Fiat Panda 4×4 Reborn as an EV with Retro Flair

The original Fiat Panda 4×4 has built up a loyal following, and the Italian brand is channeling some of the hatchback’s styling cues into an electric concept that looks pretty much ready for production. Unveiled online, the new Grande Panda 4×4 concept is positioned at the intersection of the past and the future.

Fiat started with the Grande Panda, which is essentially the fourth-generation Panda. Its predecessor, the third-generation car launched at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show, remains in production for the time being as a cheaper, more basic alternative. The new Grande Panda already wears a handful of retro-inspired styling cues, such as rectangular headlights, and the 4×4 concept leans further into the model’s heritage.

It’s finished in a shade of dark red reminiscent of one of the colors Fiat has previously offered; The stylish, limited-edition Country Club trim (shown below) released in the 1990s was painted in a similar shade of red. Its front end gains a pair of auxiliary lights, it rides on cool-looking steel wheels with Fiat-branded center caps, and it gets a roof basket strong enough to carry the spare and what looks like a tool box.

Fiat hasn’t released full technical specifications. All we know so far is that the Grande Panda 4×4 concept is based on the electric version of the car, not on the variant powered by the 1.2-liter turbo-three, and it has two electric motors (one per axle) for through-the-road all-wheel-drive. Details such as driving range and horsepower haven’t been released, likely because the pint-sized off-roader remains at the concept stage.

It’s too early to tell whether the Grande Panda 4×4 will move past merely being a concept. Fiat calls the model a “manifesto,” which suggests that there’s at least some intent to build the car within its headquarters, but a timeline hasn’t been released. If the Panda 4×4 makes a comeback, we’re guessing it will look a lot like the concept, though parts such as the roof rack might not see the light that awaits at the end of a production line. However, nothing suggests that any version of the Grande Panda will be sold in the United States.