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It has been speculated for months: when Fiat launches its new entry-level electric car in the summer of 2024, it will be called Pandina and will replace the company’s previously best-selling Panda from then on. Wrong idea! Starting in the summer, the existing panda’s name will be changed to Pandina; This is what panda is called colloquially in Italy.
With the panda once affectionately known as the “big box,” millions of students moved into their first apartments and almost as many craftsmen continued to ply their trades. I got the feeling that smaller is bigger when it comes to loading capacity.
The little panda was thought to be revolutionary in 1980 when it first hit the streets. With its minimalism, the Fiat 500 fits almost seamlessly into the pedigree of the Citroen Duck and Renault R4. Designer icon Giorgio Giugiaro (85) once rather endearingly called it a “home appliance on wheels”. The first series alone was produced more than four million times between the beginning of 1980 and the end of 2003. Now the third generation has been rolling off the production line at the Pomigliano d’Arco factory near Naples since spring 2012.
Technically upgraded
According to Olivier Francois, CEO of the Fiat brand, Pandina is “a salute to Italians’ love for the Fiat Panda”. Panda is the market leader in Italy and remains the leader in its segment in Europe. Visually at least, the Pandina no longer has much in common with the angular cult box of old, but it has more in common with the current version: round, with some SUV elements, and far from the minimalism of the first generation inside and out. Pandina’s dimensions and appearance remain the same as those of the existing Panda: 3.69 meters long, 1.64 meters wide and 1.55 meters high.
Fiat boasts that the Pandina is “the most advanced Panda of all time.” Safety is ensured by six airbags and a wide range of driving assistance systems, as required by the EU for new cars. These include lane assist, emergency brake assist and drowsiness warning. Traffic sign recognition, high beam assist and cruise control are also standard.
Production until at least 2027
The series also includes digital indicators in front of the driver and an infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen. Of course, it’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The seats are made of plastic threads obtained from the sea and the Pandina logo is everywhere.
Beautifully designed: The instrument panel is painted white and has integrated black control zones. In addition to Gelato White, Cinema Black, Passione Red and Italia Blue, available body colors include the new Positano Yellow and a two-tone version with a black painted roof.
But some things have been tried and tested under the hood: A mild hybrid internal combustion engine with a volume of one liter and a power of 70 hp provides propulsion for the Pandina, which weighs approximately 1,000 kilos; It shifts manually with a six-speed. Pandina will be sold in Europe as an independent model series alongside Panda from summer 2024. It will continue to be produced “at least until 2027.” Fiat did not want to talk about prices yet, but like its predecessor, it is expected to start at well below 20,000 francs.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
