HARD on the heels of the launch of the new Fiat Grande Panda comes a vision of the future - a future which pays tribute to the Italian marque's past.

It comes in the shape of the Grande Panda 4x4 - a reimagination of the original Panda 4x4 which was first launched in 1983 and became an icon which captured the imagination of drivers around the world.

It's a concept model at the moment but will almost certainly end up in production, even though Fiat is cagey about saying exactly when.

The clue is in the carefully chosen words of Fiat's own press release which describes the concept car as a "project destined to be a manifesto for a fresh vision of sustainable mobility."

The company adds: "With this modern reinterpretation of the Panda 4x4, Fiat reaffirms its desire to blend heritage and innovation, responding to the needs of a changing mobility landscape without ever losing sight of the model's authentic and deeply popular soul."

The recently-launched, two-wheel-drive Grande Panda comes with a choice of hybrid and electric power trains and, while details of what's going to be under the 4x4's bonnet haven't been released, Fiat has revealed that the all-wheel-drive Grande Panda is planned with an electrified rear axle, signifying that a BEV version is on the cards.

The concept car's Dark Red livery harks back to the popular limited-edition Sisley version of the Panda 4x4 as do the steel wheels, graphics along the sides and the roof rack which is fitted with a pair of spotlights.