11.09.2003 THE FIAT PANDA SUV HAS RECEIVED ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN FRANKFURT JOINING A STRONG LINE-UP OF THE NEW MODEL
The Fiat Panda has been officially presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Launched to the press last week in Lisbon, the Panda goes on sale immediately and Fiat are hoping for strong sales returns from their new small car which replaces the aged Seicento and original Panda. The display here in Frankfurt includes the 1.3 Multijet engined version, the first time Fiat have offered the engine bay for viewing, while one model is mounted on the stand wall offering an interesting 'kaleidoscope' effect.
Alongside the Panda, initially known as the Gingo, comes the first production version, a mini-SUV. Expected to be called the Simba when it rolls off the production lines in Poland early next year, it is based around the namesake concept first shown in Bologna last December, and again this year in Geneva and Barcelona. Leading the engine line-up of this four wheel drive three and a half metre long SUV which aims to recapture the style and ability of the original 1980's Panda 4x4 will be the new 1.3 Multijet, while next year the 1.9JTD will also become an option.
by Edd Ellison & James Granger in Frankfurt
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