Introduction to the New Fiat Grizzly
The first images and details about the new Fiat Grizzly have been unveiled at the Stellantis investors conference, where the company showcased a range of new products and announced the return of the Citroen 2CV. While the Grizzly may not generate as much excitement as the revival of the iconic 2CV nameplate, this bear-themed SUV is set to play a significant role in expanding the Fiat lineup, both in terms of quantity and size.
Currently, the European Fiat range is dominated by small city cars, including the 3.6m 500, 3.65m Panda, 4.0m Grande Panda, and 4.17m 600. The brand’s largest model on the Continent is the van-based Ulysse people mover. With the introduction of the Grizzly, Fiat aims to introduce a larger and more versatile option to its lineup.
Design and Features of the Grizzly
The Grizzly will be available in two body styles: a conventional SUV and a ‘coupe SUV’ with a fastback rear end. Based on the images revealed at the conference, the Grizzly appears to be closely related to the 4.4m-long Opel Frontera and Citroen C3 Aircross, though it may be slightly shorter. If this is the case, the Grizzly could potentially fill the gap between these models and the related Grande Panda.
The Frontera and C3 Aircross are available with seven seats, while the Grande Panda is strictly a five-seat offering. It remains unclear how many passengers the Grizzly will accommodate. Like the Grande Panda, C3 Aircross, and Frontera, the Grizzly is based on the Stellantis Smart Car Platform, which supports petrol, mild hybrid, and electric drivetrains. Although no specific details about the Grizzly’s powertrains have been released, it is likely that they will be shared with the Opel Frontera and Citroen C3 Aircross.
Powertrain Options
The C3 Aircross and Frontera are available with a 48V mild hybrid system featuring a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine. This engine is tuned to produce either 81kW or 107kW. An entry-level version of the 1.2-litre engine without hybrid assistance is also available on the C3 Aircross.
Electric variants of these models feature an 83kW electric motor driving the front wheels, paired with a 44kWh battery pack that provides a WLTP range rating of around 400km.
Launch Plans and Future Models
The production version of the Grizzly SUV and ‘coupe’ are expected to make their debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show in October. If this plan comes to fruition, the Grizzly will have to share the spotlight with the concept version of the second-generation Citroen 2CV.
The Grizzly and 2CV are part of the 60 new cars that Stellantis plans to launch between now and 2030 as part of its FaSTLAne 2030 turnaround plan. The electric 2CV is scheduled to go into production in 2028, alongside a Fiat sibling that will replace the third-generation Panda, which was launched in 2011.
In addition to these models, the Netherlands-based automaker has outlined its model plans for the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge brands.
