|
Fiat Auto’s
widely acclaimed Panda supermini, which first went on sale
in the UK early 2004, has just pulled off an enviable
automotive hat trick, winning the 2006 City Car category in
Auto Express magazine’s Annual New Car Honours for
the third year in succession. Voted Car of the
Year 2004 by a 56-strong international jury of senior
motoring journalists late in 2003, Panda has since attracted
a stream of awards from the media, which has been repeatedly
impressed by its winning combination of build quality,
space, refinement, big car feel, comfort, driving pleasure
and value for money.
The ultimate
accolade from Britain’s biggest selling weekly car magazine,
Auto Express, came in 2004 when it won the magazine’s
Car of the Year award, along with the magazine’s Budget Car
and City Car titles. It is the latter accolade which Panda
has now secured for a remarkable third successive year,
while also being commended in the Budget Car category.
Commenting on
Panda’s performance in the 2006 awards, Auto Express
says: "This is the car that proved the Italian marque hadn’t
forgotten how to build fantastic small cars – and two years
on from its launch, no-one does it better. Panda still gives
city car buyers exactly what they need. This is one car
that’s small yet perfectly formed. Not only does the
bodywork manage to look both cute and sturdy, it’s equally
well designed inside. Robust, attractive and well laid out
with the gearlever mounted high up; from the moment you step
aboard you know this car will be fun to drive.
|
