Fiat wants to make its next-generation cars available for everyone, everywhere

Fiat is preparing a barrage of new models as the brand seeks to increase commonality between its products.

To achieve this, the Italian marque will utilise a new global platform shared with parent company Stellantis, to offer its new models in more markets. 

The first model of the incoming barrage will be revealed in July of this year, followed by a new model launch every year for the next three years. 

Fiat says this new lineup will be designed to meet safety and emissions standards everywhere.

In order to keep appealing to Fiat’s different markets, the company claims this new platform will have the flexibility to accommodate multiple powertrain types.

This includes battery-electric, hybrid and internal-combustion powertrains. 

As much as 80 per cent commonality will be achieved between certain models, ensuring they can be manufactured across more Stellantis facilities. 

Reducing the impact on the environment is also said to be a goal of the common platform, with Fiat eliminating redundant parts and using less polluting materials such as leather, foams, chrome and alloys.  

Fiat didn’t specify which Stellantis platform it will use, but presumably the design and engineering work for the platform has been completed, to accommodate the company’s ambitious model rollout.

The Italian company did give one clue however, saying all models will have a transverse-oriented powerplant. 

This leaves the CMP and STLA Small platforms as the most likely underpinnings for the range of new Fiat models. 

For context, the next-generation Fiat Panda is rumoured to use the CMP platform, which it could share with the Fiat 600e and Jeep Avenger.

The Avenger EV features a 400V electrical system and a 54kWh nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion battery located under the cabin. This gives the Avenger a WLTP range of 400km. 

Fiat has revealed five concept cars to show off the new modular platform, with the first being a city car, likened to a “Mega Panda” as it will exceed the size of the current Panda.

All the concept cars are said to be heirs of the Panda, as they capture the same “inclusive, accessible and ingenious spirit”.

The City Car concept was inspired by Fiat’s iconic Lingotto test track in Turin, which is located on top of the roof of a building.

As such, the dashboard in the City Car is oval shaped and appears to be more of a shelf-like structure made from netting, with a driver’s display and infotainment system mounted on top. 

As the whole car was designed with sustainability in mind. Traditional seats are gone, replaced by seats made from the same netting as the dashboard. Recycled plastics and bamboo fabrics are also present. 

The second concept is the Pickup, designed to emulate the success of the current Fiat Strada sold in South American markets. Additionally, it’s aimed at customers who have “rediscovered the value of free time”. 

In a video released by Fiat depicting the new models, the Pickup featured a modular and adjustable roof rack.

The Fastback concept was the next to be revealed in the video. Described as the heir to the Fiat Fastback in Brazil and the Fiat Tipo in the Middle East and Africa, the Fastback features a similar body style to the Pickup, with a sloping tailgate in place of a tub.

It’s pictured with a “premium” interior, which sees the netted seats and dashboard of the City Car replaced with traditional bucket-style seats and a conventionally padded dashboard. 

Fiat claims the Fastback body style lowers energy/fuel consumption and has a “youthful style”. 

The fourth concept is described as the ‘Giga Panda” and is designed to be a “spacious” family SUV that “meets the demands of the most demanding customers in terms of safety, versatility and design, offering spaciousness and robustness to families around the world”.

Finally, there’s the Camper concept, which is set apart from the other concepts as it’s the only vehicle pictured with a raised ride height and off-road tyres.

It also features an inflatable roof-top tent, suggesting this new modular platform could boast all-wheel drive for more lifestyle-focussed variants – although this hasn’t been confirmed.

With this new modular platform and the vehicles that follow, Fiat will be hoping to replicate the successes it experiences in various markets in South America and Europe.

For context, the Fiat Strada pickup was the best-selling vehicle in Brazil last year, the Cronos sedan topped the charts in Argentina, and the Panda hatch was Italy’s top seller.

Fiat is extremely popular in South America, and offers a wide range of vehicles there that it doesn’t offer in Europe.

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