Fiat has previewed the new electric Panda as one of five radically styled concepts that look ahead to a range of new affordable cars due on sale worldwide by the end of the decade.

Fiat’s new concepts have been revealed on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, from which the Italian brand will be absent, along with each of its Stellantis sibling brands. A close competitor, the new Renault 5 EV, has just been revealed.

In a new official video released by Fiat, CEO Olivier François takes to the streets of the small Italian town ‘Ginevra’ (Italian for… Geneva) in a current-generation Panda as he presents his company’s alternative take on the international motor show.

The first of Fiat’s new-era models, described as “children of the Panda”, will be revealed in July as part of the brand’s 125th-anniversary celebrations, followed by one new car every year until 2027.

Children of the Panda

They will share a typical architecture, which can accommodate ICE, hybrid, and pure-electric powertrains. This platform is expected to be also the cost-effective Smart Car platform used by the latest C3 from Stellantis sibling brand Citroën.

The Fiat car, which is expected to be the Panda, will first show up in June and has been previewed by a retro-futuristic concept dubbed the City Car, which takes obvious inspiration from the 1980s Panda 4×4.

Confirming that it has a larger footprint than the current car, Fiat refers to the City Car concept as “a sort of ‘Mega-Panda'”, but it is still expected to be among the smaller full-sized cars available in Europe.

Ultra-compact crossover

The new Panda is expected to morph into an ultra-compact crossover, like the Citroën related to it, riding higher and focusing more on cabin space than its predecessor. “The high driving position and robust design make this city car the perfect ally for customers worldwide, especially in crowded urban environments. But it also offers roominess and versatility for family weekend trips and holidays,” says the press release.

Fiat does not go so far as to hint at the new Panda’s technical specifications. Still, like the C3, it is set to be offered with a choice of combustion and electric powertrains as Fiat strives to ensure its products remain accessible to as wide a demographic as possible and to cater to differing needs in different markets.

Fiat’s historic factory in Lingotto, Turin, is said to have been a driving influence on the concept’s design, with designers drawing on the building’s “structural lightness, space optimization, and brightness” as they created the interior. Notably, the factory’s famous roof test track is referenced in the oval steering wheel and dashboard design.

The cabin majors on sustainability, with materials including bamboo and recycled plastics used for the main structures – features that will become common to all Fiat products in the new era. Fiat also hints at one unique feature that could appear on the production version: a self-winding charging cable that retracts into the bodywork when unused.

Four to come

The City Car’s retro cues and chunky form are carried over to each of the other concept cars Fiat has unveiled. The Pick-Up concept, for example, previews a striking new truck model that will replace the Strada, Brazil’s best-selling vehicle.

Said to “put the fun into functionality”, the Pick-Up is more aimed at the lifestyle market than the commercial vehicle sector. Indeed, Fiat says it blends “the concept of a pickup with the functionality of an LCV and the comfort of an SUV in a size suitable to urban environments all over the world.”It is unknown if the product version of this concept will also make it to Europe, but there is a clear will to do it.

Then there is the Fastback concept, a rakish compact crossover “with a sporty flair” that aims to prove “Fiat can improve its sustainable commitment without giving up on performance”.

The more boxy SUV concept is named ‘Giga-Panda’ and is “another confirmation of the special emphasis the brand is putting on the needs of family transport”.

Last but not least, there is the Camper  Concept, “the ultimate do-it-all vehicle”. Blending elements of 4×4 off-roaders, MPVs, and vans, it is said to pay homage to the “functionality of the Panda from the 80s, recalling the versatility of a car that was made for the city with the feature of an SUV and the soul of a trusty companion”.

Olivier Francois concludes: “Fiat is a global brand with 1.3 million cars sold last year and solid leadership in many parts of the world. We are in a global game, and our next step will be to transition from local products to a global offer that can benefit our customers everywhere.