06.09.2003 THE PANDA WILL SPAWN ITS FIRST FUN VERSION WHEN THE SIMBA SUV IS UNVEILED IN FRANKFURT
The New Panda SUV has its world preview at the 60th Frankfurt International Motor Show. This original 'off-road' vehicle is derived from the Simba, the concept car that attracted so much attention at the 26th Motor Show in Bologna and the 73rd Geneva Motor Show. So it is a significant event, which comes just a few days after the presentation of the Fiat supermini itself in Lisbon.
The model's 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 short, the versatility of the Panda in its most limpid incarnation.
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 SUV, which takes on board both the many ways in which the customer has changed and the excellent prospects for growth.
Offered with five doors, the model is 359 cm 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 169 mm.
Performance is also excellent due to the revolutionary 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet engine, the smallest and most advanced second generation common rail diesel engine. In effect, the top speed of the new model exceeds 150 km/h and takes 15.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. And incidentally, the SUV Panda is the only example of a small off-roader equipped with a diesel engine smaller than 1900 cc.
In order to guarantee absolute control over the car in all conditions, the new SUV is fitted with ABS complete with EBD (electronic brake effort distribution) and ESP stability control. And when the driver changes down suddenly in poor grip conditions, the MSR system (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) kicks in, recovering drive torque and preventing skidding due to wheel lock. Still on the subject of safety, the braking system guarantees prompt, smooth braking and short stopping distances. The pedal has a short stroke which allows the 9" brake servo to be exploited in full. The brake discs have a diameter of 240 mm, and the front discs are ventilated.
Handling and visibility are superb, thanks to a turning circle of 9.8 metres (between kerbs), the gear lever positioned ergonomically at the centre of the facia, and a high driver's position compared to the ground, which means that he has excellent visibility and dominates the road. To these winning features we must add outstanding driving comfort, due in particular to the suspension system adopted. The independent front suspension adopts MacPherson struts with a roll-bar, while the independent rear suspension has trailing arms and is anchored to a subframe. It also incorporates a roll-bar. And finally, the car is fitted with Dualdrive electric power steering.
It is a car with a dual personality, which communicates youthfulness and good humour, as well as solidity and sturdiness. Born to be entertaining, but also to surprise the most blasé young drivers, the new SUV can be considered (and enjoyed) as a real off-road vehicle, which can tackle a rally in the desert or the dense vegetation of a jungle. Or as a friendly car with which to slip through the chaotic roads of a town centre and the gymkhanas of urban traffic. 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 51%.
And finally, for an off-road vehicle, there are three so-called 'ramp angles' angles to consider. The first is the 'approach' angle, which is the maximum front angle that an off-road vehicle can negotiate without touching the bodywork, while the second value is the 'departure angle', the maximum gradient negotiable in reverse, starting from a horizontal plane. The last is the 'camber angle', 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 28° (front), 47° (rear) and 21° (camber).
With these measurements and features this car is really unique. That is not all. The car, which will be on the market in late 2004, is the first novelty from the 'new Panda family', which is destined to grow in the coming years.
