02.12.2003 THREE NEW FIAT PANDAS TO BE UNVEILED IN BOLOGNA: 4X4, SUV AND MULTIJET POWERED ABARTH RALLY CONCEPT

The spotlight in Bologna will obviously be on the car that was recently voted 'Car of the Year 2004' and 'European Car 2004': the Fiat Panda. Presented to the international press on September 2, the Fiat Panda immediately aroused a great deal of interest and very favourable comments from the over 1000 journalists from 21 countries, present in Lisbon for the debut of the new model.

This success with the critics was immediately confirmed by the approval of the clientele. This was obvious at the first 'Open Day', held in Italy on September 13 and 14, which attracted 500,000 visitors to the 700 Fiat sales points in Italy. An excellent welcome which was confirmed by over 95,000 orders received in Europe in just two months on the market.

The merit goes to a project that has succeeded in creating a car with small external dimensions, but with the comfort that larger cars have accustomed us to, designed to be sparing on fuel but no less brilliant because of it; ideal in town traffic but perfect on longer trips, so that you always reach your destination relaxed.

These characteristics make the Fiat Panda a 'large small car' which is excellent value for money thanks to the combination of content, low running costs and residual value. Fiat remains the protagonist in this changing market segment, where it has played so great a role: from the first 600 to the 500, the 126 and the first Panda, the Cinquecento and the Seicento. There has always been a Fiat city car for the people who first discovered that the car was an irreplaceable means of individual mobility, and then learned to appreciate cars that were also good-looking, reliable and pleasant to drive, even if their cost, size, weight and cylinder displacement was minimal.

The design of the Panda envisages the possibility of creating new cars on the same base. The 'five door' version that debuted in Lisbon is the forefather of the new Panda family, a range that is destined to grow in the coming years. This is borne out in the three cars on the stand in Bologna: a 4-wheel drive version, a 'small' SUV and a Panda with a sporty personality.

The Panda 4x4 targets the motorist looking for both elegant styling and off-road capabilities, but who intends to use the car in town too. The SUV version on the other hand is ideal for a dynamic public of young people who want to stand out through the assertive personality of their cars.

The elegant, all-purpose Panda 4x4

The new Fiat Panda 4x4, which will going into production next year, is previewed in Bologna. A car that immediately evokes the wish to travel in complete freedom, even in places that are not very accessible to traditional cars. But without detracting in any way from the enjoyment of negotiating the narrow streets of an old town centre.

The Panda 4x4 can be considered (and enjoyed) as a real off-road vehicle, or as a friendly car with which to slip through the gymkhanas of urban traffic. A car with a dual personality, which communicates youthfulness and good humour, as well as solidity and sturdiness. All with an extra touch of elegance compared to the 'aggressive' SUV version.

When they created it, the Fiat designers drew on the enormous store of technical and design skills that they have accumulated over the years, and the expertise that only a company which has been a leader of the compact car market for over seventy years can develop. The result is the new Panda 4x4, which takes on board both the many ways in which the customer has changed and the excellent prospects for growth.

The new version has small dimensions (it is 357 cm long, 159 cm wide and 162 cm high) and excellent handling, and is also higher off the ground than the conventional model: about five centimetres more, but enough to make a significant difference, increasing the already excellent visibility and the way the driver dominates the road. Even difficult roads, thanks to a turning circle of 9.1 metres.

Plus the fact that the generous 185/65 R14 tyres and a minimum ground clearance (standard A) of 150 millimetres make it look like a real off-road vehicle. An impression that is reinforced by a number of styling features that have a specific 'off-road' function. For example, the bumpers (front and rear) are fitted with protective shields, and the sides are protected by large rubbing strips, which match the special wheelarch moulding and the engine shield.
Inside, the new version of the Panda certainly has not eliminated the large luggage compartment that is one of the model's strong points. With the one or two-piece rear seat folded down the volume increases from a minimum of 206 to a maximum of 860 dm3 (up to the roof). If a split, sliding rear seat is fitted, these values are respectively 235 (with the seat fully forward) and 786 dm3.

The Panda 4x4 is a car with a strong personality that will meet the wishes of customers with different tastes and needs, including the growing number who enjoy adventure and life in the open air. With them in mind, the new version has been fitted with a permanent 4-wheel drive system, with viscous joint and two differentials, which gets it out of any situation without difficulty. An extraordinary 'explorer' that is quite at ease on uneven or difficult ground, as the 'ramp angles' underline. First of all, the 'approach angle', which is the maximum front angle that an off-road vehicle can negotiate without touching the bodywork. The second value is the 'departure angle', the maximum gradient negotiable in reverse, starting from a horizontal plane. The last is the 'camber angle', i.e. the largest angle that the base of an (isosceles) triangular hump can have for the vehicle to pass over it without scraping. The values of the new model are 26° (front), 45° (rear) and 19° (camber). The maximum gradient negotiable is over 50%.

Visitors to the Bologna Motor Show can see it in action on the track prepared outside the Fiat stand. Driving the Panda 4x4 is extremely comfortable, thanks to the specially calibrated, tried and tested suspension system. Independent all round, with MacPherson struts at the front, transverse wishbones anchored to a subframe and a roll-bar connected to the damper. And trailing arms at the rear anchored to a special frame with a roll-bar.

There is a choice of two engines: the well proven 1.2 which delivers a maximum power output of 60 bhp (44 kW) at 5000 rpm, and torque of 10.4 kgm (102 Nm) at 2500 rpm; and the revolutionary 1.3 Multijet that delivers 70 bhp (51 kW) at 4000 rpm and torque of 14.8 kgm (145 Nm) at 1500 rpm. With the former, the Panda 4x4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 19 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 km/h. With the second generation turbodiesel, the same values are 16 seconds and 155 km/h.

The equipment on this particular version of the Panda includes Dualdrive electric power steering and an excellent braking system with 240 mm discs (ventilated at the front).

The Panda Abarth Rally with turbodiesel engine

The Panda Abarth Rally on show in Bologna is a study for a rally car powered by a turbodiesel engine, the latest in a long list of racing cars for emerging drivers.

Branded with Abarth's legendary scorpion trademark, the car's exclusive kit includes special spoilers at front and rear, and sideskirts. The wheels adopt 7x16 rims, and additional wheelarch moulding, incorporated into the front spoiler and sideskirts, is necessary to fit them. Inside, the car has a cage roll-bar in steel and chrome-molybdenum alloy (complying with FIA regulations for 2005) and the usual accessories adopted on racing versions.

An assertive car, and not only for its looks, but also its performance, thanks to the brilliant 1.3 Multijet 16v engine which develops an amazing 102 bhp at 4200 rpm. The engine power has been boosted by the addition of a slightly larger, variable geometry turbo, a racing exhaust complete with catalytic converter, and modifications to the mapping of the standard ECU. The revolutionary 102 bhp 1.3 Multijet engine is combined with a new 5-speed gearbox derived from the one on the Punto JTD. This device has been modified for the higher torque and can also accommodate a self-locking differential with viscous joint.

Where the suspension is concerned, the car adopts the system used on other Abarth rally versions: racing trim, Bilstein oil-air dampers, and Eilbach double springs that can be adjusted for the height and camber. The Fiat Abarth Rally has been prepared by NTechnology, the company responsible for all the Fiat Group's racing cars.

An entertaining, extrovert SUV

After its successful world preview at the 60th Frankfurt Motor Show, the Fiat Panda SUV now travels to Bologna. This extrovert 'off-road' vehicle is derived from the Simba, the concept car that aroused so much curiosity at the 26th Bologna Motor Show. So this is a significant event, the protagonist of which is a model whose very styling speaks of travel and adventure. But it is just as ready to take on our everyday traffic. It is a revolutionary SUV for its original design and versatility, a car that opens up new horizons in the mini segment. As a matter of fact it is the first European 'Sport Utility Vehicle' that is small in size but still capable of combining off-road features with the comfort and performance of a conventional car. In other words, it is the best possible expression of the Panda's great versatility, an SUV that will surprise even the most blasé of young drivers.

Offered with five doors, the model is 359 centimetres long, 160 cm wide and 163 cm high. It has a wheelbase of 230 cm, and overhangs of 743 mm at the front and 546 mm at the rear; the track is 137 cm at the front, and 136 cm at the rear. The car has particularly clean lines and a two-tone body, as well as the equipment typical of an SUV: large round headlights and aluminium protective elements for the chassis and engine.

This 'all-terrain' look is highlighted by the generous 185/65 R15 wheels and a ground clearance of 170 millimetres. There is no difficulty that the New Panda SUV cannot tackle, drawing on the permanent four-wheel drive system (4x4 with a viscous joint and two differentials) which allows the car to negotiate a maximum gradient of over 50%.

There will be a choice of two engines on this particular version: the 60 bhp 1.2 and the 70 bhp 1.3 Multijet. The former takes the car to a top speed of 145 km/h and accelerates 0 to 100 km/h in 22 seconds. The performance of the revolutionary 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet engine, the smallest and most advanced second generation common rail diesel, is also excellent. The new model has a top speed of over 155 km/h, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 16 seconds. The Panda SUV is the only small off-road vehicle powered by a diesel engine with a capacity of less than 1900 cc.

'Car of the Year 2004'

It was elected by the international jury of the 'Car of the Year' Award, composed of 58 trade journalists, representing 22 European countries. With 281 votes the Fiat Panda came in first, ahead of the Mazda3 (241), the Volkswagen Golf (241), the Toyota Avensis (219), the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva (213), the BMW 5 series (144) and the Nissan Micra (111).

As well as being the overall winner of 'Car of the Year 2004', Fiat's supermini was also the car which received votes from the most members of the jury: 55 out of 58 of them included the Panda in their nominations, while 16 rated it top. And there is more. This is the first time a segment A model has won the most prestigious accolade in the car industry. An extraordinary record, that takes Fiat Auto's victories to five in the last ten editions: Fiat Punto in '95, Fiat Bravo/Brava in '96, Alfa 156 in '98, Alfa 147 in 2001 and Fiat Panda in 2004.

The 'Car of the Year' award ceremony, organised by the French magazine 'L'Automobile Magazine' this year, will take place in Paris on 19 January 2004.
The 'Car of the Year' award was launched in 1964. In order to be admitted, the new cars must have been marketed on at least five different European countries in the course of the year. Then the following parameters are assessed: design, comfort, safety, fuel economy, driveability, performance, practicality, respect for the environment and lastly price and value for money.

A shortlist is made from all the new models launched during the year, and seven finalists go forward to be judged. Each member of the jury has 25 points to award among the 7 cars, with a maximum of 10 points for the first choice.

'European Car 2004'

The Fiat Panda has won the 'European Car 2004' award. It was chosen by the members of UIGA, the Italian Union of Motoring Journalists, based in the Automobile Museum of Turin, during the UIGA Motor Day held on November 10 and 11, in Riccione.

The winner scored 543 points, ahead of the Citroen C2 (430), the Citroen Pluriel (379), the Lancia Ypsilon (308), the BMW 5 Series (296),the Nissan Micra (257), the Volvo XC 90 (175), the Jaguar new XJ (140), the Renault Scenic II (138), the Ford C-Max (130), the Audi A3 (113), the Opel Meriva (117), the Porsche Cayenne (107), the Mazda 2 (104), the Volkswagen Touran (46), the MG Rover Streetwise (60), the Toyota Avensis (57), the Renault Megane GrandTour (51), the Smart Roadster, the Suzuki Ignis (34), the Mercedes Class E Station Wagon (20) and the Seat Cordoba (10). There were 22 candidates.

UIGA created the 'European Car' title in 1987, and awards it to cars built and sold in Europe which provide the best mix for the purchaser in terms of technology, price and styling. It is the eighth time that a Fiat Auto car has won this prize; the previous winners were the Alfa 164 (1988), the Fiat Tipo (1989), the Fiat Cinquecento (1993), the Fiat Punto (1995), the Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), the Alfa Romeo 156 (1998) and the Alfa Romeo 166 (1999).

The prize will be officially presented to the new Fiat Panda in Turin next Spring, during the UIGA annual assembly when the union will celebrate its 50th anniversary.