FIAT Koala: the Italian sibling of the Citroën 2CV will cost 15,000 euros and will be unveiled soon

FIAT is developing its own version of the Citroën 2CV. Both models are being created under Stellantis’ E-Car project, which aims to produce a range of affordable electric urban vehicles. Both the Citroën and FIAT models will be manufactured at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant (Naples, Italy), where the conventional FIAT Pandina is currently produced, and it will continue to be made alongside the electric versions.

Initially, it was thought that FIAT’s new urban vehicle would retain the Panda name; however, the British publication Autocar reports that it will ultimately be called Koala. FIAT’s new CEO, Arnauld Belloni, confirmed at the recent Paris Motor Show that “we are developing a small car based on the 2CV, and it will be a real revelation.”

It appears the prototype is already ready, but Stellantis chose not to bring it to the French event to prevent it from competing with the 2CV for attention. The brand’s design chief, François Leboine, states that the FIAT model is just as “ready as the 2CV,” but it was decided that “now is not the right time to show what we are working on.”

The FIAT Koala will be launched in 2028

"Koala now belongs to FIAT. We have a Koala, a Panda, and a Grizzly." The choice of the name Koala will allow this electric model to be distinguished from its gasoline counterpart: the Panda remains Italy’s best-selling sedan, and despite being in production since 2012, it is likely to stay on the market well into the next decade.

Like the Grande Panda and Grizzly, it will adopt some of the aesthetic elements from the original 1980 Panda; however, it won’t have a retro design, setting it apart from the Citroën 2CV. In any case, both models will be very similar underneath; therefore, we can expect the FIAT Koala to maintain a price level similar to its sibling (around 15,000 euros before subsidies).

The Citroën 2CV Concept is 90% identical to the production model. It measures 3.76 meters in length, placing it in the A segment (urban vehicles), one tier below the C3. The same will apply to the Koala, which will be more affordable than the Grande Panda. Citroën aims for the new 2CV to weigh around 1,000 kg, a highly ambitious target.