20:40 24-12-2025

Stellantis readies the Fiat Grande Panda Abarth electric hot hatch

Stellantis is developing the Fiat Grande Panda Abarth, a 280 hp electric performance hatchback on the STLA Smart platform, targeting a 2026 debut if approved.

Stellantis is preparing an electric performance hatchback, the Fiat Grande Panda Abarth. The project is already in Fiat’s product plan and has been shown to the group’s leadership, though it hasn’t been officially announced yet. The new Abarth would complement a lineup that already includes the electric Abarth 500 and Abarth 600, whose sales have fallen short of expectations—so a fresh, more engaging entry feels timely.

The Grande Panda is set to become the foundation for an entire family of models. Over the next few years, plans call for a version with an enlarged cargo area aimed at the mass market, the Pandissima crossover, and a production-ready Grande Panda 4x4 previously revealed as a prototype. In that context, a sporty Abarth variant fits neatly into the strategy, adding heat without reinventing the platform.

Technically, the model may receive an electric motor with around 280 horsepower, already used in other Stellantis performance EVs. Yet the STLA Smart platform is primarily tuned for comfort and affordability, which means the Abarth edition would need meaningful upgrades to its chassis, braking, and drivetrain to feel authentic to the badge—precisely the kind of rework that can transform a sensible hatch into a lively driver’s car.

The company acknowledges the project will demand significant investment, so a production green light is not guaranteed. Even so, the Grande Panda Abarth is being considered as a more attainable performance EV within the group and could join the list of new models in 2026 if it gets the go-ahead. If that happens, the blend of familiar packaging and sharper dynamics could hit a sweet spot for buyers who want fun without excess.