Fiat has already announced that an all-electric
version of the next-generation 500 will enter production in Italy in the second
quarter of 2020, and now it looks like the carmaker intends to electrify the
next-gen Panda as well. According to a report from earlier this week, the all-new Panda is
expected to debut in 2021, with the Panda EV to come two years after that.
Much like the Centoventi concept car unveiled by Fiat at the 2019
Geneva Auto Show, the electric city car will feature modular, add-on battery
packs in order to keep the pricing low. The Fiat Centoventi Concept’s electric
powertrain featured a swappable and upgradeable battery pack. The thinking
behind that is to allow customers to add up to three extra battery cells after
the purchase of the vehicle in order to extend the driving range.
With the maximum amount of battery packs on board
(five modules), the Centoventi is said to offer a 500-km range,
while the minimum range is 100 km with one module. The next-generation Panda will
also emulate the looks of the Centoventi, CEO Olivier François told Autocar.
The brand plans to reduce its lineup to a few models based around the 500 and
the Panda and stop making large, premium or sports cars as it will focus on
urban mobility and family transportation.
