Fiat is committed to continuing the legacy of the Panda 4×4, and with the launch of the Grande Panda, the Italian brand seems ready to invest again in a more adventurous model.
According to Fiat’s CEO, Olivier Francois, the Grande Panda 4×4 is already in development, although the type of engine it will use—whether fully electric or hybrid—is still unknown.
It is worth noting that all three generations of the Panda have always included 4×4 variants, and the Italian brand seems determined to maintain the versatility of the well-known model with an off-road version.
In statements to “Autocar” during a recent press event regarding the potential of a 4×4 model, Oliver Francois confirmed the news, making it clear that “Fiat is committed to doing something and we are studying the matter”, he said. “The question is whether it should be a combustion engine model or a fully electric 4×4. We are analyzing solutions and how and when, but we would like to do something soon.”
The current Fiat Grande Panda is based on the Smart Car platform, which only supports front-wheel drive. Therefore, Fiat’s engineers will need to modify the platform to accommodate all-wheel drive. One potential solution could involve adding an extra electric motor to the rear axle, similar to what is used by the Jeep Avenger 4Xe hybrid, as well as the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4. However, the ideal solution would be a more traditional all-wheel drive system, similar to that used in previous Panda 4×4 models.
