinued in Australia in 2015 but has been on sale globally for more than 12 years.
Named the Fiat Grande Panda to reflect its increase in size, the small Italian SUV is 450mm longer than the current Panda at 3990mm in overall length. Based on parent Stellantis’ STLA Smart Car platform, the new Grande Panda will be heavily related to the Citron e-C3, with the electric version built to a price of just €25,000 ($A40,400).
It will also have much in common with the new 2027 Jeep Renegade announced last week. To be offered first in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the compact five-door has not been confirmed for the Australian market but could possibly do well here if it had low pricing to go with its SUV styling.
Inspired by the Fiat Concept City Car that was shown off earlier this year, the boxy front-end design pays tribute to the first-generation Panda built from 1980 until 2003. The production version of the Grande Panda adopts an updated take on the show car’s pixelated front fascia, while the headlights feature an X-shape made up of 11 LED pixels.
The X theme is repeated on the 17-inch alloy wheels, while the higher ride height, black plastic wheel-arches and roof rails suggest that the model we’re looking at could be a rugged replacement for the current Panda 4x4.
No interior pictures have been released yet, but it’s expected to have a more conventional design compared to the sparse cabin of the 2024 concept, picking up where the latest Fiat 500e left off.
The Grande Panda will be available with either full-electric powertrains or conventional combustion engines with mild-hybrid assistance. The latter is expected to include a 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech petrol engine that alone produces 100kW but also combines with a 21kW electric motor, a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and a small battery.
The electric version, meanwhile, could replicate the Citroen’s powertrain with a front-mounted e-motor good for 83kW – and a 44kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that should provide a range of up to 320km.
Later on, cheaper EVs versions could follow that will downsize the battery for a more modest 200km range.It’s expected a proper all-wheel drive version will also be available that will mimic the set-up used by the latest Jeep Avenger 4xe hybrid.
If so, expect a 100kW 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine to combine with a six-speed dual-clutch auto and two 21kW electric motors – one on each axle.Incredibly, Fiat has already announced that instead of pensioning off the current Panda it will continue building the already ancient hatch under the Pandina name until at least 2030.
Pricing and launch timing for the Fiat Grande Panda have yet to be announced, but the new SUV is expected on sale in Europe before the end of this year.
Carsales.au