The place of honour on the stand Fiat stand at the Bologna Motor Show next week will go to one of the two Panda Cross ‘Dakar 2007’ rally cars which will be competing in the famous desert raid from January 6 to 21, starting from Lisbon, and ending in Dakar after 8,696 km, having visited Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. It will be an extraordinary adventure, and Fiat will be entering two Panda Cross’s, driven by Miki Biasion, teamed up with Tiziano Siviero, and one of the official drivers of the Fiat rally team.

Registered in category T2, which is the closest to standard production cars, the two Panda Cross ‘Dakar 2007’ are powered by a 1.3 Multijet turbodiesel engine, with a six-speed mechanical gearbox, which delivers approximately 105 bhp at 4500 rpm, and a peak torque of 17 kgm at 2500 rpm. In addition to their small size, the two cars stand out for their automatically engaged four-wheel drive system, with viscous joint and Locking Differential, which guarantees optimal distribution of the drive force to the wheels with the best grip on the ground. The Fiat Panda Cross is therefore an extraordinary ‘explorer’ which is completely at home on uneven, difficult terrain. Some of the merit must go to the specially calibrated, reliable suspension system: independent all round, with MacPherson struts at the front, and longitudinal trailing arms at the rear. The shock absorbers are adjustable, 4-way at the front and 3-way at the rear.

The two cars that will compete in the 2007 Dakar rally have been specially outfitted to tackle the race; inside there is space for accessories such as aluminium platforms that help the car to get out of sand, two spades, three spare wheels, a water supply for the team (minimum 10 litres) and other tools needed during the race. The Fiat expedition for the Dakar rally also includes a Fiat Sedici service vehicle and three Iveco trucks to carry spare parts and mechanics.
 

The winner of two World Rally Championship titles with Lancia, and of two World Truck titles with Iveco in 1998 and 1999, Miki Biasion will be able to rely on the excellent handling and personality of the Panda Cross. And we must remember that during its development, the Panda 4x4, from which the Cross version is derived, was tested in all corners of the Earth to assess its sturdiness, character and road behaviour, particularly in extreme road and climate conditions: in the North, on the frozen tracks of Lapland where the temperature reaches –40° C; in the South, under the torrid sun of South Africa, where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet; in the West, up the steep slopes of the Sierra Nevada in Spain, and in the East, on the slopes of majestic, eternal Mount Everest. In all, the Panda 4x4 travelled over one million kilometres before it went into production.

Fiat Panda Cross ‘Dakar 2007’ - Technical Specifications:

Engine: 4 cylinders in line, turbodiesel, 1300 cc; Power output: 105 bhp at approx. 4500 rpm; Peak torque: 17 kgm at 2500 rpm; Transmission: 6-speed gearbox; Single-plate metal-ceramic clutch, diameter 200 mm; Suspension: MacPherson layout at front; Trailing arms at rear; 4-way adjustable shock absorbers at front, 3-way at rear; Brakes: Front calliper with 2 pistons; Front brake disc ø 300 mm; Rear calliper with 1 piston; Rear brake disc ø 250 mm; Bodyshell: Roll-cage incorporating suspension anchorage points; Lower protection in Avional at front and rear, 10 mm thick; Wheels: Rims: 6.5” x 15“; Tyres: 19/65-15.