Replacing a car with a 31-year long history is never an easy task. Especially if it has become one of Fiat's most successful city cars offering ample interior space and practicality for its size.
The first generation of the model introduced in 1980, was the first city car to offer a diesel engine (1986), four-wheel drive (1983) and one of the first electric variants (the Elettra in 1990), while the second generation Panda that was launched in 2003, managed to keep Fiat afloat and formed the base for the successful 500.
Now it's time for Fiat to lift the wraps on the third iteration of the Panda that will make its world premiere in Frankfurt. The “Nuova” (that’s Italian for new) Panda has grown in dimensions compared to its predecessor measuring 3,650 mm long (vs 3,538), 1,640 mm wide (vs 1,578) and 1,550 mm tall (vs 1,450).
Offered exclusively as a five-door model, the new Panda promises to offers more room for both passengers and their luggage.
On the outside, the new Panda looks like a much more modern and rounder version of the second-generation model infused with some touches from the 500 while at the same time, retaining some of the old model’s signature styling traits such as the large glass area and the vertically stacked rear lights.
The same stands true for the interior design, which is also instantly recognizable as belonging to a Panda thanks to the layout of the center console and the high-placed gear lever. The cubby hole in the passenger side of the original Panda makes a return, materials are of improved quality and practicality has been enhanced by the sliding (and of course, split and folding) rear seat as well as the folding passenger’s seat. Safety is taken care of four airbags and ABS as standard.
Under the skin, the new Panda may retain the McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension of the older model, but in the powertrain department there are many changes.
The Italian city car will launch with no less than six engines. The gasoline range includes two TwinAir 0.9-liter two-cylinder units in naturally aspirated and turbocharged formats with 65HP and 85HP respectively, and a 4-cylinder, 1.2-liter 69HP engine, while there's also 1.3-liter Multijet diesel with auto stop-start technology.
The other two engines are a petrol/methane version of the 0.9 liter turbocharged unit and a petrol/LPG version of the 1.2.
All powerplants will be available at launch with a five-speed manual gearbox, with a semiautomatic “Dualogic” becoming an option later. In 2012, an obstacle detection system that operates below 30 km/h (19mph) and can automatically apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t intervene will also become available.
The Nuova Panda will be available in three trim levels, 10 body colors and four different interiors, resulting in 600 possible different combinations. Production will commence in November at Fiat’s Naples factory.
Now it's time for Fiat to lift the wraps on the third iteration of the Panda that will make its world premiere in Frankfurt. The “Nuova” (that’s Italian for new) Panda has grown in dimensions compared to its predecessor measuring 3,650 mm long (vs 3,538), 1,640 mm wide (vs 1,578) and 1,550 mm tall (vs 1,450).
Offered exclusively as a five-door model, the new Panda promises to offers more room for both passengers and their luggage.
On the outside, the new Panda looks like a much more modern and rounder version of the second-generation model infused with some touches from the 500 while at the same time, retaining some of the old model’s signature styling traits such as the large glass area and the vertically stacked rear lights.
The same stands true for the interior design, which is also instantly recognizable as belonging to a Panda thanks to the layout of the center console and the high-placed gear lever. The cubby hole in the passenger side of the original Panda makes a return, materials are of improved quality and practicality has been enhanced by the sliding (and of course, split and folding) rear seat as well as the folding passenger’s seat. Safety is taken care of four airbags and ABS as standard.
Under the skin, the new Panda may retain the McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension of the older model, but in the powertrain department there are many changes.
The Italian city car will launch with no less than six engines. The gasoline range includes two TwinAir 0.9-liter two-cylinder units in naturally aspirated and turbocharged formats with 65HP and 85HP respectively, and a 4-cylinder, 1.2-liter 69HP engine, while there's also 1.3-liter Multijet diesel with auto stop-start technology.
The other two engines are a petrol/methane version of the 0.9 liter turbocharged unit and a petrol/LPG version of the 1.2.
All powerplants will be available at launch with a five-speed manual gearbox, with a semiautomatic “Dualogic” becoming an option later. In 2012, an obstacle detection system that operates below 30 km/h (19mph) and can automatically apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t intervene will also become available.
The Nuova Panda will be available in three trim levels, 10 body colors and four different interiors, resulting in 600 possible different combinations. Production will commence in November at Fiat’s Naples factory.
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