Fiat has shown off a concept version of a new Panda 4x4, which isn't really a concept at all but a thinly disguised production car designed to get us excited about a return of one of Fiat's all-time classics.
Why does everyone love the original Panda 4x4 so much?
The original Panda 4x4, launched in 1983, might have been based on Fiat's humble and affordable compact car, but it was such a serious off-roader that Fiat brought in Austrian specialists Steyr-Daimler-Puch to build it. Yes, the same people who built the Mercedes G-Wagen. Why so popular? Well, the combination of Land Rover Defender off-road capability in car that's easy to park and cheap to run has obvious appeal. The original Panda 4x4's descendants kept up the tradition, too - the later model of Panda 4x4 actually sold out in Ireland in 2010, following a harsh winter with lots of snow.
What makes this new concept a 4x4?
Well, four-wheel drive obviously. This new Panda 4x4 concept is, obviously, based on the newly introduced Grande Panda, a compact high-riding hatchback which shares its structure with the Citroen C3 and e-C3, and also shares that car's choice of electric or hybrid power. To create the Panda 4x4 concept, Fiat has taken the front-wheel drive hybrid and fitted it with “an electrified innovative rear axle.” That technology already exists in the broader Stellantis Group, as Fiat's sister brand Jeep uses the same tech for its Avenger 4Xe. It's the first time we've seen it potentially used for the smaller 'Smart Car' platform that lies under the Panda.
According to Fiat: “This feature would enable the vehicle to deliver impressive performance in urban settings and on more demanding terrain. It's a deliberate choice that underscores Fiat's ongoing commitment to embracing increasingly sustainable and forward-looking technologies, all while preserving the adventurous spirit and everyday practicality that have always defined the Panda 4x4.”
it certainly looks off-road-y…
Indeed so. Fiat has dressed up the Panda 4x4 Concept with a combination of dark red paint set off by lighter-coloured highlights, including under-body protection, and incredibly cool pressed steel wheels. There's also a chunky cable-stayed roof rack, on which perches a spare tyre fitted with, as with the rest of the wheels, a knobbly off-road tyre. There's a new interpretation of the 'Panda' logo on the side too, which is now embossed through a plastic body protection panel, instead of being stamped into the door. That roof rack also gets two bright LED lights, which compliment the cool 'Pixel' style of the standard Grande Panda headlights and brake lights.
When can I have one?
Hold your off-road horses. This car is still, officially, a concept with no production confirmed. However, Fiat insiders have artfully avoided confirming nor denying that the Panda 4x4 will go into production, it just won't be straight away. Expect it to arrive in dealerships some time in late 2026 or early 2027, we reckon.