Fiat may show us its next-generation Panda compact with an electric powertrain next year, company CEO said in an interview.
According to Olivier Francois, the market for small battery-powered crossover SUVs is broad enough to accommodate another model, in addition to the already introduced Fiat 600e.
Per the executive, the 600e will be targeted towards the more well-off customers with an eye for fashion. In contrast, the new Panda can be a wallet-friendly, no-nonsense alternative for thrifty buyers.
At the same time, he said, Fiat needs a global product. The 600e was envisioned as a model predominantly for Europe. The new Panda could fill in the niche, say, in the Latin American region.
Rumor has it that the mini-SUV will be styled after the Centoventi Concept from four years ago (shown in the gallery and the video below). Like the 600e, its platform will be unified with that of the Jeep Avenger, enabling the company to offer an EV in Europe and an ICE car in other markets based on one and the same underlying architecture.