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The “Dakar
2007”, that most classic of all rallies with its thrilling
succession of stages and special trials, was presented today
in Paris. It will start from Lisbon on 6th January and close
on the 21st in the Senegal capital after covering 8,696
kilometres, 5,100 of them in the form of timed specials. It
will cross Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and
Senegal. An extraordinary adventure that will see Fiat in
the thick of it with two Panda Cross’s driven by Miki
Biasion, teamed with Tiziano Siviero, and by one of the Fiat
squad’s official drivers.
Entered in the
T2 category, the closest to production vehicles, the two
Panda Cross’s are fitted with a 1.3 Multijet turbodiesel
combined with a six-speed manual gearbox that delivers about
105 bhp at 4500 rpm and has a peak torque of 17 kgm at 2500
rpm. Apart from their small dimensions, the two cars stand
out for their automatically selectable all-wheel drive with
viscous joint and locking differential, the system that
provides more grip on the terrain thanks to the optimal
split of motive force to the wheels. The Fiat Panda Cross is
proving to be an extraordinary “explorer”, completely at
ease on rough, gruelling terrain. Credit for this also goes
to the tried and tested, specifically set suspension layout:
in front McPherson independent wheels, at the rear
independent wheels with longitudinal tie rods. Not to
mention the shock absorbers, adjustable 4 ways at the front
and 3 at the rear.
The two cars
competing in the Dakar 2007 have been fitted out
specifically for this rally: so room has been found inside
for accessories like the aluminium platforms to get the
vehicle out of sand, two shovels, three spare wheels, water
reserves for the crew (minimum 10 litres) and other pieces
of equipment useful for the occasion. Among other things,
the Fiat expedition to Dakar will include a Fiat Sedici as
service back-up and three Iveco trucks to transport spares
and mechanics.
Winner of two world rally championships with Lancia and two
world Truck titles with Iveco in 1998 and 1999, Miki Biasion
will be relying on the great manoeuvrability and personality
of the Panda Cross.
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The Fiat Panda has
already carved out a rallying career: here the Panda
Rally takes part in the 2006 Fiat Panda Cup, a
"grass roots" championship for drivers aiming to get
a foothold on the rally ladder. |
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Entered in the T2 category, the
closest to production vehicles, the two Panda
Cross’s are fitted with a 1.3 Multijet turbodiesel
combined with a six-speed manual gearbox that
delivers about 105 bhp at 4500 rpm and has a peak
torque of 17 kgm at 2500 rpm. |
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Winner of two world rally
championships with Lancia and two world Truck titles
with Iveco in 1998 and 1999, Miki Biasion will be
relying on the great manoeuvrability and personality
of the Panda Cross. Above: Biasion on the 2006 Dakar
Rally. |
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It should also not be forgotten that during its development
stage the Panda 4x4, from which the Cross version is
derived, was tested in every corner of the Earth for
sturdiness, character and road performance, especially in
road situations and climate conditions that were often at
the limit: in the North of the globe it was on the ice-bound
rugged tracks of freezing Lapland where the temperature
drops to 40 degrees centigrade below; in the South, in the
torrid conditions of South Africa where the Atlantic meets
up with the Indian Ocean; in the West, on the rugged slopes
of the Sierra Nevada, in Spain; and in the East, in the
foothills of the majestic, eternal Mount Everest. In all,
the Panda 4x4 covered more than one million kilometres
before going into production.
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