Fiat Grande Panda: The bear you like to be tied on
The design and many details of the Fiat Grande Panda are based on the original Panda. It is just as much fun as a practical electric runabout for the city as it is on a tour of the Bernese and Neuchâtel Jura.
Striking lines already characterized the original Panda by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro from the 1980s. The new 3.99-metre-long and 1.76-metre-wide five-seater with the three-dimensional "Panda" and "Fiat" lettering inserted into the sides at the rear and LED pixels as headlights inspired by historical elements also immediately catches the eye. This bold appearance is further emphasized by rims with an x-shaped spoke design and black inserts. The Italian, which is available as an electric version with 83 kW/113 hp or as a mild hybrid with a 1.2-liter petrol engine and electric motor (system output 81 kW/110 hp), attracts a lot of attention at the roadside.
It's almost a shame that people can't take a look inside the well-designed interior while we whirr through the foothills of the Jura in the comfortable but not too spongy Stromer and even take a detour to the 114-metre-high Chasseral transmission tower. In the interior, in which a lot of recycled materials and bamboo fibers were used, the oval surround of the central 10.25-inch touchscreen and the digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel are reminiscent of the legendary test track on the roof of the ex-Fiat Lingotto plant, complete with miniature panda on the Plexiglas. Fiat lettering is emblazoned on the doors - really funny, just like the 4.5-meter-long spiral cable in the special storage compartment under the hood for charging.
Coffee roastery and home of watches
We drive through the beautiful Jura landscape towards St. Imier, home of the famous watch brand Longines, and the chessboard-like planned town of La Chaux-de-Fonds. As a typical Italian, which incidentally has a range of up to 320 kilometers thanks to its 44 kWh battery, you like espresso. And you should treat yourself to one here at La Semeuse. Founded 125 years ago, the company runs a coffee roasting plant at 1000 meters above sea level. Around 15,000 jute sacks of the finest beans from all over the world are processed every year. After this short break, we continue in the Grande Panda, which offers space for a pack or two of coffee thanks to its 361 (hybrid: 412 liters) to 1366 liter trunk. We briefly consider whether we should make a detour to one of the countless watch manufacturers in the region - from Rolex to Audemars Piguet and Certina. Or should we enjoy pure nature and drive to the world-famous, horseshoe-shaped Creux du Van? We prefer to stay behind the wheel of our Grande Panda and follow the navigation instructions that lead us to Neuchâtel.
In the cantonal capital, the Fiat shines with its maneuverability and good overview. There is also certainly a charging station here to supply our electric car with fresh juice via the standard charger for alternating current with 11 kW output. The charging cycle from 20 to 80 percent takes just two hours and 50 minutes. You can use this time to explore Neuchâtel's old town, the castle and the three-aisled collegiate church, for example, or to treat yourself to a meal at the Restaurant de l'Hôtel DuPeyrou. Tip for cheese lovers: be sure to have a plate with a selection put together in the hotel's own cheese vault!
And if you want to spend a little more time in the Three-Lakes Region and the Jura, you might treat yourself to the luxury of staying at the Hotel Palafitte with 38 individual pavilions right on the lake. Not cheap, but given the fair prices for the new Fiat Grande Panda, which is available as a hybrid from 18,990 francs and as a purely electric vehicle from 24,990 francs, it is definitely an option.
