The 2012 Panda has been completely renewed and comes with a larger body, fresh looks, improved versatility and a new range of engines.
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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).
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Despite the fact that Fiat's long awaited sport version of it's highly successful Panda hasn't been officially announced yet, the sporty Italian hatch seems to be for sale on a German site called "The buyer is asking 12.900 euros or about 16.500 USD (!) for a brand the new Panda Sport which wears a 101 Hp 1.4 16V engine. If you think that's alot, take in mind that according to the seller, the sporty Italian mini hatch's normal price is 14.200 euros or to make that in USD, 18.200. What a bargain…
According to Fiat, the Panda Sport accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,6 sec and it reaches a top speed of 185 km/h. Apart from the new 1.4 16v motor the Sport version differs from the basic Panda models thanks to an Abarth sport kit, new 15'' alloys and the redesigned front mask and bumpers. Having driven all the other versions of the Panda, I find this edition very interesting as the only basic con of the car was its lack of power. Just as long as Fiat doesn't raise up the price to high…
Thanks to a camera phone, these first pictures of Fiat’s new Panda Sport model leaked on the internet. The sporty Italian mini wears a tuned up version of Grande Punto’s 1.4 16v engine, now producing 100 Hp (from 95 Hp). According to the info-sticker on the window, the Panda Sport accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,6 sec while top speed is 185 km/h.
The Sport version differences itself from the basic models thanks to a Abarth sport kit, new 16’’ alloys and the redesigned front mask and bumpers. Officially, the Panda Sport will probably be unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show in September.
Tomorrow morning (Friday 21 July) -weather permitting, at around 8.30am, , a new breed of nautical Panda will be clambering into the sea at This Panda’s creator is
Panda Terramare 4 is no stranger to water, and it has already been spotted frolicking in the great Italian lakes, (
The Panda Hydrogen is a true hydrogen prototype with a sturdy, reliable drive system. Unlike other Fuel Cell prototypes 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) offers very high generating efficiencies. The system consists mainly of three fuel cells manufactured by Nuvera, 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 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 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 floor pan. 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 delivers 60 kW that allows 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.
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.
Following CEO Sergio Marchionne's comments at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (see here), Autonews Europe has uncovered new information regarding the Fiat Group's future product launches.
One of Fiat's most important models in Europe, the third generation Panda, was originally due in summer 2010 but its launch had already been pushed back to September 2011. Now, sources inside the company told the news site that the introduction of the small five-door hatchback will be further delayed until January 2012.
The third generation Lancia Ypsilon supermini has also been delayed more than two years, as have the replacements for the Fiat Idea / Lancia Musa small MPV twins and the Fiat Multipla 3+3 seater people carrier, which has been in production since 1998. The latter two launches were scheduled for December 2011 but have now been postponed until the second half of 2012.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne froze his company's spending in 2008 as the financial crisis hit Europe. Spending was set to return to normal this year, but has now been postponed indefinitely in light of what Marchionne perceives as an unimproved European new car market.
He now predicts a weaker Q1 2011 than Q1 2010, due to the ending of scrappage schemes in many European countries. The rest of 2011 is expected to be no better sale wise for Fiat, Marchionne predicts.
Analysts are predicting that Fiat's new car sales are likely to continue to decline without any new products; sales in Europe fell 13.9% to 723,356 vehicles in the first eight months of 2011 in a market that declined only 3.5%, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
Stuart Pearson, an auto analyst at Morgan Stanley in London, says: "Fiat is playing a dangerous game and by delaying key models risks missing any European Union recovery if they are wrong on the timing. Customers are only paying for brand new metal."
The report did not mention any plans on future Alfa Romeo cars.
By Tristan Hankins
Source: ANE [sub.req]
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