The Fiat Grande Panda is entering the growing small EV segment with a daring design, practical features, and competitive pricing.
Aimed toward rivals just like the Renault 5 E-Tech and Hyundai Inster, the Grande Panda marks the start of a brand new era for Fiat’s Panda lineup, built on Stellantis’ Smart Automotive platform. It’s about time too, because the Fiat brand has suffered within the UK and now the pressure is on to extend its relevance to city automobile and supermini buyers who’ve previously loved Fiat a lot.
The Grande Panda Electric is accessible in (RED) and La Prima trims, with starting prices of £20,975 and £23,975, respectively. Fiat ensures that even the bottom model isn’t stripped down, offering impressive value. Cheaper, more basic versions of the Grande Panda Electric, with a small battery, may follow down the pipeline but these are not confirmed for the UK.
For now Fiat reckons a 44kWh battery, supplying a 113PS motor, offers the proper driving range for the proper value – the Fiat Grande Panda has an official WLTP range of 199 miles.
With regards to charging, the Grande Panda is the primary modern EV to incorporate an integrated charging cable. Curled up behind what would havepreviously been the front grille, that is suitable for 7kW AC connections only. Standard DC charging can also be available, via a port on the back, which allows for as much as 100kW rapid charging.
The (RED) trim also comes with LED headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking and manualair-conditioning. The La Prima gets climate control, satnav, front parking sensors, rear-view camera, wireless phone charger and front heated seats.
For some buyers, near £24k still seems quite a bit for a supermini, particularly in the event that they want one because the second automobile of the household, but the amount of kit onboard, plus its styling, helps to make the Fiat Grande Panda attractive.
Each cars will include a ten.25-inch infotainment screen, and the up-spec La Prima gets an upgraded ‘Bambox’ dashboard manufactured from 33% bamboo.
The sustainable theme continues with plastics made out of recycled beverage containers, adding an eco-friendly touch to the inside, and it has a design that offers a nod to the unique 1980 Panda, with a storage shelf.
The Grande Panda is a hugely vital automobile for Fiat – as to the brand it represents the primary proper assault on the B-segment because the death of the Punto, an area of the market that was fundamental to Fiat dealers and their sales success.
It’s entering a troublesome arena, too, which is already bristling with appealing competitors.
For franchised dealer groups with multiple Stellantis businesses, the challenge could also be that the Vauxhall Frontera and Citroen e-C3, with which Grande Panda shares its platform, may appear tempting to customers too.
Nevertheless, Fiat has a desirable small electric automobile at an aggressive price that’s filled with clever features and interesting details. Fear not, this is not any small-scale Multipla headache.
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
