- Fiat launches Grande Panda
- Replaces discontinued Panda in Fiat line-up
- Available as Hybrid or Electric
- Priced from £18,975 for the Hybrid
The all-new Fiat Grande Panda is being lined-up for an imminent launch - and, of course, it’s going to feature a bamboo themed cabin!
The Fiat Panda as we knew it was discontinued in the UK back in August of last year, with the Italian firm promising to replace it with a larger car.
And this is it - the Fiat Grande Panda - which arrives with suitably retro styling and headlights that ape arcade video games from the 1980s.
The first thing you need to know is that the ‘Grande’ name is a bit misleading - as the new Panda isn’t all that bigger than the car it’s replacing.
At 3.99 metres in length (the old Panda was around 3.7 metres long) the Grande Panda is still actually below the average size of vehicles in the popular ‘supermini’ market segment.
So, the Grande Panda will continue to offer nimble, agile and affordable motoring for those who don’t need a massive SUV.
The second thing you need to know about the Grande Panda is that it’ll be available with either a Hybrid (a capable mild-hybrid) or a fully-electric powertrain.
The Hybrid combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 48 volt hybrid system and 6-speed electric dual-clutch transmission (eDCT) and, unlike some other mild hybrids, the Grande Panda will be able to travel short distances using electricity alone. We’re talking about parking in city centres or creeping forward in a line of traffic here, rather than any significant trips.
The Fiat Grande Panda Electric, meanwhile, is underpinned by a 44 kWh battery that unlocks 113 hp and a range of up to 199 miles between charges.
Uniquely, there’s a retractable charging cable at the front of the car and a traditional part to the rear, which should make replenishing the energy in the Panda’s battery a doddle. Rapid charging at 100 kW DC can take the battery from 20% to 80% full in just 27 minutes.
Range-topping La Prima models enjoy a dashboard wrapped in a material called ‘Bambox’ which is made from real bamboo fibres - which is a nice touch.
Meanwhile Fiat has also partnered with a charity called (RED), which leads the global fight against health injustice, to offer a trim level of the same name (for the Electric Grande Panda) which features eye-catching 16-inch white steel wheels and special logos on the B-pillar.
The Fiat Grande Panda is due to hit UK roads in the spring of this year, with prices beginning at £18,975 for the Hybrid.
There will be plenty of rivals for the Grande Panda to contend with, not least cars like the Citroen C3, Hyundai Inster and Dacia Spring.
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