Fiat is in the process of renewing its outdated line-up as it strives to find a niche inside its sprawling Stellantis parent company, and according to news out of Europe – its next move will be to re-introduce the Panda nameplate.
Fiat has confirmed in the past that it wanted to bring the once-popular Panda nameplate back from the dead as part of its renewed but Euro-focused product line-up, which now includes both the fully electric new-generation Fiat 500 city hatch, and incoming larger Fiat 600 crossover.
Speaking to Autocar in Europe, Fiat CEO Olivier Fracois said the brand had room for another Fiat 600-sized crossover in its line-up, but “more in the ‘essential’ category”.
This apparently means an SUV around four metres in length which will be “a little like the Panda used to be. […]Cool, popular, affordable,” he told the UK outlet.
“We need something that is 100 per cent following the European tastes but really can be global and this is why I said there may be space for something else, other than the 600, which is very, very European” he continued.
Does this mean Fiat could possibly bring a new-generation Jimny-rival to Australia? If you consider the fact that the brand has just renewed its presence here with the new-generation Fiat 500, and that it would likely pull from an existing right-hand-drive capable platform from elsewhere in Stellantis, it’s certainly a possibility for the brand, one which could reverse is sliding sales with a vehicle more suited to an Australian buyer.
However, Stellantis has made it clear in the past that Fiat needs to play to its strengths, making a new Panda likely to be suited to the Latin American market, one of the few where Fiat still has a massive presence.
To that end, combustion and electric powertrains for the new Panda have been mooted, which would open the opportunity for low-cost models alongside a pricier more Euro-compliant EV version.
The outgoing Panda had a less-than-stellar run in Australia between 2013 and 2015, and was decidedly ill-fitted for local tastes, sold with either a 900cc two-cylinder engine (63kW/145Nm) or a 1.2-litre diesel four-cylinder diesel engine (55kW/190Nm) both in front-wheel drive.
Despite a false start as a low-cost alternative, the nameplate should not be underestimated, as it has a long history of rugged, fun 4×4 versions in its European home market, where it continues to be popular.
The Suzuki Jimny (from $30,490 before on-road costs), which also has an EV version in the works, would be the key rival in Australia to a next-gen Panda, although Renault Australia is also in the process of bringing Dacia to the local market, which it describes as a more adventure-focused and combustion-led alternative to the Renault marque which is set to go all-electric in the near future.
Various Chinese brands have also had a crack at the cheap off-roader formula, although none are yet to be confirmed for an Australian launch. A major issue facing many cheap off-road focused cars is safety tech, which often falls short of expectations. The Jimny, for example, maintains only three ANCAP stars.
Keyword: Watch out Suzuki Jimny? 2024 next-generation Fiat Panda will apparently be reborn as tough but 'affordable' small off-roader