FIAT creates a special Pandina to protect Autobianchi

Gareth J. Hargreaves • August 24, 2026 08:03

The FIAT Panda was recently renamed Pandina and is expected to remain in production until at least 2030, despite having first arrived back in 2012. However, the spy shots that illustrate this piece are not pointing to a new generation - nor even to a major facelift.

Instead, they appear to reveal a new special edition with a rather unusual purpose: safeguarding a historic name from Italy’s automotive past - Autobianchi. Do you remember it?

Spy shot of the FIAT Pandina Tributo Autobianchi (rear three-quarter view)

Autobianchi was established in 1955 through a partnership between FIAT, Bianchi and Pirelli. For decades it effectively served as FIAT’s rolling test-bed: a smaller, more upmarket brand where ideas and technical solutions could be tried out before being rolled into higher-volume models.

One of the clearest examples is the Autobianchi Primula, launched in 1964. It helped define the blueprint for modern front-wheel-drive cars: a transversely mounted front engine with the gearbox positioned alongside it, rather than underneath the engine as on the original MINI. After using the Primula to “test” that layout in the marketplace, FIAT adopted it with huge commercial success in the 128. Even today, it remains the most common mechanical arrangement among “all up front” cars.

Among all Autobianchi models, the best-known was the A112, unveiled in 1969. This city car even spawned Abarth versions, which helped earn it recognition among Italy’s small performance cars. Later on, Autobianchi also became closely linked to the Y10, which would eventually be absorbed into Lancia, before the Autobianchi brand officially disappeared in 1995.

From that point onwards, Autobianchi became little more than an industrial heritage badge. The name stayed protected, but no new cars wore it - and that is exactly where the most interesting part of this story begins.

The threat came from the law

In Italy, historic trademarks that are not used for at least five years can become exposed to state intervention. In 2024, reports suggested the Italian government was exploring a way to take control of dormant car brands owned by Stellantis - including Autobianchi and Innocenti - and then make them available to Chinese manufacturers interested in producing vehicles in Italy.

Government could hand brands to Chinese companies

Link: Italian government could hand brands to Chinese companies
Context (as reported): the aim would be to attract Chinese capital and car production to Italy, using defunct historic car marques as the bargaining chip.
Byline: André Mendes

That proposal emerged against a backdrop of friction between Rome and Stellantis - still under the leadership of Carlos Tavares at the time - largely centred on vehicle production within Italy. From the government’s perspective, unused historic names could be a lever to bring industrial investment in. From Stellantis’ viewpoint, it could mean losing heritage assets and intellectual property.

Stellantis’ simplest way to avoid a bigger problem was to put the name back into use. The quickest route: a FIAT Pandina special edition called Tributo Autobianchi.

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What changes on this FIAT Pandina?

Judging by the spy shots, this special edition is likely based on the FIAT Pandina Cross - the tougher-looking, more rugged-themed variant. The prototype remains heavily camouflaged, yet a few details hint at the direction: chunkier-looking plastic protection, what could be model-specific alloy wheels, and side graphics bearing the Tributo Autobianchi name.

Spy shot of the FIAT Pandina Tributo Autobianchi

No mechanical revisions are expected. The Tributo Autobianchi should retain the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine producing 65 hp, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.

The changes should instead be focused on styling and the cabin, with retro-inspired touches, specific materials, and a colour palette intended to evoke Autobianchi. In other words, it is designed as a tribute rather than a genuine relaunch.

FIAT does not rule out a combustion future for the Panda

Link: FIAT does not rule out a combustion future for the Panda
Angle: despite plans for an affordable electric model, the brand does not exclude a combustion-engined car with a “knockout” price.
Byline: João Delfim Tomé

Even so, the job assigned to this FIAT Pandina is unusual: it will effectively “reset the legal clock” on a disappeared brand and ensure the Autobianchi name remains under Stellantis’ control.

Everything points to the FIAT Pandina Tributo Autobianchi arriving later this year, although it is still unclear whether it will be sold beyond the Italian market.