27.08.2003  FIAT PANDA GEARS UP FOR FRANKFURT SHOW OFFICIAL DEBUT AS 4X4 VERSION IS CAUGHT TESTING

Appealing, easy to remember and sustained by the over twenty years of success of the model launched in 1980, the Panda name is part of Fiat's heritage. It is, therefore, a symbolic hand-over. September 5 marks the last day of production of the small car which in Italian motoring and social history has come to represent a unique new way of relating to the car, a way that is more immediate, more relaxed and easier. 

Over the years the name Panda has become a veritable brand name, full of emotional overtones, and one that motorists in Italy and the rest of Europe are still extremely fond of. Statistics say that in Italy almost 90% of the public recall the name, compared to less than 40% in the case of other well known cars on the market. 

The new supermini now takes up this baton, reviving not only the name Panda (which market research has shown to be particularly attractive to the public), but also the spirit of the car, with a modern interpretation of its values in terms of product and personality that have made the name Panda a real icon in the public imagination. In addition, Fiat Auto's decision to call its new car the Panda completely eliminates the concerns expressed by a competitor regarding a similarity between the name of one of its cars already on the market and 'Gingo', the name by which the new car was known during its previews.
 

Our aim: to focus on the perennial winning attributes of Fiat city cars. When it built its new supermini, Fiat was able to call on the great engineering and design heritage that it has built up over the years and the unique know-how of a company that has always led the European market in this segment. This unbroken success reveals how Fiat has always succeeded in the mini segment in terms of sheer numbers but also and above all by winning the trust of its customers: trust in the Fiat brand and in the experience of its designers. 

The new model's ambitions do not stop here. With the New Panda, Fiat is determined to take quality levels into a different league as far as comfort, safety, engineering and equipment are concerned. Its aim is to interpret its age-old supermini know-how in the light of changes undergone by the customers of this market band and the rosy prospects for future growth. 

Renewed interest in this type of car mirrors changes in the market. The mini segment is now a fast-changing universe that attracts customers who traditionally buy such cars but also motorists from other market bands. In this sector we must also consider a very diverse demand determined by different car applications (mainly around town but also over medium-long distances), different annual mileages and different personal requirements. All these customers share the fact that they choose a supermini as a response to certain needs. These are not restricted to a need for saving but also a need for a relationship with the car that must be entertaining and practical, relaxed and environmentally friendly, fun and economical. 

The latest addition to the Fiat family represents the state of the art in this particular category. It is the most advanced current response to people who want a car with compact exterior dimensions that is equipped with all the comforts that bigger cars have led us to expect; designed for low fuel consumption but no less of a lively performer; ideal in town traffic but still perfect over longer trips, always able to assure its occupants a relaxed drive. 

Its very ability to meet different needs, however conflicting, allows the New Panda to stand as a benchmark for those who experience the car in complete freedom and appreciate its everyday usefulness. Down-to-earth, smart customers who do not fall into the trap of following the latest fashion but instead prefer to achieve the right balance between new styling and true practicality. 

As far as such customers are concerned, the new model is a veritable mix of different car types. On the one hand, it offers all the roominess, flexibility and modularity of an MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle). On the other, the driver's seating level in relation to the ground is high and it has the all-terrain look of a small SUV. The New Panda also borrows from conventional saloons all the driving satisfaction and on-board wellbeing that can be assured by a host of devices and systems, some absolutely unique to the supermini spectrum. 

All in all, the New Panda sets new standards of comfort and practicality in this category. Yet it still offers appealing, original styling and an impish air that will raise an answering grin from anyone who is forced to tackle the heavy traffic, lack of space and frenetic pace of life typical of town centres. The New Panda is bound to arouse continual surprise for its ability to adapt to different situations and the needs of its driver. A model that offers four different motoring experiences that make the car unique in the motoring world: flexibility and practicality, style and character, technology and innovation, substance and quality. 

Firstly, the new model is a flexible and practical car. Its attributes of roominess and ergonomics, for example, set it at the top of its category while the extensive range offers everyone the version that best meets their needs. The New Panda is just the first member of a family that is destined to grow in time: the 4x4 version and the outgoing off-roader with a sporting bent, will be the next to follow it over the next few years.

Style and character. Evident from an original, dynamic shape that makes it look for all the world like a small SUV. Plus new design interiors that confirm the impression of great quality that the model conveys at first glance. An appealing car that may be customised with the wide array of accessories on offer. 
Technology and innovation are the key words that define the New Panda experience.

Hence the new car comes with engines that are lively performers but decidedly thrifty when it comes to fuel consumption (the results are among the best in the car's category) and represent an effective solution in and out of town. Pride of place goes to the 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet engine, the best automotive engineering can offer in the small turbodiesel field. These power units are combined with reliable, innovative gearboxes such as the Dualogic. The new Fiat city car is also one of the safest superminis in its category. The credit goes to the many sophisticated devices and systems adopted to ensure preventive, active and passive safety. Not to mention the fact that once you climb aboard, you discover the great pleasure of driving and travelling due above all to the automatic air conditioner and Skydome sunroof. 

Lastly, the New Panda is a car of substance and quality. It was created using robust design technology for which Fiat deployed its best resources and most sophisticated procedures. The result is a reliable, top-quality car that boasts exclusive equipment within the safety and comfort field. For example, the torsional stiffness of the bodyshell is among the best in its segment (70,500 daNm/rad) while the New Panda is the only car in its category to have 99% of its interior surface lined. And more. The new supermini has passed the toughest tests to ensure maximum protection of driver and passengers. 

All these features make the New Panda a fun pint-sized car that also represents fantastic value for money with its winning package of features, running costs and resale value. 

THE MODEL IN BRIEF

Innovative, appealing design and cutting-edge technology open to all. Clever solutions to make on-board life simpler and better. These qualities are encoded in Fiat's DNA and the New Panda flaunts them, together with its own emphatic personality and will for freedom. 

style

The clean lines, unfussy styling and particular attention to detail displayed by the new multipurpose supermini reflect the most up-to-date trends: these are the distinctive traits of the New Panda, a car that conveys an immediate sensation of freshness. The stylists have added a touch of personality to this small, youthful and informal car: i.e. the appearance of a solid, reassuring car that is much roomier than you would expect from a vehicle of this size. The mouldings and bars on certain versions even give the New Panda the appearance of a small city SUV. And this all-terrain look is reinforced by the driver's raised seating position in relation to the ground. 

The new supermini is about much more than this. It is a veritable mix of different car types. On the one hand, it offers all the roominess, flexibility and modularity of an MPV. On the other hand, the New Panda borrows the driving satisfaction and on-board wellbeing typical of saloons due to an array of devices and systems that is absolutely unique in the supermini world. 

This highly appealing car follows all the strong, successful market trends yet is still consistent with Fiat's history. The new small car is very compact but offers a surprising amount of interior room. Despite a length of 354 centimetres, width of 158 and height of 154, the New Panda can accommodate four to five people. It boasts one of the roomiest luggage compartments in its segment (206 litres that can be expanded to 236 due to a sliding rear seat) and one of the best overall passenger room coefficients in its segment. 

The interiors reflect the styling motifs apparent on the body (that comes in no fewer than ten bright, youthful colours). It all adds up to a roomy, functional and comfortable passenger compartment that could easily stand comparison with that of a medium-category car. The New Panda makes flexibility one of its strengths. One example is a splittable, sliding rear seat. And more. The car's handling and visibility are also category-beating. Examples include a gearshift in the centre of the facia in an optimum user-friendly position (this feature is absolutely new for the segment). The driver's seating position has also been raised in relation to the ground and these features make for greater visibility and mastery of the road. 

engines & gearboxes

The new model is ideal for the town but also capable of the dynamic features that easily allow it to tackle more demanding trips. This is partly because the three available engines assure good performance and decidedly frugal fuel consumption. All three power units also come with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the innovative Dualogic unit (with sequential, automatic operation) is available on the 1.2 8v engine. 

Firstly the tried and tested 54 bhp 1108 cc and our reliable 1.2 8v engine that delivers a maximum power output of 60 bhp. These petrol engines are also backed by the smallest, most advanced of the second-generation Common Rail direct injection diesels. The 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet. This is a veritable masterpiece of miniaturised technology: when clad with all its accessories, it weighs just 130 kg. Its size is small at less than 50 centimetres in length and 65 in height. The component layout has been designed to ensure it takes up the smallest possible space. Yet it guarantees the same advantages as bigger engines because it has not been reduced but miniaturised. 

The power unit has thus been planned to meet requirements of the greatest rationalism, efficiency and reliability and is the smallest Common Rail four-cylinder diesel on the market. The only power unit that can pack no fewer than six normal-sized components into a cylinder with a diameter of less than 70 mm, namely four valves, an injector and a glow plug. 

This compact, technologically sophisticated new engine also offers outstanding efficiency and is practically guaranteed for life. The 1.3 16v Multijet, is designed to last for 250,000 km, requires no servicing on its mechanical parts (even the obligatory 80,000 km fan belt change has been avoided), with oil change intervals increased from 20,000 to 30,000 km. 

And more. The 1.3 16v Multijet is environmentally friendly because it already meets Euro 4 emission limits not due to come into force until 2006. It is also one of the very few cars in the world that has been able to achieve this result without the need for a sophisticated exhaust post-treatment device such as a particulate trap. 

interior

The New Panda is a true supermini despite its five doors and solid-looking appearance more typical of a higher category. These petite exterior dimensions are a valuable quality in a car that undoubtedly numbers 'city car' among its uses. Yet the new car from Fiat Auto offers much more. For example, it boasts an overall passenger room coefficient of more than 68%, one of the best in the supermini category. Front passenger roominess is among the best in its segment with 1346 millimetres (shoulder room). 

The New Panda also offers all the properties of dynamism and comfort that allow it to tackle longer, more demanding routes in comfort: ease of driving, generous interior space, practical features, rational and well laid-out controls and fittings, acoustic comfort and an ultra-efficient climate control system. The suspension layout adopted also ensures great handling and driving comfort. The front system is a MacPherson configuration while the rear suspension features interconnected wheels (i.e. semi-independent) with a torsion beam. 

Not to mention the fact that the new model also offers devices exclusive within its category: a huge transparent electric Skydome sunroof, a Hi-Fi system with CD player and subwoofer, an automatic climate control system with pollen filter, a parking sensor and a Dualdrive electric power steering system. 

safety

The new model guarantees the safety of its occupants with a body designed to the most up-to-date criteria of impact resistance: rigid in the passenger compartment area to protect passengers and areas of high absorption capacity in exterior segments.

The New Panda is the first car in its category to offer up to 6 airbags: front airbags, sidebags and window bags (the two window bags are options in all cases). 
The following also come as standard: front seat-belts with pretensioner and load limiter, three-point rear seat-belts, energy absorbing steering wheel and seats that prevent the occupant from sliding out beneath the seat-belt in the case of impact (antisubmarining). The split rear seats also come with ISOFIX attachments for child seats. 

As far as active safety is concerned, the New Panda offers ABS as standard (even on the Dynamic specification) while ESP for driving stability control is an option (it is the only car in the category to offer it). This sophisticated device comes with ASR for traction control that acts on the brake and engine; MSR for modulating engine braking torque while shifting down through the gears; HBA to increase braking pressure automatically during emergency braking; and Hill Holder for hill starts without using the brake. 

range

All in all, a good-looking comfortable car. A fun car that can come in no fewer than eleven bright, youthful colours and offers extremely opulent standard equipment in all versions. In the major European markets, the New Panda is available in four specifications: Actual, Active, Dynamic and Emotion. Let's take a look how the new model's extensive range will be diversified at the launch, bearing in mind that the range varies from market to market to ensure each specification offers the equipment most in demand within each individual country. 

The Actual and Active versions also offer the following as standard: driver's airbag, tinted windows, heated rear window, rear wiper and twin door mirrors adjustable by hand from inside. In addition, the Active version fits integral wheel trims, adhesive liners on the door pillars and a passenger-side mirror. The Dynamic specification complements this equipment with: special trim, painted windows and grille, facia compartment, ABS, Dualdrive, central locking and twin front airbag. 

As an alternative, the Dynamic specification offers three packs with remote control and active handle on the tailgate, roof bars, black strips plus: radio CD player, steering wheel controls, hi-fi with subwoofer, foglight and electric mirrors (Hi-Fi pack); manual climate control system and courtesy mirror on the driver's side (CLASS pack); Skydome electric sunroof, foglight and courtesy mirror on the driver's side (SKY pack). 

The range is concluded by the Emotion version that offers as extras: dedicated cloth, alloy wheels, roof bars, black side strips, automatic climate control system, radio CD player, electric door mirrors, height-adjustable front seat, rear head-restraint, remote control and active handle on the tailgate. 

A van version is also available with a 1 m3 load compartment and a payload of 505 kg (including the driver). The New Panda Van also comes as standard with ABS, normal-sized spare wheel, partition, load compartment with special carpet, side windows and darkened rear window. 

All these many versions differ from one another in a few aesthetic details and also a different nature expressed by different functional content and technical solutions. In other words, a car that allows every customer to find his or her very own car even though it is mass produced. A dash of individual taste can also be added by choosing options and items from the long list available from the Accessory range. 

Panda family

The New Panda model allows a wealth of possibilities for producing new cars on the same base. The five door car that is making its appearance now is the forerunner of the Panda family, a range that is destined to grow over the next few years, while a 4x4 version and a small, sporty off-roader are in the pipeline.