New Fiat Grizzly revealed as sized-up Grande Panda in SUV and coupé forms
On sale 2027 Price from £23,000 (est)
“If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly.” It’s a quote that has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, despite there being no concrete evidence he actually said this – but nonetheless, it’s advice Fiat is taking very seriously, with the reveal of its all-new model, the Fiat Grizzly.
In actual fact, the Grizzly name will be attributed to two new models: a conventional SUV to rival the likes of the Dacia Duster and Skoda Kamiq, and a rakish coupé-SUV with a fastback silhouette similar to that of the Peugeot 408, which should offer a longer boot space and a sleeker look.
Initially announced at Stellantis’s annual investor day presentation on 21 May, the Grizzly will be positioned as an affordable, sized-up member of the Panda family, sitting alongside the Grande Panda small SUV (pictured below) and classic Panda hatchback, which is still on sale in markets other than the UK.
To keep costs low, the Grizzly will be based on Stellantis’s Smart Car underpinnings, which also underpin other value-based cars including the Grande Panda, Citroën C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera. At under 4.5m long, the Grizzly is expected to be slightly larger than those models.
Like its smaller sibling, the Grizzly will be available with a range of power options, including petrol, hybrid and electric variants. For reference, the Grande Panda uses a 1.2-litre petrol engine in pure combustion and mild hybrid forms, with the latter adding a small electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox.
Meanwhile, electric variants of the Grizzly could get the same set-up options as in the Vauxhall Frontera Electric, with 44kWh and 54kWh batteries and a maximum range in excess of 245 miles.
The Grizzly will be just one of a number of new models Fiat is planning to launch in the coming years, with others including a new four-seat microcar to sit above the Topolino quadricycle, and a new electric city car inspired by the original Panda.
The latter will be part of Stellantis’s E-Car project, which aims to bring a host of affordable, dinky EVs to Europe, with starting prices of around £15,000. The reborn Panda will be produced at Stellantis’s plant in Pomigliano, Italy, alongside the revived Citroën 2CV, which was also confirmed at the investor day presentation.
Prices for the Grizzly have yet to be confirmed, but for reference, the rival Dacia Duster starts at £21,845, while the Skoda Kamiq starts at £25,535.
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