Lemac Power - Blog #City Cars

2025 set to bring special 500e and Grande Panda

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:55:19 +0000

Announced at Fiat's 125th Anniversary, Fiat is looking to target global small car market with new Grande Panda

FIAT's Grande Panda, inspired by the iconic 80s Panda and following the naming trend from the Grande Punto used when the 2nd generation Punto was replaced with the larger 3rd generation Grande Punto, focuses on Italian design, global platform, and local relevance. Values like sustainability, inclusiveness, simplicity, and beauty shaped the project. It's an affordable, family-friendly B segment car starting below €25,000 for the electric version. Designed in Turin, the Grande Panda offers a multi-energy platform, Italian design, and customizable powertrain options for global appeal, reflecting FIAT's shift to a global range.

Thanks to its intelligent features and user-friendly design, the upcoming Panda model is set to help customers life easier with EV driving. The spiral charging cable is a standout feature, simplifying and organizing the charging process like never before. The Grande Panda will be the pioneer in integrating a charging cable that operates on up to 7 kW of alternating current, setting a new standard in the market. The specially designed housing for the spiral cable under the hood maximizes storage space while promoting practicality for daily use. While other EV’s require some sort of sacrifice for storing a cable on the move, this will help drivers make use of the car’s space without having to worry about cable storage. It also eliminates the possibility of leaving a cable anywhere but where it’s needed most. While we recommend our Tethered 7kW EV charger for home users for exactly this reason, Fiat’s approach to having it built into the car makes it perfect for customers who don’t want to worry about where their cable is.

The Grande Panda, inspired by the iconic 1980s' Panda, offers compactness, innovative features, and Italian design. It stands out in the B-segment with its small size and well-organized capacity, catering to urban mobility and family needs. The vehicle's exterior features include structured lines, bold surfaces, and distinctive elements like skid plates, privacy windows, and 17" alloy wheels with a unique design.

As a nod to the classic Panda, the Grande Panda features 3D-branded, low-relief letters on the doors, blending with the environment and enhancing the lower part of the sides. The Grande Panda offers seven colour options – red, white, black, green, brown, blue, and yellow – aligning with the “No Grey” concept. Inside, a tribute to the Lingotto building's track inspires elements of the interior design. The dashboard and polycarbonate frame, housing a 10’’ cluster and 10.25” digital radio, reflect the Lingotto track's shape, creating a unique and captivating appearance. Space optimization is a key focus, with clever storage solutions like 13 litres of space in the dashboard, including a 3-liter compartment for versatile object storage. This design feature pays homage to the 1980s' Panda's iconic "pocket" dashboard.

The first of the new FIAT family will be offered in both electric and hybrid versions. The electric Grande Panda boasts a 44kWh battery and an 83-kW e-motor, expected to give a range of up to 190 miles in the WLTP combined cycle. This makes it an ideal choice for daily urban commutes and weekend getaways.

Joining the Grande Panda in 2025 is the limited edition 500e Giorgio Armani. This isn't the first collaboration with Italian fashion icons for the city car, with the previous By Diesel and Gucci editions. The partnership has been timed to coincide with the birthday of Giorgio Armani, and aims at creating an instant classic. The 500e Giorgio Armani introduces two exclusive colours, Dark Green Micinalised and Ceramic Greige, designed to embody Giorgio Armani's style. The exteriors are characterized by a monochromatic effect, with specially designed wheels featuring the GA logo and enhancing aerodynamic performance. Inside, the car showcases meticulous craftsmanship with chevron stitching and three-dimensional patterns, using luxurious materials like laser-cut wood and intricate embroidery.

Technological features include Full LED Infinity Design headlamps, a glass roof, premium JBL audio system, and advanced driver assistance systems. Powered by an 87 kW electric motor, the 500e Giorgio Armani offers a range of up to 190 miles in the WLTP combined cycle and features a Level 2 assisted driving system. The car not only embodies Giorgio Armani's distinct style and taste but also integrates innovative design elements and advanced technology to create a sophisticated and exclusive driving experience for discerning customers worldwide.

Hyundai INSTER arrives to sub-compact market

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:20:08 +0000

Hyundai Motor unveils all-electric INSTER, their A-segment sub-compact urban EV with up to 220 miles of driving range

Breaking the trend for larger vehicles in EV motoring, the compact new model from Hyundai helps city drivers with small frame filled with big features. As a brand their EV range has proved exceptionally popular with drivers, with models like the award winning IONIQ 5.

There's very little choice in these urban cars at the moment, so the INSTER could be perfectly poised to help make urban life easier for EV driver looking of a small second car, or something for family to drive. Now that the Honda e has left the new car market, and the Smart #1 moving from the original small 2 door car to something that is larger than a VW Polo, the only current competitor is a Fiat 500e.

Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled the all-electric INSTER, a new A-segment sub-compact EV offering unique design, segment-leading driving range and versatility, and advanced technology at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show.

INSTER’s bold design combines a futuristic, innovative image with a spacious interior in a small SUV body. With a sophisticated technology package that helps deliver safe, refined driving, INSTER offers fast charging and the best all-electric range (AER) in its segment, at up to 355 km. Its compact size helps provide increased efficiency compared with larger models. Building on the design legacy of the Korea-only, petrol-powered CASPER introduced in 2021, the INSTER’s styling evolution is underpinned by an extended body and wheelbase to deliver more interior space and a rugged road presence.

With its expanded dimensions, INSTER is positioned squarely between traditional A-segment sub-compact city cars and larger B-segment compact models. This offers the maneuverability and ease of use buyers expect with enhanced practicality and flexibility thanks to a more spacious interior and improved luggage capacity. Compared with larger models from the segment above, the INSTER’s compact dimensions make it ideal for city driving and boost convenience when parking.

"With INSTER, we've taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience," said Simon Loasby, Senior Vice President and Head of the Hyundai Design Center. "INSTER punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximizes its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. With INSTER we're redefining what it means to drive a sub-compact EV."

INSTER’s exterior design is characterized by its robust yet small SUV profile and flush, clean surfaces, with the car’s strong fenders, a high-tech, circuit board-style bumper and a bold skid plate enhancing the INSTER’s front and rear designs. Helping it shine through with its LED daytime running light signature and pixel-graphic turn signals, tail lamp, and bumpers. The pixel theme is repeated inside, with graphics on the INSTER’s steering wheel boss reinforcing the car’s high-tech image. The interior design also features customizable upper door trim garnishes for owners to further personalize their vehicle. Customers can customise the car’s appearance with LED projection headlamps. Either 15-inch steel with wheel covers, 15-inch alloy or 17-inch alloy wheels will be offered depending on specification. With exterior color choices including Atlas White, Tomboy Khaki, Bijarim Khaki Matte and Unbleached Ivory, as well as several new hues, such as Sienna Orange Metallic, Aero Silver Matte, Dusk Blue Matte, Buttercream Yellow Pearl, and Abyss Black Pearl. Some exterior color choices will be available in two-tone combinations with a contrasting black roof. Interior trim choices include Black, and Khaki Brown and Newtro Beige two-tone with full cloth trim.

Both the exterior and interior utilize sustainable materials. The INSTER’s exterior features black high- gloss recycled paint, which replaces the carbon black pigment traditionally used in black paint with a coloring made from recycled waste tires. Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane are used inside.

INSTER excels with its DC charging speed and maximum AER, enabling customers to spend less time charging, travel further and take full advantage of the energy at their disposal. Equipped with a 42 kWh battery as standard, INSTER is also available with a Long-Range 49 kWh battery as an option. Both models are powered by a single motor that delivers 71.1 kW (97 PS) in the base variant and 84.5 kW (115 PS) in the Long-Range car. Both versions offer 147 Nm of torque.

With a segment-leading projected range of 220 miles (WLTP) on a single charge for the Long-Range model, INSTER redefines what is possible from a small urban EV. When using a 120 kW DC High-Power charging station, INSTER can charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes under optimal conditions. INSTER also comes equipped with an 11 kW on-board charger as standard, while a battery heating system and high-efficiency heat pump are available.

INSTER will launch first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific in due course. Most equipment and technologies will come fitted as standard, with enhanced convenience and design features available optionally. Specifications will be confirmed closer to launch.

An additional variant, called INSTER CROSS, will join the INSTER family in the future, featuring a more rugged, outdoor-focused design. Further details will be announced at a later date.