Cruising Back in Time: Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid - A Gadget for Time Travel Reimagined
Time-Traveling Gadget Unveiled: The Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid - A Revolutionary Vehicle for Temporal Exploration
Reminisce, revitalize, and redefine - that's the motto at Fiat as they breathe new life into their iconic compact SUV, the Grande Panda. This electrified gem from the 80s is back to swing the hybrid market by its legs. Let's hop aboard for a twists-and-turns retro-modern road trip!
The game's afoot, dear car enthusiasts, for nothing fits the bill of the up-and-coming vehicle market better than the title of the timeless 1985 flick: R4, R5, Ford Capri - you name it. The Italian powerhouse is upping the ante by retelling the success story of the Panda, a model that penned history with over four million units sold from 1980 to 2003. Its designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, once likened it to a "household appliance on wheels."
Fast forward to today, and one might say gadget is now an accurate description for the Grande Panda. With its nostalgic nods and innovative spins, there's no denying its allure. Catch glimpses of yesteryear's Panda as you run your fingers across the embossed Panda lettering on the doors and behold the prominent Fiat logo on the rear hatch - a loving tribute to the original.
Step inside, and the interior keeps the good vibes going. Design cues from the Lingotto test track can be spotted on the dash, where a 10-inch screen behind the wheel and a centrally positioned 10.25-inch monitor gleam. For those adventurers rocking the La Prima trim, keep your eyes peeled for the eye-catching bamboo optics on the dashboard - yet another fun throwback to the Panda's storied past.
Ladies and gents, meet Fiat's bid to make the Grande Panda their world car. Announcing their new hybrid edition, the Grande Panda Hybrid sports a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine chucking out 74 kW/101 PS. This gasoline engine mingles harmoniously with a mild hybrid system, housing an electric motor producing an additional 21 kW/28.6 PS and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery. All of this funnels into a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (eDCT) uniquely engineered for electric drives, sending energy to the front wheels.
Electric and hybrid siblings at play, the Grande Panda Hybrid borrows its bones from the new flexible Stellantis platform "Smart-Car," which lays the groundwork for various powertrains. It's the second model to be born on the "Smart-Car," following closely in the footsteps of the Citroën C3. With gasoline models boasting manual transmissions and the iconic 4x4 rumored to return in 2026, prepare to witness Fiat turning the current automotive revolution on its head with the Grande Panda.
So, how much will it all set you back? The Grande Panda kicks off at a base price of €18,990 for the Pop variant. Lavish upgrades bring our test vehicle to approximately €23,500, stacked with automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, 17-inch wheels, and LED front and rear lights to name a few.
Putting the pedal to the hybrid metal, the Grande Panda Hybrid boasts surprising lateral support for its price range, backed by comfortable seats and a direct steering feel. Its powertrain is similarly agile and remarked upon for its stable ride, even through the slickest and most challenging local road imperfections.
Looks like there's plenty of room to spare in the Grande Panda, thanks to its generous 2.54-meter wheelbase. Whether a road trip with five takes the cake remains a topic for debate, but rest assured, everyday drives are made a breeze with ample legroom and a boot volume expandable up to 1,366 liters by folding down those rear seats.
Welcome to the future, 80s style - the Fiat Grande Panda leaves us with a warm, nostalgic glimmer, reviving positive emotions both behind the wheel and at a standstill. Whether its tantalizing mix of retro and modern compact SUV elements earns it the title of a new bestseller remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure - the Grande Panda is a gadget we're happy to go back to!
Bonus Facts
- Powertrain: The Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid combines a 1.2-liter turbocharged T-Gen3 engine with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It delivers a max power of 110 horsepower, and that agile performance is partly thanks to the system's electric motor.
- Interior and Features: The Grande Panda measures 3.99 by 1.76 by 1.58 meters, housing five passengers inside. Its available trim levels include the Pop, Icon, and La Prima, each offering advanced driver assistance systems and LED lights as standard.
- Launch: Bid farewell to the present and embrace the future - the Grande Panda Hybrid is set to hit the UK market in the Summer of 2025.
- Pricing: The Pop version launches at £18,035, while the Icon and La Prima grades retail for £19,035 and £21,035, respectively. Electric versions of the model will follow, with the Red and La Prima trims priced at £21,035 and £24,035, respectively.
- Platform: You'll find the Grande Panda built on the Stellantis' Smart Car platform, ensuring flexibility in accommodating different powertrains.
As Fiat infuses their iconic Grande Panda with modern technology, the retrofit of smart-home-devices and gadgets becomes increasingly evident. The hybrid vehicle, reminiscent of the 80s, now offers advanced features such as a 10-inch screen behind the wheel and a centrally positioned 10.25-inch monitor in the dashboard, drawing parallels with smart-home-devices.
Moreover, the Grande Panda Hybrid aligns itself with the future by adopting the Stellantis' Smart-Car platform, a technological foundation designed to accommodate various powertrains, just like smart-home-devices support a wide range of connected devices.
