FIAT’s 125th anniversary ‘Smiling to the future’ event took place on Thursday, 11th July, at the Lingotto building in Turin. The ceremony was both a celebration of a milestone and the beginning of a new chapter in the brand’s long history of success, social relevance, and leadership which has all been fuelled by a customer-first approach.
The event was attended by members of the international press, representatives of public institutions and the top management of Stellantis. The occasion allowed the brand to showcase 2 new models, the Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani and the all-new Grande Panada, and to officially open the new Casa FIAT museum exhibition.
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 Turin startup to become Stellantis today, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.”
Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, stated: “I’m delighted to be in the home of FIAT in Turin to celebrate 125 years and share the emotion of such a moment with all stakeholders. As one of the most iconic brands in our Stellantis constellation, FIAT brings true Italian flavour to the heart of our customers worldwide. For the third year in a row, FIAT is Stellantis number one brand in terms of volume.
“It leads in four domestic markets across the planet: Italy, Brazil, Turkey and Algeria. It drives the charge to offer clean, safe and affordable mobility to citizens around the world. I want to thank all of those who hold FIAT so dear since generations and work hard every day to ensure another 125 years of rich history. Fiat team shares the same passion and the same desire to always make our customers smile.”
Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis Global Chief Marketing Officer, 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 3 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 centre of everything for us.”
On July 11th, 1899 in Turin, the articles of association were signed for the ‘Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili – Torino’. Today, after having produced millions of cars, a common thread connects the brand’s past to its present and future: namely, a specific way of understanding cars which sets the brand apart at a global level to this day and has led to products which simplify everyday life and bring joy to the streets of the world.
The celebration’s special guest was the 500e Giorgio Armani, the refined limited edition which will be distributed globally and pair Italian excellence to eco-sustainability. The event also starred the Fiat Grande Panda, the new global model which will kickstart the Italian brand’s new era and the first of a new generation of FIAT vehicles. Furthermore, 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 Turin ended with a stunning parade of classic and contemporary FIAT vehicles which were divided into groups—icons, city cars, compact cars, family cars and light commercial vehicles—which showed themselves off on the Lingotto building’s legendary track to showcase the global Italian brand’s technological and historical heritage.
Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani
An important partnership between Giorgio Armani and FIAT was announced to mark FIAT’s milestone anniversary, coinciding symbolically with the birthday of Maestro Giorgio Armani. These two globally recognised Italian brands, having previously collaborated in 2020 with the launch of an exclusive, one-off 500e, have united again to create what may be the ultimate expression of Made in Italy on four wheels: the 500e Giorgio Armani. Now, FIAT and Giorgio Armani have hit the catwalk together with the new 500e Giorgio Armani on the “La Pista 500”.
Two unique and exclusive colours have been created for the 500e Giorgio Armani: Dark Green Micinalised, and Ceramic Greige. The standout exterior design element is the wheels, exclusively designed to represent the GA logo on a macro scale.
The interior features meticulous craftsmanship, with chevron stitching and three-dimensional patterns on the central seat inserts and laser-cut wood for the dashboard insert. The new 500e Giorgio Armani features the Milanese Maestro’s logo on the wheels and seats, while his signature appears on the dashboard, interior door, and rear window.
Other features include Full LED Infinity Design headlamps, a glass roof, a premium JBL audio system, a 7″ TFT Display, a 10.25″ Touch Screen NAV, DAB Radio, and Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto.
Grande Panda: FIAT’s new global model
The Grande Panda marks FIAT’s return to the global mainstream market. It has been developed based on 3 pillars: Italian design, global platform and local relevance. Sustainability, inclusiveness, simplicity and beauty are the values which gave life to the project, while the design took inspiration from the iconic Panda from the 80s—the “blue jeans” of the automotive industry, something perfect for every occasion and for every customer. It is a car for everybody.
The Grande Panda is the first vehicle on the market to include an integrated charging cable, which works in alternating current up to 7 kW. The spiral cable has a special housing under the hood, which allows for space saving in the boot, and is easy to handle and avoids the grime of traditional cables.
As with its predecessor, the iconic 1980s’ Panda, 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 B-segment with the unique compactness provided by its small size (3.99 metres in length — below the segment average — 1.57 metres in height and 1.76 metres in width) and well-organised capacity thanks to its compact volume. The boot is 361 litres while the capacity of front storage compartments is 13 litres.
Essentially, the Grande Panda is the ideal companion for families and today’s urban mobility as it can comfortably transport 5 people. Furthermore, the Italian spirit of the new vehicle is showcased through its iconic design and the exterior features a special combination of structured lines and soft yet bold surfaces which highlight the robust wheel arches.
Everything is made even more distinctive and cooler through the presence of rear and front skid plates in silver, glossy-black pillar finishes, privacy windows and 17” 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 colours 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 elements of the interiors. In fact, the dashboard as well as the polycarbonate frame including 10’’ cluster and 10.25” digital radio feature a one-of-a-kind style which calls back to the shape of the Lingotto track and creates a distinctive and evocative look.
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 over 320 km of range in the WLTP combined cycle, making it the perfect vehicle both for everyday use and for weekend trips.
Casa FIAT: a unique place to dive into the FIAT universe
The 125th anniversary was 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 Turin which was designed by Giacomo Matté Trucco in the 1920s and restored by Renzo Piano in the 1990s.
Thanks to the use of an interactive display, the exhibition branches off into various themed areas – Car Design, Architecture, Society and Kids – giving visitors the possibility 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 evolutions. Casa FIAT symbolically revolves around the wooden 500 Master model, with a museum itinerary which 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 – Torino, giving birth to the FIAT name.
