FIAT Celebrates Its First 125 Years and Smiles to the Future
FIAT celebrated its 125th anniversary in a grand event held at the La Pista 500 in Turin, marking a milestone and the beginning of a new chapter. Founded on July 11, 1899, FIAT has unveiled its vision for the future with the world premiere of the Fiat Grande Panda, a new global model aiming to reestablish FIAT in the global mainstream market. The event featured the return of the all-electric Fiat 500e to North America, now available at a starting MSRP of $32,500. FIAT highlighted its customer-first approach, commitment to inclusivity, and Italian design throughout the event. The celebrations included a parade of classic and contemporary FIAT vehicles, showcasing the brand's rich heritage and technological advancements. The new Casa FIAT museum exhibition, inaugurated at the Pinacoteca Agnelli, offers an immersive experience into FIAT's history and connection to the Lingotto building.
Key figures such as Stellantis Chairman John Elkann and CEO Carlos Tavares attended the event, emphasizing FIAT's role in providing clean, safe, and affordable mobility globally. The new Grande Panda, developed with a focus on sustainability and local relevance, features innovative solutions like an integrated spiral charging cable and offers more than 199 miles of range in its electric version. The new model is set to drive FIAT's return to the global market, embodying Italian style and versatility.
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
- The La Pista 500 at the Lingotto building in
Turin hosted FIAT's 125th anniversary ceremony Smiling to the Future - Founded on July 11, 1899, FIAT is one of the longest operating automotive brands in the world and is now set for an even brighter future
- Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO, lays out FIAT's vision for the next decade
- World premiere of the Fiat Grande Panda, the new global model that marks FIAT's return to the global mainstream market
- Now open at the Pinacoteca Agnelli, the new Casa FIAT exhibition traces the brand's history and its connection to the Lingotto building
- All-electric Fiat 500e, featuring a 149-mile driving range, returned to
North America earlier this year after a five-year hiatus, with starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of and, beginning July 12, 2024, a lease price and APR as low as$32,500 /month and$299 2.9% , respectively
FIAT's 125th anniversary event, Smiling to the Future, held at the Lingotto building in
The event was attended by members of the international press, representatives of public institutions, including Minister of Enterprise and Made in
John Elkann, Stellantis Chairman, stated, "Fiat was born in 1899 out of a passion for progress. It was among the few companies that managed to transition from a craftsmanship stage to the industrial era. It represented the freedom to move anywhere for millions of people, and to do so with style. For 125 years we have never stopped working, seeking solutions, believing in our future, and defending tenaciously what we have built. We want to thank all the people who made possible for that
Tavares stated, "I'm delighted to be in the home of FIAT in
Francois stated, "FIAT has been synonymous with social relevance over the last 125 years, offering our customers what they really need based on the times in which they are living. And our customers want iconic and affordable city cars; frugal and inclusive compacts; family mobility; commercial vehicles and, last but not the least, Abarth for everyday fun, which is exactly what FIAT offers. Currently we have launched FIAT's comeback to the global mainstream based on three pillars: Italian design and development, global platform and local relevance—and the Grande Panda is the first member of our new global family. Therefore, over the next decade, we'll have the right offer for every customer. Because the customer is at the center of everything for us."
On July 11, 1899, in Turin, the articles of association were signed for the Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili –
The event starred the Fiat Grande Panda, the new global model that will kick-start the Italian brand's new era and the first of a new generation of FIAT vehicles. The event premiered the first real images of two other models in the new global family, an SUV and a fastback, which were introduced last February as concepts and now are at an advanced stage of development and planned to be launched in the following years.
The celebrations held in
Since the beginning, FIAT has demonstrated a strong propension toward internationality, with models produced throughout the globe, while keeping its heart and soul in the Piedmont capital where it was founded. Today, with the Grande Panda, a new season has arrived for FIAT, which will be characterized by inclusivity, ingenuity, Italian style and a global spirit.
Grande Panda: FIAT's new global model
The Grande Panda marks FIAT's return to the global mainstream market, the first in the next generation of FIAT vehicles being studied for global markets, including
Sustainability, inclusiveness, simplicity and beauty are the values that gave life to the project, while the design took inspiration from the iconic Panda from the 1980s—the "blue jeans" of the automotive industry, something perfect for every occasion and for every customer. It is a socially relevant car, the car for everybody.
Designed in
The spiral charging cable stands out as one of the most innovative solutions, making the charging experience easier and tidier than ever. The Grande Panda is the first vehicle on the market to include an integrated charging cable, which works in alternating currents up to 7 kW. The spiral cable has a special housing under the hood, which allows for space saving in the trunk, and encourages practical everyday use as it is easy to handle and avoids the grime of traditional cables. This solution sets itself apart with its easy process: after opening the lid, the second step is to take out the cable and connect it to the charging station. Once the charge is finished, it is possible to easily return it to its housing thanks to the spiral shape of the cable.
As with its predecessor, the iconic 1980s' Panda that changed the way we experience the automobile for over 40 years, the Grande Panda sports a cool personality and unexpected features, as well as an innovative and intelligent use of space. Specifically, the new vehicle sets itself apart from other cars in the B-segment with the unique compactness provided by its small size (157.1 inches in length—below the segment average — 61.8 inches in height and 69.3 inches in width) and well-organized capacity thanks to its compact volume: for example, the trunk is 12.7 cubic feet.
Essentially, the Grande Panda is the ideal companion for families and today's urban mobility as it can comfortably transport five people. The Italian spirit of the new vehicle is showcased through its iconic design, which is synonymous with beauty, and the exteriors feature a special combination of structured lines and soft yet bold surfaces that highlight the robust wheel arches. Everything is made even more distinctive and cooler through the presence of front and rear skid plates in silver, glossy-black pillar finishes, privacy windows, 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with FIAT logo hubcaps and an eye-catching X design.
As a tribute to the classic Panda, the Grande Panda is equipped with 3D-branded, low-relief letters on the doors, which reflect the surrounding environment and enhance the lower part of the side. Seven liveries are available on the Grande Panda - red, white, black, green, brown, blue and yellow, in keeping with the No Grey initiative.
Inside, a special homage has been made to the Lingotto building's track, which inspired some of the interior elements. In fact, the dashboard, as well as the polycarbonate frame, including 10-inch cluster and 10.25-inch digital radio, feature a one-of-a-kind style that calls back to the shape of the Lingotto track and creates a distinctive and evocative look.
Special attention has been paid to the optimization of the space. For example, there is 0.5 cubic feet of storage in the dashboard, allowing for many choices when it comes to stowing objects—a simple and ingenious trademarked FIAT solution that recalls the 1980s' Panda's timeless "pocket" dashboard.
The first of the new FIAT family will be available both in electric and hybrid versions. With a 44kWh battery and an 83-kW e-motor, the electric Grande Panda offers more than 199 miles* of range in the WLTP combined cycle, making it the perfect vehicle both for everyday use in the city and for weekend trips.
* Provisional values under homologation
Casa FIAT: a unique site to immerse oneself in the FIAT universe
The 125th anniversary is the perfect occasion to inaugurate the new Casa FIAT museum exhibition, a project created by the Pinacoteca Agnelli in collaboration with FIAT. The exhibition traces the brand's history and its relationship with the Lingotto building, the legendary factory and iconic site of the brand's industrial production in
Thanks to the use of an interactive display, the exhibition branches off into various thematic areas - car design, architecture, society and kids – giving visitors the ability to completely immerse themselves in the FIAT universe. Inside the museum, the story of FIAT gets told, from its early days to its most recent evolution. Casa FIAT symbolically revolves around the wooden 500 Master model, with a museum itinerary that begins with the company's founding year of 1899, when the founders gathered to sign the articles of constitution of the Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana –
The story proceeds decade by decade, presenting various key moments in its history, like the production of the brand's most iconic cars, including the Fiat Nuova 500, the compact two-seater sedan launched in 1957, and the FIAT Panda, the versatile and innovative car made in 1980 by the designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Throughout this exhibition, FIAT highlights the importance of its past and its roots without taking its eye off the future, as demonstrated by the new Grande Panda. FIAT's story does not come to an end at Casa FIAT.
FIAT Brand
FIAT brand celebrates 125 years as an automaker and some things haven't changed. Iconic Italian design and refinement, plus a fun-to-drive factor, come standard with every Fiat.
In early 2024, FIAT brand will launch the Fiat 500e, the first Stellantis retail battery-electric vehicle offering in
FIAT is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com
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