A Grande Panda 4x4 will arrive soon, but we don't know yet whether it will be electric

The FIAT Panda is one of the great classics for anyone who wants a manageable city car, with low maintenance and a very long commercial run. Today, the Panda is called Grande Panda and has a different look, more robust and dynamic than its predecessor. But one version is missing from the range, one that buyers asked for often in earlier versions of the model: the 4×4.

The FIAT Grande Panda is competing with small city cars, which are making a strong comeback in the market. The Citroën C3 could be one of its main rivals and one of the models it will face head-on from the Italian brand. But with the addition of a 4×4 version, the small Italian will gain presence and versatility.

The new Grande Panda is built on the Smart Car platform, which is only available with front-wheel drive. To offer a version with drive on both axles, this platform will have to be modified. The solution could involve fitting a traditional 4WD system, as the original model had.

Another possibility is to install an electric motor on the rear axle, as current models such as the Jeep Avenger 4Xe or the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4 do, which use light hybridisation. What is clear is that the Grande Panda 4×4 will have a different image, more appealing to those who want a bolder version. Greater ground clearance and more robust design elements will define the style of this variant.

For now, FIAT has shown two versions of the Grande Panda. One of them is the Grande Panda RED, which has 16-inch white steel wheels. Above it sits the Grande Panda La Prima, which features 17-inch wheels, aluminium protective plates and roof rails, elements that bring the look closer to an SUV configuration.

Engines

The FIAT Grande Panda is available with a hybrid engine made up of a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor. Together they produce 100 CV and are powered by a 48-volt battery. In the electric version, the Grande Panda has an 111 CV electric motor and a 44 kWh battery, giving it a range of 320 kilometres on the WLTP cycle.

FIAT is also preparing a version of the Grande Panda with a combustion engine and manual gearbox, aimed at emerging markets, where this type of model still has a long road ahead.