Fiat Continuing to Expand Panda Range with Compact Offroader

FiatFiatItaly, 1899 > present159 models
4864 photos
35 videos
has decided that the brand will focus on creating variants of the PandaFiat Panda Gen.3Italy, 2011 > present24 versions
95 photos
1 video
and 500Fiat 500 (modern)Italy, 2007 > present240 versions
581 photos
7 videos
for the near future.

“There are two cars in Fiat’s DNA – the Panda and 500. The Panda has more expansion potential," said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. 

The plan is to expand the Panda range with a larger crossover version of the Panda that will take on the Nissan QashqaiNissan QashqaiJapan, 2006 > 2014305 versions
384 photos
and Skoda YetiSkoda Yeti Gen.1Czech Rep., 2009 > present189 versions
219 photos
1 video
and a Panda hot hatch.

This new crossover would likely be based on the upcoming compact JeepJeepUnited States of America, 1941 > present33 models
965 photos
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and Fiat 500X that will share the same platform. The Panda version would move upscale from the 500X and would not be on the market until 2015 at the soonest. 

Other than Marchionne saying that it is considering the idea, not much is know about the Panda hot hatch. It is possible that it could be a second generation of the Panda 100hpFiat PandaItaly, 2006 > present2 photos
or possibly a model with even more power. 

Fiat already offers the Panda in two versions - standard and 4X4Fiat Panda 4x4 0.9 TwinAi...Italy, 2012 > present4 photos
. 

According to Marchionne, the 500 has reached its natural limits, and the 500X will be the final variant for a while. 

“We need to be careful not to peel back the onion too far in spite of our designers’ gazillion ideas. The 500X will probably be the last version of the 500," said Marchionne.

The rest of the Fiat lineup - the BravoFiat Bravo (modern)Italy, 2007 > present39 versions
76 photos
, PuntoFiat Grande Punto - Punto Evo Gen.3Italy, 2012 > present31 versions
60 photos
and FreemontFiat FreemontItaly, 2011 > present13 versions
91 photos
3 videos
- will continue to age. No replacements are planned for them until 2015. 

Source: Auto Express