Fiat Panda Model Year 2007

The trump cards of a best seller

Two brand new products

      Panda 100 HP stands for power

      'Panda Panda': two energies, one movement

4x4 versions for the greatest freedom

Panda Alessi, an example of Italian style

Panda Rally for tomorrow's champions

A family of prototypes on a Panda base

 

The trump cards of a best seller

    The Panda is not merely a segment A supermini but an authentic platform on which Fiat is building an entire car family with the sort of engineering and attention to detail you would expect from a higher category car. Now it's the turn of the new MY 2007 range and two brand new products to extend the family: 'Panda Panda' and Panda 100 HP.

    First and foremost, the new range introduces four new body colours: Settimo Cielo Light blue (Surf Azure), Egocentrico Orange (Samba Orange), Magnetico Blue (New Orleans Blue) and Spumeggiante Beige (Cumbia Beige). As far as the Panda is concerned, colour is not just a matter of superficial looks but an integral part of a product philosophy based on personality, flair and style. No changes have been made to the model's original, dynamic shape - which almost amounts to a small SUV - so much appreciated by customers throughout the world. The Panda Model Year 2007 complements these lines with a stylish dark grey facia and new interiors featuring brand new colours and fabrics: all this authenticates the impression of great quality that the model conveys at first glance.

    The Panda Model Year 2007 is a personality-packed car, substantial and good looking with attributes and values that are encoded in Fiat's DNA. The credit goes to a design that has generated a car of compact external dimensions gifted with the level of comfort we now expect from larger cars. Designed to be thrifty with fuel but no less lively for that. Ideal in city traffic but at the same time eager to tackle longer journeys, with the guarantee of a relaxing drive for passengers at all times. All these features make the Panda Model Year 2007 a fun pint-sized car that also represents fantastic value for money with its winning package of features, low running costs and high resale value. Other pluses include state-of-the-art features and sophisticated hi-tech solutions. The Panda is also responsible for introducing a host of devices that have never previously been seen in this market band: for example, this car is the first in its segment to introduce the groundbreaking 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet, a robotised sequential manual gearbox (Dualogic), the sophisticated ESP system, the DPF device and an innovative permanent four wheel drive system with two differentials and a viscous coupling. The Panda family puts an end to the age of faceless mass production as far as superminis are concerned.

    Innovative design, cutting-edge technology accessible to all and clever solutions to make life simpler and better. These are the winning features of this model. Since it was first introduced on the market, the model has risen rapidly up the league table in segment A to reach first place in the Italian and European top ten rankings. And more. Although destined mainly for European markets, the various Panda versions are also sold in countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan and the island of Martinique. In detail, since its launch, more than 650,000 units (front wheel drive and four wheel drive) have been registered in Europe, a result that makes this the biggest selling model in its market segment. If we consider the results for 2005 alone, the Fiat Panda achieved a 32% share of the supermini segment with sales of 200,000 in Europe (in Italy it exceeded 45% with approximately 130,000 units delivered). And more: in 2005, the European sales mix favoured the Dynamic specification (39.5% with 1.2 Fire engine and 11% with 1.3 Multijet engine), followed by the Active (22%) and the extremely well-appointed Emotion (9% in the petrol version and 5% in the diesel version). This shows that European customers tend to go for the top specifications since they appreciate the advantageous content/price ratio. The best-equipped 4x4 version (1.2 4x4 Climbing) accounts for nearly 13% of total model sales. And is also the biggest-selling off-road vehicle in Italy with sales of 75,000. The sales figures for 2006 confirm continuing customer interest for the Panda because the market share is virtually the same as the previous year. The excellent sales figures are also confirmed by the 18 awards received from the international motoring press, including the prestigious 'Car of The Year 2004' and 'Auto Europa 2004' awards.

    This public and critical success rewards, above all, the extraordinary ability of the Panda template to extend itself and generate new versions: the tiny 'ready for anything' 4x4, the funky Alessi version, the entertaining Panda Active and the well-appointed Panda Emotion - not to mention the Panda Cross and Panda Monster and the brand new 'Panda Panda' and Panda 100 HP and a host of concept cars created on the same base: the outgoing Panda Jolly and Panda Luxury, the cutting-edge Panda Hydrogen and the adventurous Panda Terramare. Young drivers are also able to race the Panda Rally in the Fiat Panda Rally Cup 2006, the second successful edition of the rally that will help launch them on a racing career.

A robust design for a top quality car

    A robust design that only ever had one aim: i.e. to create a vehicle that represents a true leap forward in the supermini category and makes Fiat its indisputable leader. To do this, Fiat deployed its best resources and poured maximum quality and reliability into the entire product development and construction process. It also developed a profitable co-operative relationship with its outside suppliers.

    These efforts resulted in innovative ideas that the Panda can take credit for introducing into this sector. Examples include the smaller number of dashboard components and the increased structural strength of the dashboard beam: this means fewer noises and squeaks and hence a much more silent passenger compartment interior. This new driving comfort is further enhanced by the body's torsional stiffness that also plays a leading role as far as safety is concerned. The result achieved by the Panda is 70,500 Nm/radiant: this outstanding result at the peak of its category helps determine the car's great stability and roadholding properties. The number of body weld spots is also 7% higher than on previous models to ensure the car is more compact and more durable.

    The Panda is created from a robust design that makes quality one of its strengths. Cutting edge reliability methods (FMEA, Robust Design) have been used throughout the design and industrialisation stage. Eighty vehicles also performed several road tests to cover a total of one million six hundred thousand kilometres. In the end, the huge amount of data collected and experience gained will increase Fiat Auto's know-how and act as a starting point for the introduction of new models.

    The car is assembled in Tychy in southern Poland. The plant is organised on integrated factory principles and adopts state-of-the-art technologies that assure the product the highest quality and safety standards. At the end of the car's life, all its component materials can be reused.

    Quality and reliability are about more than mere statistics. We also gain important impressions when we see and touch the passenger compartment of a car. When we observe the parts, make ourselves comfortable on the seats, hold the steering wheel and seek out the storage compartments, we can appreciate the pleasing feel of the environment and the quality of the trim and finish. All these sensations add up to 'perceived quality'.

    The overall impression comes from a blend of a thousand different aspects: these include the shape of items, their constituent materials, individual colours and colour matches and the tactile sensations they arouse. Stimuli that all play an equal part in determining overall perception. For this reason, long hours went into the design of each individual detail of the Fiat Panda. The result is a passenger compartment of quality and substance dominated by pale coloured trim to make the car look brighter. Everything is emphasised by darker-coloured controls and the harmonious design of each surface. The final perception is of great sophistication and elegance more typical of a higher segment car. For example, the facia is embossed to ensure a more even surface finish and increase the sensation of opulence. This has been achieved through a special laser technology that creates surface microroughness that alters the way light is refracted and makes the material more pleasurable to the touch. The New Panda is also the only car in its category with 99% of the interior metal covered by trim, just as you would expect of a higher segment car. The basic premise is clear: to ensure that everything you see and touch looks and feels good. This approach is confirmed in every part.

Two brand new products

     Two brand new products that received their world premier at the Paris International Motor Show, the Panda 100 HP and 'Panda Panda', extend the 2007 range to offer respectively greater sportiness and more attention to the environment.

 

Panda 100 HP stands for power

     The Panda continues to amaze by introducing a truly sporty version. Its very name, 'Panda 100 HP', tells you this is not just an exterior face-lift. The new car is fitted with a brand new 1.4 16v power unit that develops a power output of 100 bhp at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 131 Nm at 4250 rpm. When equipped with this engine, the Panda 100 HP reaches a top speed of 185 km/h accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 9.5 seconds and consumes 6.5 l/100 km over a combined cycle. This performance, attractive by any standards, will satisfy young customers who continually seek performance but wish to stand out from the crowd. On the outside, the Panda 100 HP therefore reveals itself to be a car with a true sporty vocation with chrome spoiler and exhaust pipes, special bumpers with a sporty grille and new 15" alloys. The same aggressive stamp is also evident in the passenger compartment, where customers will appreciate a leather steering wheel, new sporty interiors and a black facia with chrome details.

     The new Panda 100 HP complements the long list of equipment on the Emotion version, from which it is derived, with a foglight, rear disc brakes, special suspension, 195/45-15" tyres, leather steering wheel, 6-speed manual gearbox, split seats and special exterior add-on kit. Customers can use a Sport key on the facia to select the steering setting and accelerator response to enjoy the sporty drive to the full.

     The Panda 100 HP colour range is also made up of five colours: red, black, white, blue and grey (the last two are new).

     A special 'Pandemonio' pack available at the launch will also accentuate the sportiness of the new version with chrome side stickers (red if the body is white), red brake callipers, door mirrors and 15" alloys with silver treatment, sporty pedals and special interior mats.

 

The Panda 100 HP TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

(*) = Option      185/55 R14 80T M+S can be fitted with chains

 

'Panda Panda': two energies, one movement

      Another car pursuing the environmentally friendly pathway that is a fundamental guiding philosophy in model development is the 'Panda Panda', due to go on sale next January. The Fiat Group's commitment to the environment observes two guiding principles:

     * improve the eco-compatibility of conventional engines;

     * put resources into the development of alternative drive systems.

     In its ongoing quest for innovative solutions, Fiat considers that methane power units are now the most appropriate and available technological option for overcoming the problem of pollution in urban areas.

     Fiat has been world leader in the field of alternative petrol/methane power units for more than 10 years and is now the first manufacturer to offer a 'Natural Power' environmentally friendly line with an extensive range of green vehicles.

     Smart, practical, fun and environmentally sound: these are the distinctive features of 'Panda Panda' the new minimum environmental impact vehicle equipped with a 1.2 8v engine with dual petrol/methane fuel system.

     This original Natural Power sets out to become the new benchmark in the sustainable urban mobility vehicle scenario. The 'Panda Panda' is even more innovative because it overcomes the compromises typical of methane cars. The floorpan, derived from the 4x4 version, incorporates two separate methane tanks, each with a capacity of 72 litres. The two tanks fitted in this way allow the same amount of room as on the original car for both passenger and luggage (approximately 200 litres with the rear seats upright). The position chosen for the two tanks beneath the floorpan is the best in the safety field.

     The 72-litre capacity allows an unexpectedly superior mileage range that is about 300 kilometres when only methane is used. The fuel tank capacity remains unchanged compared to the petrol version (30 litres) thus ensuring peace of mind even where methane suppliers are thin on the ground.

     The 'Panda Panda' confirms Fiat's leadership in the methane sector and its continuous quest to find solutions that reconcile customer needs with the greatest respect for the environment. Methane vehicles reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 23% compared to the equivalent petrol vehicles and reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions to practically zero. Emissions when the car is driven in methane mode amount to 114g of CO₂ /Km compared to 146g of CO₂ /Km in petrol mode (combined cycle).

      The 'Panda Panda' will also be available with a Dynamic specification for a car packed with creature comforts that may be customised on the basis of individual requirements. The new Panda version is also ideal for small company fleets since it can be driven around freely in any city centre.

      Altogether, the 'Panda Panda' represents a natural balance between driving satisfaction, respect for the environment, high range and low fuel consumption. Dual energy taking you in one direction.

4x4 versions for the greatest freedom

     A consummate off-roader, able to get you out of a tight spot when the going gets tough. But also a nimble vehicle that can easily weave in and out of city traffic. This, in brief, describes the twin soul of the Panda 4x4, a car that aims to surprise the most world-weary youngster and has sold 75,000 since its launch: it is the biggest-selling off-road car in Italy.

     Now the range is made up of the Panda 4x4 (a quintessentially practical application of the vehicle), the Panda 4x4 Climbing (the small and elegant off-roader able to tackle any situation with an extra touch of interior and exterior sophistication) - and lastly the Panda Cross that brings to the Panda 4x4 range a touch of sportiness and stylistic elegance that make it fashionable enough to appeal to a young, go-ahead audience.

Panda 4x4 and Panda 4x4 Climbing

     The new model is available with a lively, tried and tested 60 bhp 1.2 engine (44 kW) and the ground-breaking 70 bhp 1.3 multijet engine; two specifications (Panda 4x4 and Panda 4x4 Climbing), two interior specifications and ten body colours. On one hand, the Panda 4x4 Climbing presents itself as a small, stylish off-roader able to tackle any situation with an extra touch of sophistication inside and out, an ideal car for extroverts on the move. On the other hand, the range also offers a second specification (Panda 4x4) that does not feature the stylish exterior features of the Climbing but is altogether a more practical down-to-earth vehicle. Attributes include an extraordinary ability to perform on off-road routes, a viscous coupling drive system and high grip tyres.

     Both specifications share small dimensions (e.g. the Climbing version is 357 cm long, 160 cm wide and 163 cm high) and great handling in addition to greater height than the conventional model: the extra five centimetres make all the difference by increasing the already outstanding visibility and allowing great mastery of the road, even over difficult routes. The turning circle is just 9.6 metres.

     Not to mention the fact that the authentic off-road look makes for a minimum ground clearance (standard A) of 165 millimetres for the Panda 4x4 Climbing (160 mm for the basic version). This impression is reinforced by certain exterior features that also perform a specific off-road function: for example, the bumpers (front and rear) come complete with protective shields while the side strips are large and coordinate with special strips on the wings plus a guard under the engine. Two different tyres are available: the Climbing version comes with 185/65-14 (M+S) tyres suitable for any type of application; the first specification, on the other hand, adopts 165/70-14 (M+S) tyres that are specially reinforced with a tread designed for low grip surfaces.

     Inside, the Panda 4x4 offers a distinctive, sophisticated interior that benefits from special fabric trims offered in two colour matches: grey/black and grey/beige. The new 4x4 version also retains the big luggage capacity that has always been one of the strengths of this model. With the one-piece or split rear seat folded down, the space increases from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 855 dm³ (measured to the roof). If the rear seat is split and also slides, the figures are 230 dm³ (with the seat fully forward) and 780 dm³ respectively. The Panda 4x4 is a car of huge personality that will be able to satisfy customers with different needs and tastes, including the growing number of drivers who seek adventure and an open-air life. The new version offers such customers a permanent four wheel drive system with a viscous coupling and two differentials that come into play automatically when required to tackle any situation with ease. An inveterate explorer that is most at home on unsurfaced, difficult roads, as we can see from its standard A ramp angles, particularly the approach angle that measures the maximum front angle that can be negotiated by an off-road vehicle without the body touching the road. The second value is the departure angle, i.e. the maximum slope that can be climbed in reverse starting from a horizontal surface. The last one is the ramp angle, i.e. the maximum possible angle at the base of a triangular ramp (isosceles) that can be negotiated up without the bottom of the car touching the ground. The Climbing specification of the new model records the following values: 24° (front), 42° (rear) and 24° (ramp), that become 26°, 44° and 23° respectively for the Panda 4x4 specification. The maximum climbable gradient is more than 50%.

     The 4x4 supermini boasts excellent driving comfort due to the tried and tested suspension layout with its specific settings. At the front, the suspension is independent, MacPherson type with lower wishbones linked to a subframe and an anti-roll bar connected to the shock absorber. The rear suspension is also independent with longitudinal tie rods connected to a specific chassis with anti-roll bar.

     As already mentioned, the cars available are the tried and tested 1.2 that develops a maximum power of 60 bhp (44 kW) at 5000 rpm and a torque of 10.4 kgm (102 Nm) at 2500 rpm and the 70 bhp 1.3 Multijet (51 kW) at 4000 rpm and torque of 14.8 kgm (145 Nm) at 1500 rpm. When equipped with the first power unit, the Panda 4x4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 20 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 km/h (when equipped with a second-generation turbodiesel engine, the figures are 16 seconds and 155 km/h respectively).

     It should be pointed out that, after being the first to introduce engines with Multijet technology to the mini sector, Fiat was also the first to make this engineering heritage available to 4x4 minis. The equipment package on this specific version is complemented by a Nav Plus infotelematic system, headlight washers and a Dualdrive electric power steering system (the latter is standard over the range). The new car is also unequalled when it comes to safety. Beginning with its outstanding braking system: on versions equipped with the 1.2 Fire power unit, all wheels are fitted with 240 mm diameter discs (the front ones are ventilated) that rise to 257 mm on Multijet versions. The Panda 4x4 offers as standard ABS with EBD complete with an antislip function during deceleration (MSR).

     The Panda 4x4 and Panda 4x4 Climbing are unique in their segment for offering an electronic differential lock with the LD (Locking Differential) function.

Panda Cross: unique style combining sportiness and elegance

     The Panda Cross, available only with a 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet engine, conveys an immediate impression of freshness and fun, backed by solidity and sturdiness. It also guarantees driving satisfaction and a will to live life to the full and satisfy a desire to travel in complete freedom. The new version features styling similar to that of larger off-road cars but with all the benefits that only a mini can offer.

     The Panda Cross therefore combines elegant features with sporty traits to create a product with a strong aesthetic personality: roof bars, chunky side strips, big headlights and wide bumpers. The new vehicle is also outstanding for an off-road performance typical of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). The car can overcome any difficulty with its small size and four wheel drive (4x4 system with viscous coupling) and its locking differential (a feature more typical of higher segments that ensures the optimum division of drive torque to the wheels with the best grip on the ground). Apart from all this, it is small enough to go anywhere you want: the car measures 358 cm long, 161 cm wide, 164 cm tall with a wheelbase of 230 cm.

     Inside, the Panda Cross offers a distinctive, sophisticated interior that benefits from special fabric trims in three 'b-colore' colour schemes: sand/black, sand/green and orange/black. The new 4x4 version also retains the big luggage capacity that has always been one of the strengths of this model. With the one-piece or split rear seat folded down, the space increases from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 855 dm³ (measured to the roof). If the rear seat is split and also slides, the figures are 230 dm³ (with the seat fully forward) and 780 dm³ respectively.

     The suspension layout adopted on the Panda Cross 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. The Panda Cross is fitted as standard with 15" alloys and 175/65R15 tyres, again to achieve a better balance between handling and comfort.

     Apart from driving satisfaction, a Fiat must also offer on-board well-being. And that means surrounding the driver and passenger with technologies that ensure the very highest comfort standards. Hence the need to make the interior environment into a cosseting, enveloping living area: the Panda Cross therefore offers as standard a remote control unit, Dualdrive electric steering, electric mirrors, leather steering wheel, passenger seat with a pouch on the seat back and a compartment under the seat, electric windows, height-adjustable driver's seat and adjustable steering wheel. Not to mention the fact that the new version offers features that are absolutely unique for this segment, e.g. the revolutionary 70 bhp 1.3 Multijet engine and an electronic differential lock with Locking Differential function. A long list of options and accessories is also available to express the taste and personality of any customer to the full: for example, you could choose to equip your car with the sophisticated infotelematic system CONNECT Nav Plus, an automatic climate control system and a Sky Dome electric sunroof.

     The new version offers an outstanding braking system that guarantees prompt, progressive braking and short stopping distances. The ventilated front discs measure 257x22 mm while the solid rear discs measure 240x11 mm. The Panda Cross offers as standard ABS with EBD complete with an antislip function during deceleration (MSR). As far as passive safety is concerned, the Cross version is equipped with a double airbag at the front and rear head-restraints. Foglights and a headlight washing system are also available for a higher level of preventive safety to meet off-road driving needs.

     A Panda Cross equipped with the 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet unit combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 18 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 km/h. The outstanding torque, even at low speeds, and good fuel economy (5.3 l per 100 km over a combined route) ensure an outstanding performance fuel consumption ratio.

The exclusive Panda Monster

     The Panda Monster, derived from the 4x4 version and aimed at young and exclusive customers, is the outcome of a joint venture between two companies that are bywords for Italian flair and Italian automotive experience on an international stage: Fiat and Ducati. This Special Series is available in a limited, numbered edition (695 vehicles) that features a design inspired by the new Ducati Monster 695 motorbike that had its world premiere in February at the Paris Motor Show.

     The special version is equipped with the lively 70 bhp 1.3 Multijet engine and a host of creature comforts: including an automatic climate control system, a Bluetooth handsfree system, radio with CD and MP3 file player. Outside, the new feature reflects all the brawn of the Ducati Monster, with its distinctive black livery and other black painted styling features: side strips, mouldings, roof bars, air intakes - and also the headlight and tail-light frames. The rear windows, rear screen and the quarterlight are also dark. The grille and bumper shield are metal coloured while the mean-looking alloys offer a glimpse of gold-painted brake callipers beneath. The same sporty look is evident inside the car, where the upholstery is in black leather and Alcantara Starlight.

     Altogether, the Panda Monster is a quintessential expression of the best Italian design. So much so that Fiat decided to change its traditional marketing approach, as you can see from the websites www.pandamonster.fiat.it and www.pandamonster.fiat.com <http://www.pandamonster.fiat.com>, where customers can see a photo gallery, find out about the vehicle's technical specifications and view the car inside, courtesy of film clips and animations. Interested potential customers may then book a visit with their nearest dealership by filling in a form to request more information. Interested customers are then contacted by the dealer and can then visit a showroom to find out about the new car in detail and learn the on-the-road price (the negotiations are confidential).

Permanent four wheel drive

     To meet the needs of customers with different needs and tastes, including the growing numbers of customers who love adventure and an open-air life, all Panda 4x4 cars are fitted with a permanent four wheel drive system with two differentials and a viscous coupling. With this system, the four wheel drive is engaged automatically (i.e. without requiring any engagement by the driver) and allows outstanding drive torque distribution over the front and rear axle according to the road surface and vehicle application requirements. For example, on asphalt roads with normal grip, 98% of drive torque is directed to the front wheels so that the car can behave in a similar way to a front wheel drive vehicle with equally satisfying handling. It also provides excessive fuel and tyre consumption due to small differences in rotating speed between the front and rear wheels.

     If the road surface becomes slippery - and grip is reduced - the front drive wheels tend to skid but the viscous coupling immediately corrects this tendency by stiffening and progressively transmitting a rising drive torque percentage to the rear end to cancel out the skid. This torque transfer is not perceptible to the driver except as an outstanding ability to get out of trouble, e.g. on snow-covered, icy or muddy surfaces.

     The Fiat Panda 4x4 is also equipped with an antislip system that operates during deceleration by exploiting the potential of the ABS system (i.e. making use of the sensors that record wheel rpm) and the electronic engine control system to prevent the engine braking torque and the viscous coupling from causing the rear end to lock during sudden decelerations on downhill slopes or on bends. Together with the four wheel drive system, this system ensures great driving safety over slippery surfaces. For the first time in the Panda 4x4 range, this vehicle is fitted as standard with an electronic differential lock with LD (Locking Differential) function that acts at speeds below 30 km/h to brake slipping wheels and transfer torque to the other wheels on the same axis: on take-off, for example, and over snowy, icy or muddy roads - and on all occasions when the wheels do not grip to the same extent.

     Lastly, the Panda 4x4 drive system makes full use of the viscous coupling that forms an integral part of the rear differential unit. The advantage of this configuration is that the drive system is engaged in a relatively immediate, automatic fashion to offer traction and effort when difficult road surface conditions make this necessary. Now it is time to take a closer look at the way a viscous coupling works. The devices contain a set of perforated or slightly finned discs submerged in a viscous fluid with very specific properties: as the temperature rises, fluid viscosity increases. When the two driven axles slip, they stir up this fluid and cause its temperature to increase. As soon as the temperature rises, the fluid becomes more viscous and tends to drag the discs together and transmit drive torque to the rear axle. This is a striking, clever piece of engineering because the oil acts as a sensor, i.e. it detects the presence of slip between the axles by its temperature - and also as an actuator because it tends to counteract the slipping effect by increasing its viscosity.

 

Panda Alessi, an example of Italian style

     This new Panda version, derived from a concept car that made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, is now a production model that was created through a joint venture between two brands that are world-renowned for their contribution to the development of Italian industrial design. Fiat and Alessi have created a highly personal formal language that makes their product easily distinguishable amongst the herd of mass-produced products. In this sense, the Panda Alessi is a specific example of how the look of an automotive product can be reworked by a company from outside the sector, drawing on the perennial values of Italian design: innovation, style and personality. The new Fiat Panda version shows how the stylistic interaction between two important sectors of industry can produce surprising results of great impact, when the design work is carried out with total respect for product identity.

     The innovative, unmistakable Panda Alessi retains the great personality of the standard model but adds a number of new styling and colour details on the front grille, the door mouldings and the wheelarch trims. The hub caps and rear aerial have also been redesigned. In detail, the Panda Alessi is identifiable by its original hub caps that feature an exclusive design with Alessi's distinctive little man figure, roof bars and white side strips plus a choice of three body colours: Narciso orange, Tagliente green and Cattivo black. The restyling operation inside the car is more evident: the instrument gauge graphics and the seat fabric and colour (available in orange or green) have also been modified. The fully redesigned tunnel console incorporates an original, round storage compartment (ideal as a CD holder) and a silicone mobile phone holder. The climate control system surround and the gearbox shield are also metallic coloured. Alessi, one of the most famous Italian design brands, has skilfully highlighted the versatility of the car without changing its identity.

     The new Alessi version is available with the reliable 1242 cc power unit that is a paragon of thriftiness when it comes to fuel consumption without detracting from performance - and offers the following standard equipment: ABS, Dualdrive electric power steering, central locking, double front airbag, foglights and rear head-restraints. And more: climate control system, radio CD, electric door mirrors, height-adjustable driver's seat, rear seat split 50/50, remote control and active handle on the tailgate. The Panda Alessi is also the first version in the range to offer as standard a Bluetooth handsfree system that ensures the greatest driving safety under all conditions. The system allows customers with Bluetooth mobile phones to use their phones even when in their jacket pockets or handbags. This system automatically lowers the volume of the radio (if turned on) and allows you to hear the person you are speaking to through the stereo speakers: a great safety benefit as well.

 

Panda Rally for tomorrow's champions

     After the resounding success of the first edition, the Fiat Panda Rally Cup 2006 is sticking to the appealing formula that was particularly popular with young drivers. In 2005, the first three places in the final rankings were taken by under-25 drivers who fought over the title to the bitter end. After the 10 races, the winner of the first Fiat Panda Rally Cup was Gianni Barbati from Emilia Romagna with five wins, followed by Diego Fornaciari from Tuscany (3 wins) and Ivan Paire from Piedmont (1 first place).

     The Fiat Panda Rally Cup 2006 includes 10 races with the major new attraction that the final race will be held abroad. Cars allowed to race in the Championship include the Group A Kit version of the Fiat Panda 1.2, prepared and managed by Supergara, which will allocate cars to the drivers by means of a ballot before the technical racing trials. This solution was tested last season and ensured that the performance of each team entered was absolutely identical. The motto 'may the best man win' could have been invented for the Fiat Panda Rally Cup.

     When this agile car is prepared to Group A Kit specifications, it can deliver a mighty power output of 130 bhp at 7800 rpm. This can be exploited to the full by six speeds with frontal engagement, a wide track (60 mm broader), special attitude setting and braking system with four disc brakes (ventilated at the front with diameter of 284 mm and 240 mm at the rear). The performance may have been increased, but the safety factor has not been forgotten and the car can count on the efficacy of a sturdy body reinforced by a roll bar cage.

     As an incentive for young people to begin their racing career in the Fiat Panda Rally Cup, a prize money pot of 365,500 Euros has been set aside, plus a Fiat Panda Abarth Kit Car for the overall winner, two Fiat Panda 4x4 Multijet cars for the overall runner-up and the first Under 25, and two Fiat Panda Multijet cars for the third placed overall and the second Under 25. Special women driver and Team rankings complete the Overall and Under 25 rankings.

A family of prototypes on a Panda base

     The model's incredible flexibility has stimulated the creative imagination of designers and stylists who have produced a host of prototypes and show cars on a Panda base, including the fun Jolly version, the extraordinary Terramare, the top-quality Luxury and the sophisticated Hydrogen. These are the best demonstration of the great personality of a car that lends itself to conversion, always with the greatest respect for the Panda spirit.

The Panda Jolly took to the roads of Capri this summer

     A very special Fiat could be seen on the narrow streets of the enchanting Island of Capri this summer. It was the Panda Jolly, a unique car designed by the Fiat Style Centre and produced by Stola, part of the RGZ group, a leading manufacturer of show cars and style prototypes.

     The Panda Jolly was used for an exclusive courtesy service: VIP tourists arriving on Capri were whisked off to their destinations in the original car. The island of Capri, nestling between sea and sky in the Gulf of Naples has been renowned for centuries as a top-class tourist destination and for the Italian sunshine that makes it the ideal setting for the new Fiat car.

     Fresh, light, chic and very Mediterranean in its colours and materials, the Panda Jolly takes its inspiration from the world of sailing and interior design, with deliberate references to the shapes and spirit of the 1960s. It borrows traits from the 600 Multipla Jolly vehicles that were converted by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1956 - and drove along the roads of Capri half a century ago, maintaining the winning features of the standard production model with a few changes to the wings and a false radiator grille.

     The Panda Jolly has a blue body and gleams in the sunlight due to a shape-emphasising metallic finish. Its clean, spare lines are combined with opulent, top-quality materials that lend character to the interior design. The Panda Jolly conversion was created and produced exclusively for Fiat by Paola Lenti, a leading Italian interior design company that has led the field in the development and design of new fabrics for more than a decade.

     The seats and dashboard are a development of the Frame design - modular seats in satinised steel slats - trimmed with Rope, a material inspired by the masts of sailing boats. The combination of these two innovative products offers unique performance: the Rope cloth applied to the seats of the Panda Jolly is sophisticated and pleasing to the touch. Rope is also the outcome of a blend of technological and aesthetic research, making it non-allergic, non-toxic, antibacterial, immune to attack by external agents and highly resistant to UV light. The seat cushions, trimmed with pure cotton sponge, are designed to match the colour of the Rope fabric.

     The floor, floorpan, side mouldings, parcel rack and all the interior trim finish are in natural ash stained a sand colour with white ash inlay. These details are finely crafted as you would expect from the most exclusive Italian nautical products. The Panda Jolly is enhanced by satinised steel trim and extreme attention to every detail.

The Panda Terramare crossed the Channel

     The Panda Terramare is an experimental amphibious vehicle prototype designed and produced by Maurizio Zanisi, a Milanese engineer who bought and converted a Fiat Panda 4x4 independently. On 21 July this year, Zanisi and his Terramare marked the London Motor Show by crossing the Channel, starting from Folkestone in Kent and reaching the opposite shore at Cap Gris Nez in northern France after a trip lasting 6 hours and 15 minutes.

     At an initial superficial glance, the Panda Terramare is not dissimilar to its conventional counterpart. But Zanisi has made many changes: the doors are welded, the roof is open and the interior has been pared to the essential. An inflatable belt - that may be blown up in a few minutes with a compressor - girdles the car and a large support at the rear of the car holds up the hydro jet power unit.

     This is not the first time that Zanisi and his Panda Terramare have taken to the water. Previous outings include Lakes Como and Maggiore, the River Po, the Sardinian sea and the route from Naples to Capri. The 25 mile Channel crossing is the vehicle's most ambitious enterprise to date.

The opulent Panda Luxury starred in the Luxury Show

     The 'Luxury&Yachts' show held from 25 February to 4 March this year is an international event devoted to the world of luxury, geared towards the worlds of fashion, jewellery, art, furniture, timepieces and motor cars. The fourth edition of the Veronese show features a succession of exhibition cases that set the most exclusive products produced by the best Italian and foreign companies off to perfection. Fiat chose to mark the occasion with a Panda Luxury, a one-off car based on the 4x4 version.

     Outside, the gorgeous show car features dipped silver paintwork, precious metal trim and gleaming jewel-like mouldings with back-lit inset crystals. If possible, the interior is even more exclusive with dipped silver appointments, precious metal details, Jewel Alcantara upholstery and leather with mother of pearl finish. The Fiat logo is also worked on the seats with stylish studs and crystals.

     The Panda Luxury is a unique example of the finest Italian design from the Fiat Style Centre. It was produced in conjunction with three companies that specialise in the development and production of special conversions. In detail, Salt & Turinmodel customised some interior details, the upholstery with special leathers and Alcantara; Adm Painting created the special paints; Proint made available a wide range of special paints and special effects.

Panda Hydrogen: the future of hydrogen vehicles

     The Panda Hydrogen, a car prototype driven by a hydrogen Fuel Cell, was designed with the aim of safeguarding the environment, one of Fiat's basic priorities during the development of new models.

     The Panda Hydrogen, introduced last February, is a true prototype hydrogen car with a sturdy, reliable drive system. Most importantly, its vehicle performance and roominess are on a par with those offered by its conventional counterpart. It is the result of a joint venture between Fiat Auto, the Fiat Research Centre and Fiat Powertrain Research & Technology with the support of the Research and Environment Ministries. It was also developed in co-operation with top-quality component suppliers, almost all of them Italian.

     Unlike other Fuel Cell prototype cars introduced in the past, the Panda Hydrogen incorporates a full power system, i.e. it lacks a drive battery for the accumulation of electrical energy. The new Fuel Cell System (electrical power generator) is able to deliver all the power required by the electric engine to ensure great vehicle handling. This new generation Fuel Cell System offers very high generating efficiencies. The system consists mainly of three fuel cells manufactured by Nuvera (an Italo-American company and a leader in the fuel cell field), an innovative turbo-blower to supply the cells with air, a humidification and cooling system for correct management of reagent gases and a set of auxiliary components, all developed within the Fiat Group.

     On the Panda Hydrogen, the Fuel Cell System is housed beneath the floorpan. The fuel cells are made up of several cells connected in series. Inside, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules are forced to react with the aid of a catalyst to produce water and heat. Electrical energy is generated with very high efficiency and zero emissions from the vehicle itself.

     The electrical power generation system is supplied with hydrogen at a pressure of 1.5 bars and oxygen contained in the air. It produces electrical energy so efficiently that 60% is available at just 20% of maximum power. The Fuel Cell System installed on the Panda Hydrogen also features excellent performance at low temperatures and a relatively simple construction that makes it particularly suitable for the production of light, sturdy and reliable generators for use on vehicles.

     The alternating current three-phase asynchronous electric engine and the transmission are located in the engine compartment together with the various accessories required to operate the system as a whole.

     The hydrogen that feeds the Fuel Cell is contained at a pressure of 350 bars in a tank made out of composite material installed beneath the car's rear floorpan. All the distinguishing features of the New Panda passenger compartment are therefore maintained, including outstanding roominess for four people.

     At full power, the Fuel Cell engine on the Panda Hydrogen delivers 60 kW that allow the car to reach a top speed of more than 130 km/h, with acceleration from 0 to 50 km/h in 5 seconds. The car can also easily climb a gradient of 23% at take-off.

The hydrogen tank capacity guarantees the Panda Hydrogen a range of more than 200 km over an urban cycle. Refuelling time is very quick at less than 5 minutes, i.e. comparable to the time taken to refuel a methane car.

     The Panda Hydrogen is the latest outcome of a technological development line that has seen Fiat Group companies playing a leading role in the field of alternative minimum environmental impact power units.

     Though Fuel Cell propulsion systems will not be widely available before the end of the next decade, Fiat has already been active in their development and application for a number of years - as we saw in 2001 with the debut of the Seicento 'Elettra H₂ Fuel Cell, and then the Seicento Hydrogen. The Panda Hydrogen has now taken up the baton to take research from the laboratory prototype stage to that of a field research vehicle.

     2006 will see the beginning of the demonstration stage of small Panda Hydrogen fleets, as a forerunner to wide-ranging demonstration programmes promoted and supported by the European Union and by the Italian Ministries and Regions. The ultimate aim is for such vehicles to be marketed within 15 - 20 years.

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