Stellantis is targeting the bottom-end of the electric car market with its upcoming Fiat Panda. However, as most consumers know, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Take the Fiat 500e, for example, which ranked fifth in our list of EV cars you probably shouldn’t buy. Ultimately, that vehicle was a cramped car only suitable for short journeys, so we’re hoping they put more love into the Panda.
See also: Best electric cars – a buyer’s guide
The Fiat Panda is said to adopt a simple design with a limited colour palette that’s both minimalist and fully customizable. In other words, modularity has been built-in from the beginning. Drivers will have a choice between four roof covers, four bumpers, four-wheel wraps and four paint wraps, all of which are interchangeable.
Pretty much everything about the car is customizable. For example, a “plug-and-play” mode allows drivers to swap interior accessories, from storage pockets to the seats and child seats. As for the outside, the exterior is wrappable, the bumpers are customizable, and various roof covers are available to switch as the seasons’ change.
This may all sound like musical chairs. But hopefully, the approach will entice a broader range of new drivers to buy an EV.
“There will be a future for Panda as a name plate … that’s why I pitched the latest 500 initially as a convertible: high-end, full of options and 30,000 Euros. Because the day I introduce the future Panda, I’ll probably do the opposite. I’ll introduce the most naked version with an incredible price.”
-Oliver Francois, President Stellantis
Personalization is important, but too much can be overwhelming. Come springtime, we will see if the strategy to include buyers in the design process of the Fiat Panda is a success or not.