
The Fiat brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills has unveiled five global concept vehicles, based on its Panda City Car. The vehicles are designed to “conquer the streets of the world” and to complete the brand’s lineup.
The concepts, which include a City Car, Pick-Up, Fastback, SUV, and Camper, are built on a new global platform. The first new product will be revealed this July, followed by the launch of a new vehicle every year until 2027.
“FIAT is a global brand with 1.3 million cars sold last year and solid leadership in many parts of the world,” says Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat and global chief marketing officer for Stellantis. “We are in a global game and our next step will be to transition from local products to a global (lineup) that can benefit all of our customers everywhere in the world.
“We are excited to share this glimpse into our future, a very near future actually, since the first car will be presented in four months during the brand’s 125th anniversary celebration. That car will then be followed by one new model every year.”
The new cars will share the same philosophy, according to the automaker: Functionality should never exist without fun — and the same technology — a single global platform where new models can be manufactured on a local relevance basis.
The idea is the new models can be produced in any part of the world and reach customers everywhere. The multi-energy platform also is designed to allow the next Fiat models to be equipped with different powertrains (electric, hybrid, and ICE).
The new Panda family will feature “an efficient use of space together with sustainable materials.”
FIAT says its emphasis on the use of sustainable materials includes recycled plastics and bamboo fabrics. The brand also aims to remove some of the barriers to a more sustainable mobility, including making plugging and unplugging easier with a self-winding cable.
City Car
Bigger than the current Panda, its design also was inspired by the brand’s birthplace: the Lingotto building in Turin, Italy with its rooftop test track. FIAT’s designers were reported to be inspired by some of the Lingotto’s special features when creating the new design language, including structural lightness, space optimization, and brightness. Meanwhile, the oval shape of the “La Pista 500” track on the roof made its mark on some of the aspects of the new model’s interiors, from the dashboard to the display and seats.
The high driving position and “robust” design offers roominess and versatility for family weekend trips and holidays as well as the daily commute.
Pick-Up
Fiat says it’s certain this type of vehicle can replicate its South American success at a global level, even in Europe. The new Pick-Up concept blends the concept of a pickup with the functionality of an LCV and the comfort of an SUV in a size that is suitable for urban environments all over the world, according to its designers.
Fastback
An heir to two of the brand’s biggest hits, the Fiat Fastback in Brazil and the Fiat Tipo in the Middle East and Africa, this Fastback aims to follow in their footsteps and establish itself at a global level in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This concept is made on the same modular platform and features a sporty flair. The automaker says it shows its ability to improve its sustainable commitment without giving up on performance.
SUV
The SUV is in line with Fiat’s role as a pioneer of accessible, innovative, and sustainable mobility, the company says. The SUV is intended to show the emphasis the brand is putting on the needs of family transport. It’s designed to meet customer needs in terms of safety, versatility, and design, offering both “roominess and robustness.”
Camper
The Camper features the new dolce vita (sweet life, in Italian) style and reconnects people to each other and nature. This concept, according to Fiat, pays homage to the “Fun-ctionality” of the Panda from the ’80s, recalling the versatility of a car that was made for the city with the features of an SUV.
Fiat says the new line of Panda-inspired concepts show it’s taking on the challenge of producing more sustainable and affordable cars with a less-is-more approach, removing redundant parts and reducing polluting materials, such as chrome, alloys, leather, and the foams in seats.
There also is a renewed focus on aerodynamic performance, as can be seen in the Fastback concept. The concepts are designed to be modular with up to 80 percent common parts depending on the models, such as the interiors, resulting in more efficient manufacturing and benefits for the customers, including affordability and distinctiveness, according to Fiat.