The first generation Panda, introduced in 1980 as the Mk1, was a two-box, three-door hatchback designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani of Italdesign and was manufactured through 2003 — receiving an all-wheel drive variant in 1983.

The third-generation Panda debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, was designed at Fiat Centro Stilo under the direction of Roberto Giolito and remains in production in Italy at Pomigliano d'Arco.

As the first time Fiat had entrusted the development of a large-scale model to a firm outside the company,[11] Giugiaro and Mantovani spent 15 days in the summer of 1976 in Porto Cervo, Sardinia designing the Panda — using the working name Zero.

"[13] During the design gestation, Giugiaro took particular inspiration from a folding lounge chair in conceiving the seats of the Zero; simple, easy to maintain, modular, inexpensive to manufacture.

[17] Despite De Benedetti's departure, Italdesign presented Fiat with two full-scale models, four alternative side designs, an interior buck or mockup and a comprehensive study of the Panda's competition — as well as a series of tempera renderings by Giugiaro.

On response cards distributed by FIAT's sales department, participants gauged the design's exterior and interior appearance and finish, spaciousness, instruments and controls, engine size, price, and its provisional name: Rustica.

[12] On 26 February 1980 Fiat presented production models to President Sandro Pertini, in the gardens of Rome's Quirinal Palace, and the car officially debuted in Geneva on 5 March — carrying the name Panda, after Empanda, the Roman goddess and patroness of travelers.

I tried to give it the essential quality of a military design — in particular a helicopter: something light, rational, and optimized for a specific purpose.One of the more noted design features was a highly flexible interior including a seven-position adjustable rear seat that could, via a series of adjustable lateral tubes, fold flat into a provisional bed,[21] fold into a V shape to support awkward loads, or easily and quickly be removed altogether to increase the overall load space.

Austrian company Steyr-Puch supplied the entire drivetrain (clutch, gearbox, power take-off, three-piece prop shaft, rear live axle including differential and brakes) to the plant at Termini Imerese where it was fitted to the reinforced bodyshell.

In the UK it was based on a standard white 750 cc Panda L, and included unique graphics (a green and red pin stripe creating the tricolour of the Italian flag  and the "CIAO" logo on the rear quarter panels), a custom interior fabric (Azzurri blue fabric with "CIAO" logos stitched on the back panels - the Italian football team wears blue), a tricolour shield motif on the grille and perhaps the most well known feature - the football hubcaps.

In Italy and Germany buyers were able to choose an Italia'90 based on a higher trim level which explains why some cars have rear wash wipe, later interiors with tipping front seats, and the option of a full canvas sunroof.

Fiat gave away some of Alessi's products (coffee machine and tin-can openers) for the special model's debut at the Ideal Home Show in the UK.

The outside of the car features dipped silver paintwork, precious metal trim and gleaming jewel-like mouldings with back-lit inset crystals.

The interior features dipped silver appointments, precious metal details, Jewel Alcantara upholstery and leather with mother of pearl finish.

With no rear seats, the load floor offers flexible attachments for fixing sports kit, while an aluminium structure is designed to carry mountain bikes.

Panda MultiEco is equipped with a dual-fuel (methane and petrol) FIRE engine – future developments will also make it possible to use a methane/hydrogen mix – combined with a BAS (Belt-driven Alternator-Starter) device and a Dualogic robotised gearbox.

Entered in the T2 category, the class which most closely represents production vehicles, the two Panda 4x4s, driven by Miki Biasion and former Dakar winner, Bruno Saby, respectively, are powered by Fiat Auto's 1.3-litre Multijet turbodiesel combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.

In December 2006, Fiat considered taking legal action against Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor for the company's Peri, which is a copy of the Panda's design.

In the lawsuit, Great Wall claims that "Fiat once instigated espionage to prowl into its research center and take photos of Peri small car that was still under developed.

On the other hand, this requires a 40 mm taller ride height and a reworked, transversal silencer – thus the Natural Power uses the lifted chassis of the Trekking / 4x4 versions.

It is distinguished from the 4x4, by the absence of skid plate inserts on bumpers, no "4x4" inlay in the bodyside molding and alloy wheels painted silver instead of a darker grey.

[66] The Panda 4x4 receives model specific bumpers with extra cladding, body side moldings, plastic wheelarch extensions and 175/65 M+S tires on 15" dark grey alloy wheels.

The full-time all wheel drive system is composed by two open differentials front and rear and a rear-mounted electronically controlled coupling, which sends torque to the two axles in proportion depending on road conditions.

As in the previous generation the Cross is recognizable by its wider 185/65 tyres on specific alloy wheels, new fascias with prominent skid plates and unique broken up head- and taillights arrangement.

[78] In Europe, Fiat is offering the Pandina in only 10 countries: Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Spain and Portugal.

Built on the basis of the Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet II with richer interior standard equipment, it was available in red or white with contrasting colour side stripes and Steyr logo decals.

It was too based on the Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet II, featuring several normally extra cost options like automatic climate control, parking sensors and Blue&Me Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The exterior was characterized by a white with black roof two-tone paint scheme accented by orange wheel centers and side mirror caps.

[88] At 5:28pm on Monday 11 February 2013, Philip Young and Paul Brace broke the world record drive, in either direction, from Cape Town in South Africa to London in Great Britain with a Fiat Panda two-cylinder 0.9 TwinAir.

The fourth-generation (Mk5) Panda was introduced on 14 June 2024,[93][94] with the interior and full specifications was later revealed on 11 July coincided with Fiat’s 125th anniversary "Smiling to the Future” ceremony.