Alexandre
Two weeks ago, in an article on the future of FiatIn our last issue, we discussed one of the big rumours concerning a model that was to relaunch the automaker's position in the family car market: the Giga-Panda. Since then, new information has emerged that calls into question not only the name, but also the direction of this model.
The Giga-Panda, an in-house nickname
A few days ago, Olivier Francois, the boss of Fiat, made some interesting statements in the Spanish magazine El Espanol. During this interview, he confirmed that the famous name of Giga-Pandawhich had been circulating for several months, would not be Fiat's next model. He also clarified that this vehicle would not be named Panda Multiplaas some had assumed. Information in line with our revelations of 2 weeks ago.
"Fiat is a historic brand, with iconic models like the Panda and 500, but we've decided to explore other segments, particularly the compact C-class vehicle segment, with more space and accessible prices," said Olivier François.
A large animal, but not a Panda
The main revelation of this interview lies in the indication of the future model's name. Although this vehicle has been nicknamed "Giga-Panda" behind the scenes at Fiat, this name will not correspond to reality. According to Olivier Francois, "the name of this model will come from a large animal". The mystery remains, but we can imagine that Fiat is betting on a strong name that evokes robustness... Bear, elephant, rhinoceros? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Multipla may be back, but not yet
This model in preparation, the Giga-Panda, could well feature a 5- or 7-seat configuration. But, as Fiat's Managing Director points out, "the Multipla is a concept, a philosophy, and cannot simply be replicated under this name". Moreover, in his opinion, the Multipla concept deserves special respect and is not limited to a simple seating arrangement.
A future model could well incorporate an even more advanced idea of modularity, offering more space and better passenger management without sacrificing comfort. "This model deserves the name Multipla", added Olivier Francois, emphasizing that the solution envisaged would be truly unprecedented.