Latest news with #FiatGrandePanda
Auto Express
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid 2025 review: spacious supermini is far from efficient
When it comes to the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid, I'm not entirely 'Mr Lover Lover'. That's down to the way it drives: the ride lacks finesse and fuel consumption disappointed on the launch. Other aspects? The interior and exterior design are irresistible, the cabin and boot spacious for a supermini and the pricing is great value, making the rest an absolute smash hit. Advertisement - Article continues below Fiat has remixed its blocky, 1980s Panda city car into this bigger Grande Panda, which we're driving for the first time in 'Hybrid' petrol/electric form. It combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, powered by a small battery. There's no need (or capability) to plug in, making it a hassle-free hybrid and a challenger for cars such as the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Kia Stonic. Be gentle with the throttle and the motor can sail the Grande Panda up to around 20mph, then the three-cylinder engine rumbles discreetly to life. So the 28bhp e-motor is good for emissions-free gentle runs, manoeuvring or motorway coasting, but its biggest asset is assisting the petrol engine to boost acceleration and reduce consumption. The 109bhp Grande Panda Hybrid is not a quick car (the 0-62mph run takes 10 seconds), but counterintuitively it never feels slow. The standard dual-clutch automatic helps, shifting smoothly and rapidly through the gears and blending petrol and electric power to send to the front wheels. It can be hesitant if traffic makes you come off the throttle then quickly jump back on again, but motorway kickdown is responsive enough and the three-cylinder revs out with a nice metallic warble. We drive the hybrid out of Turin atop its craggy roads, along the motorway and up into hilly wine-making country. With its simple twist beam rear suspension, ride comfort is the Grande Panda's weak spot. The tall, five-door hatch feels jiggly and unsettled around town, and a little stiff and rubbery at high speeds which transmits potholes and bumps into the cabin. Its sister car, the Citroen C3, certainly has a softer ride. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View 2008 View A3 Saloon View Kuga Otherwise the driver's touch points feel nice: the crisp brake pedal reassuringly wipes off speed, and the twangy steering is largely well judged. Goldilocks would approve of the weighting (not too heavy, not too light) and the gearing's equally appropriate, turning in responsively enough without any unwelcome dartiness. If you do chuck the Grande Panda into any bends, it grips pretty well and doesn't lean too much. But the Grande Panda isn't trying to win you over on dynamics, more goofy charm. Which sort of explains why Fiat has reanimated '90s rapper Shaggy for the advert, rewriting the 'Boombastic' lyrics into 'Pandastic'. Oh Carolina Fiat! Such playfulness peppers the delightful cabin, hidden behind that tough but cute exterior. The twin digital screens' oval yellow frame is inspired by the Lingotto factory's rooftop test track, complete with a cornering 2D Grande Panda. The letters FIAT are etched into the door, and contrasting materials – marble-effect plastic, flashes of yellow on the boxy protruding vents – bring oodles of character. There's no mistaking it for a dour Volkswagen. This is the flagship La Prima spec, costing £21,035 for the hybrid (or £24,305 for its electric equivalent). The visual centrepiece is the 'Bambox', which looks as if a beaver has built a log dam behind the dash, but is actually a cylinder covered in bamboo fibre textile. It's lovely and functional, containing a nicely engineered storage box. La Prima rolls on the biggest alloy wheels (17-inchers), adds front parking sensors and a rear-view camera to the lower Pop and Icon models' rearward monitoring, and is the spec choice for wireless charging, heated seats, navigation on the standard, unflashy touchscreen and automatic air-con. This can be operated by big chunky buttons, and there are switches to toggle lane assist, speed limit and hazard warnings and lock the doors. Otherwise controls are via the steering wheel or touchscreen. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The foamy seats – here wrapped in two-tone upholstery – envelop you like a friendly Italian bearhug. There's reasonable space for my 6-ft frame behind an identically sized driver, with feet sliding neatly beneath the perch and knees not quite touching the seat back. Headroom is plentiful as you'd expect given Grande Panda's tallboy silhouette, and underthigh support is good – that's because without the EV batteries in the floor, the footwells are deeper. The boot has a tall lip to stow items over, but the 412-litre storage area will sneak 3 or 4 airline carry ons upright beneath the parcel shelf. The rear seats are split 60:40 even on the base £18,035 Pop version, which comes with the digital screens, cruise control, six airbags, lane assist and emergency braking. We covered just over 90 miles in the new Grande Panda hybrid, mostly in torrential rain and grinding traffic. Thankfully the Fiat isn't too boombastic on the motorway, although the tyres grumble different basslines depending on the tarmac's smoothness and a little wind noise whistles along the side. Our 46mpg was 9mpg off the official WLTP consumption figure: down to the hybrid or my heavy right foot? In the words of Shaggy: 'it wasn't me'. Model: Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid La Prima Price: £21,035 Powertrain: 1.2-litre 3-cyl in-line turbo 48v hybrid Power/torque: 109bhp (including 28bhp e-motor)/205Nm Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10.0 seconds Top speed: 99mph Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg/119g/km Size (L/W/H): 3,999/1,763/1,586mm On sale: September (UK) Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Family-friendly SUV is arguably Ford's best electric car, and great value, too. It's our Deal of the Day for 24 May
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Cult-classic motor discontinued in the 90s set to RETURN as 4x4 with brand teasing ‘next chapter'
It will be aimed at cost-conscious drivers U-TURN Cult-classic motor discontinued in the 90s set to RETURN as 4×4 with brand teasing 'next chapter' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CULT-classic car which was dropped in the 1990s is now set to make a comeback as a modern-day 4x4, as the manufacturer hints at the 'next chapter'. The original Fiat Panda was seen as a go-anywhere supermini and became a hit with its loyal band of fans. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Fiat Grande Panda looks set to get a 4x4 version Credit: Supplied 4 Fiat has so far released few details about the model but it will be part of the manufacturer's Smart Car platform Credit: Supplied Now, with the Italian firm's fast-growing line-up the dinky motor is being turned into the Fiat Grande Panda 4x4. The original Panda 4x4 first hit our streets in 1983 and thanks to its raised height and rugged styling elements it soon became a cult classic, seen as an affordable off-roader. The new Grande Panda forms the base of the revived concept and is being offered with both 111bhp electric and 108bhp 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol powertrains. It will be part of Stellantis's new Smart Car platform, designed to appeal to cost-conscious drivers. Fiat hasn't yet officially confirmed its production intent but has billed the Grande Panda 4x4 as 'the next chapter' and a 'potential true symbol of versatility, reliability and freedom'. Fiat Europe boss Gaetano Thorel hasn't officially confirmed the machine would reach production, but said: "Surely we will have this car on the road in the future – but not tomorrow,' reports Autocar. Mr Thorel did add that there had been demand for a 4x4 version since the Grande Panda was first unveiled and that the company wanted to meet that demand. Full details about the vehicle's powertrain haven't been revealed, Fiat has referred to it as offering an 'electrified innovative rear axle'. Fiat engineers are still working on the potential four-wheel-drive powertrain and refused to give details on whether any production 4x4 would be electric or combustion-based. Fiat insiders have hinted it would have an electric motor powering the rear axle and use the Smart Car platform, reports the motoring magazine. I test drove the discontinued Fiat 500's electric replacement - it's quick but flaw means you can only use it in a city Details of that unit's size though have yet to be confirmed. There is speculation it could be a smaller e-axle which adds supplementary power, when needed. The car's rival, the Dacia Duster 4x4, uses a similar mild-hybrid arrangement. Fiat's Grande Panda 4x4 concept also incorporates several bespoke design cues, such as dark red paint which hints at a special edition of the Panda 4x4. It also features steel wheels, special graphics on the doors which underscore the stamped Panda lettering and hint at traditional off-roader body cladding. There's also a protective underbody skidplate and a roof rack. Fiat has also hinted that any production model would 'most likely feature other accessories'. The intention is to eventually position the Grande Panda as a global car and to manufacture it in factories on three continents. In order to meet those global requirements, it can utilise a number of powertrains including a manual pure ICE, a hybrid, full electric and even LPG. The manual ICE is set to launch in Europe later this year but it is not expected to be available in the UK at first due to the extra costs of right-hand drive conversion. 4 The Grande Panda 4x4 is being billed as 'the next chapter' Credit: Supplied
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Cult-classic motor discontinued in the 90s set to RETURN as 4×4 with brand teasing ‘next chapter'
A CULT-classic car which was dropped in the 1990s is now set to make a comeback as a modern-day 4x4, as the manufacturer hints at the 'next chapter'. The original Fiat Panda was seen as a go-anywhere supermini and became a hit with its loyal band of fans. Advertisement 4 The Fiat Grande Panda looks set to get a 4x4 version Credit: Supplied 4 Fiat has so far released few details about the model but it will be part of the manufacturer's Smart Car platform Credit: Supplied Now, with the Italian firm's fast-growing line-up the dinky motor is being turned into the Fiat The original Panda 4x4 first hit our streets in 1983 and thanks to its raised height and rugged styling elements it soon became a cult classic, seen as an affordable off-roader. The new Grande Panda forms the base of the revived concept and is being offered with both 111bhp electric and 108bhp 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol powertrains. It will be part of Stellantis's new Smart Car platform, designed to appeal to cost-conscious drivers. Advertisement Read More on Fiat Fiat hasn't yet officially confirmed its production intent but has billed the Grande Panda 4x4 as 'the next chapter' and a 'potential true symbol of versatility, reliability and freedom'. Fiat Europe boss Gaetano Thorel hasn't officially confirmed the machine would reach production, but said: "Surely we will have this car on the road in the future – but not tomorrow,' reports Mr Thorel did add that there had been demand for a 4x4 version since the Grande Panda was first unveiled and that the company wanted to meet that demand. Full details about the vehicle's powertrain haven't been revealed, Fiat has referred to it as offering an 'electrified innovative rear axle'. Advertisement Most read in Motors Fiat engineers are still working on the potential four-wheel-drive powertrain and refused to give details on whether any production 4x4 would be electric or combustion-based. Fiat insiders have hinted it would have an electric motor powering the rear axle and use the Smart Car platform, reports the motoring magazine. I test drove the discontinued Fiat 500's electric replacement - it's quick but flaw means you can only use it in a city Details of that unit's size though have yet to be confirmed. There is speculation it could be a smaller e-axle which adds supplementary power , when needed. Advertisement The car's rival, the Dacia Duster 4x4, uses a similar mild-hybrid arrangement. Fiat's Grande Panda 4x4 concept also incorporates several bespoke design cues, such as dark red paint which hints at a special edition of the Panda 4x4. It also features steel wheels, special graphics on the doors which underscore the stamped Panda lettering and hint at traditional off-roader body cladding. There's also a protective underbody skidplate and a roof rack. Advertisement Fiat has also hinted that any production model would 'most likely feature other accessories'. The intention is to eventually position the Grande Panda as a global car and to manufacture it in factories on three continents. In order to meet those global requirements, it can utilise a number of powertrains including a manual pure ICE, a hybrid, full electric and even LPG. The manual ICE is set to launch in Europe later this year but it is not expected to be available in the UK at first due to the extra costs of right-hand drive conversion. Advertisement 4 The Grande Panda 4x4 is being billed as 'the next chapter' Credit: Supplied 4 Fiat's Grande Panda 4x4 concept also incorporates several bespoke design cues, such as dark red paint which hints at a special edition of the Panda 4x4
Stuff.tv
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Stuff.tv
After driving the Hyundai Inster I'm convinced it's another small EV success story
Stuff Verdict We love a small electric car with a personality and the Hyundai Inster is just that. It's not the cheapest but there's practicality, decent range and drive appeal too. So, what's not to like? Pros Compact but clever small car design Reassuringly efficient and quite zesty too Lots of personality and a fun vibe going on Cons Expensive against some very good rivals Quirky styling touches might not work for all Smallish boot but movable seats deals with it Introduction The Hyundai Inster is my kind of EV. It's small and efficient, but it also arrives packing lots of personality. Alongside the likes of the Renault 5, the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen e-C3 Aircross and, more recently, the all-new Renault 4, I'm now spoilt for choice when it comes to affordable compact electric cars. That's a good thing after being subjected to lots of battery-powered SUVs that, whilst being comfortable and all, often lack much in the way of charm. Frequently, they aren't very efficient either. Refreshingly, the Hyundai Inster is a more reduced proposition, which falls nicely between the A and B segment and directly into the compact arena. I'd call it a city car as that's what it's perfectly suited to, with a small footprint making it easy to get around town. Equally though, the Hyundai Inster is something of a driver's car, with oodles of fun potential on tap once it's taken out into the sticks and thrown around a bit. Considering its diminutive stature, the Hyundai Inster is a five-door hatchback that's way bigger on the inside than I'd expected. I'm impressed with the power options here too, with a long range 49kWh battery pack being the one to go for unless a smaller battery is going to be fine for hops to the shops. There's a single electric motor, well over two hundred miles of range and three trim options to choose from. Pick from, er, the 01, the 02 or a rugged-looking top-of-the-tree model in the shape of the Cross. How we test cars Every electric car reviewed on Stuff is tested on a range of road surfaces and, where possible, in varying weather conditions. We use our years of experience to compare with rivals and assess ergonomics, technology features and general usability. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. The styling Back in its native Korea, the Hyundai Inster started life as the Caspar, which also comes as a petrol edition. For Europe, the Inster has been tweaked a bit, and the overall look is definitely fun and funky. Lower trim levels lack the extra design pizazz of the Cross edition but all levels of this little car work, although I think it needs a bright, zingy colour like the delicious Sienna Orange to bring out the best of those angular lines. Hyundai offers it in matt finishes too, which add an industrial edge to the car, but I don't think they really do justice to the shape. Nevertheless, no matter which direction the Inster is viewed from, there is something interesting to be found. The front end, with its trademark Hyundai pixel headlights and cutesy round LED daytime running lights give the car a distinctive entry point. There's a handy charging port in the nose as well. I like the boxy arches with their plastic liners too for the sides, while around at the back there is a continuation of the pixel-lighting theme with a brake bar that runs across the tailgate. Head for the Cross model if you want to max out the funkiness, as that packs skid plates for good measure, along with some cool trim flourishes for the interior. However, the interior on any of the trim options is rock solid. I think this is one of the most distinctive cockpits currently on offer, with a heady blend of practicality mixed with eye-catching details. There's the neat design of the driver's seat, for example, and great little storage spaces all over the place. The biggest surprise, though, is that space levels are excellent in the front and not bad in the back either, topped off with generous headroom. The boot space isn't the biggest, but Hyundai has come up with a compromise because the rear seats can be moved to suit your needs. It's all very cleverly thought out. The drive I wasn't expecting the Hyundai Inster to be quite as zippy as it is. This is quite an upright car, so I thought it might be a little all over the place in the bends, but it's surprisingly stable and well planted. There's enough power too, with 113bhp a good amount of torque on tap. Around town, that makes the Inster's front-wheel drive setup work perfectly. However, out on the back roads it felt like it was suspiciously easy to spin the little Hyundai's wheels and that was in the dry. Nevertheless, during my time behind the wheel this car is typically Korean, in that the efficiency seems very decent with up to – and occasionally over – 5 miles per kWh possible. The 220-plus mile range seems perfectly achievable and, because the battery pack isn't huge, it's relatively quick to recharge via 80kW DC. Not the fastest, but fine for this sort of car. Overnight charges at home, too, should be the perfect way to go with running this car on a regular basis. The performance stats aren't exactly blistering, with 0-60mph arriving in 10.4 seconds, and a top speed of 93mph. I tried the Hyundai Inster on a section of dual carriageway though, and once it got going it moved along very nicely. The best moments, however, were had when I was trundling around country lanes and also working it through crowded streets. Parking the Inster into tight spots was a breeze too. Best bit, as is often the case with EVs, has to be the one-pedal driving option. The technology Hyundai's Inster comes with a drive layout that will be very familiar to anyone who's driven other models in the range. There's the chunky drive selector down by the steering wheel, which is also laid out with functionality in mind. In front of the wheel, there's a very neat little pod that displays driving and efficiency information. This can be customised and some of the graphics are great, like the way one view shows animated cubes that emulate flames when Sport mode is engaged. Standard dials can be viewed if preferred, mind. Across the top of the central part of the dash is where Hyundai has squeezed a 10.25in touchscreen, which is high enough to work with and not be too distracted from the road. Hyundai has the touchscreen arrangement well-honed by now and I liked the way it worked here. Down below the screen and central vents, there's an array of physical controls plus buttons that matter. Back over on the steering wheel, drive modes can be controlled by a circular button, again like that seen in other cars from the range. Hyundai Inster verdict The Hyundai Inster is a hit for me, even though there are several other temptations when it comes to buying a compact EV right now. Of the three model variants, the 02 with the larger battery pack for £26,745 is the one to go for; it's got some great trimmings, including 17in alloys and roof rails for additional head-turning appeal. Some might find the kooky interior design a little too much for their tastes, but I love the sense of fun that oozes from every millimetre of this car. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 We love a small electric car with a personality and the Hyundai Inster is just that. It's not the cheapest but there's practicality, decent range and drive appeal too. So, what's not to like? Pros Compact but clever small car design Reassuringly efficient and quite zesty too Lots of personality and a fun vibe going on Cons Expensive against some very good rivals Quirky styling touches might not work for all Smallish boot but movable seats deals with it Hyundai Inster technical specifications Powertrain Permanent magnet synchronous motor Battery 49kWh Power 113bhp Torque 109lb-ft 0-0mph 10.4sec Top Speed 93mph Range 223 miles Maximum charge rate 80kW Cargo volume 238 litres
Auto Express
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal Alert! New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid Pop is one of UK's cheapest cars
Order books for the Fiat Grande Panda are due to open very soon and when they do, the funky supermini will be among the 10 cheapest new cars on the market, as prices are to start from a fraction over £18,000. Originally, the hot-ticket Fiat was set to get under way from closer to £19k, but a new entry-level model called the Grande Panda Hybrid Pop has now been announced, and will be priced from £18,035 to be exact. As well as providing a near-£1,000 price cut, this means the Grande Panda will be cheaper than its sister car, and our reigning Supermini of the Year, the Citroen C3. Importantly, though, the base version of the Citroen comes with a pure-petrol engine. The equivalent C3 Hybrid costs more than £20k. Advertisement - Article continues below Pop trim will offer a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cruise control, rear parking sensors and LED lights. One area where Fiat has saved some cash is by fitting 16-inch steel rims with aero covers, compared to the pricier Icon and La Prima trim models, which will sport alloy wheels. Under the bonnet is the same hybrid set-up as in the Citroen C3 and countless other Stellantis products, including the Peugeot 5008 seven-seat SUV. It uses a 108bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has a 28bhp electric motor built-in. The e-motor is powered by a small 48-volt battery and this allows for smooth, silent pure-electric driving at speeds up to 18mph, which is ideal for manoeuvring, city driving and stop-start traffic. It also gives the combustion engine a helping hand when you put your foot down, and recuperates energy when the car is slowing down to charge the battery. Fiat says the Grande Panda Hybrid emits 115g/km of CO2, and while it hasn't shared any official fuel economy figures yet, the C3 Hybrid that uses the same powertrain can supposedly average up to 56.5mpg. We expect its Italian cousin will boast similar stats. Meanwhile, the Grande Panda Electric now costs from £21,035, which is slightly higher than when pricing was first announced earlier this year, but will still make the Fiat one of the cheapest electric cars on the market when it also goes on sale this summer. The EV version offers 199 miles of range from a 44kWh battery and a 111bhp e-motor. See our new Fiat deals Click above to see all our latest new Fiat deals through the the Auto Express Find a Car service...
