Generally it takes a very long time to discover a appropriate successor. Household-owned firms know this, as do automobile producers. Simply consider the Ford Mannequin T (19 years till it was changed), the VW Beetle (36 years) and the Renault Twingo (14 years). Fiat additionally confronted this drawback and it took a minimum of 23 years to offer the Panda a worthy successor.
The unique Fiat Panda, designed by Giugiaro, continued to promote nicely into the Nineties, particularly in Italy, but it surely was fully outdated by way of security, so a successor was a prime precedence.
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Gingo as an alternative of Panda
Fiat managed to ‘climate’ the difficulty for a very long time with the five hundred and 600 to enrich the unique Panda. The brand new mannequin was supposed to exchange all of them. However, surprisingly sufficient, the Italian producer didn’t wish to name it Panda once more, as a result of it was too totally different from the automobile that appeared in 1980.
Lastly, the second technology, codenamed Mannequin 169, debuted in 2003 with none direct technical hyperlink to its predecessor. Till 31 July 2003, the automobile’s title was to be Fiat Gingo. Following a question from Renault, as a result of Gingo sounded too much like Twingo, Fiat lastly modified the title of its new metropolis automobile.
The second technology Panda changed the unique (Mannequin 141) after 23 years of manufacturing. Just like the smaller 600, the Panda was solely produced in Tychy (Poland) by Fiat Auto Poland.
Automotive of the 12 months 2004
The ‘New Panda’, with its tall physique, was impressed by MPVs, particularly the Fiat Multipla. Roberto Giolito, designer of the Multipla itself, was concerned within the challenge, however the primary work was accomplished by Giuliano Biasio at Bertone.
Automotive of the Yr 2004: Fiat Panda
The Panda, which all the time had 5 doorways, was 3.54 metres lengthy, 1.60 metres extensive and 1.58 metres excessive, with a wheelbase of two.30 metres and a weight beginning at 840 kilograms. This package deal was nicely acquired, and in 2004 the Panda received the European Automotive of the Yr award, forward of the Mazda3 and the Volkswagen Golf V.
From September 2005, all Pandas have been outfitted with ABS, EBD brake distribution and at the least one entrance airbag. The gearshift lever was positioned excessive as much as make altering gear extra comfy.
The preferred petrol engines have been the 1.1-litre with 53 bhp and the 1.2-litre with 59 bhp, later 68 bhp. On the diesel aspect, there was a 1.3-litre engine with two energy ranges, 68 bhp and 74 bhp respectively.
The pure gasoline (Pure Energy) and liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) variations of the Panda have been significantly in style in Italy. Nevertheless, the 1.2-litre 8V Pure Energy was not significantly quick: it took a minimum of 19 seconds to succeed in 62 mph (100 km/h) in pure gasoline mode, with a prime pace of solely 94 mph (152 km/h).
100 HP: the sporty Panda
However, the sportier Panda from 2006 onwards, referred to as 100 HP, was of a totally totally different calibre. Right here the title stated all of it, as beneath the bonnet roared a 1.4-litre 16V with 99 bhp. It was additionally fitted with a six-speed handbook gearbox. A duo enough to speed up from a standstill to 62 mph (100 km/h) in simply 9.5 seconds.
This sporty Panda was outfitted with brake discs on all wheels, tinted home windows and particular bumpers. The Panda 100 HP had a singular suspension with modified springs, shock absorbers and bushes for considerably firmer tuning.
Panda 4×4
After all, there additionally needed to be a Panda 4×4. The predecessor was ubiquitous within the Italian mountain areas. This model was launched in autumn 2004. It was recognisable, amongst different issues, by the transverse rear silencer and the marginally greater floor clearance.
A visually modified model of the 4×4, the Panda Cross, was launched in January 2006 and was solely accessible with the 1.3-litre Multijet 16V (68 bhp) diesel engine. Two factory-built Fiat Panda 4x4s have been ready for the 2007 Dakar Rally, which began in Lisbon.
The 2 Panda 4x4s, competing within the T2 class, the closest to manufacturing automobiles, have been pushed by Miki Biasion and former Dakar winner Bruno Saby respectively, and have been powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet turbodiesel engine mixed with a six-speed handbook gearbox. The engine produced 104 bhp and a most torque of 167 Nm.
Fiat Panda of the Dakar Rally
Other than their small dimensions, the 2 automobiles have been characterised above all by their automated all-wheel drive with viscous coupling and the restricted slip differential, which supplied extra grip on uneven and comfortable surfaces due to optimum traction distribution.
The 2 Panda automobiles that took half within the 2007 Dakar Rally have been specifically outfitted: house was created within the inside for equipment comparable to aluminium platforms to facilitate the extraction of the automobiles from comfortable sand, shovels, spare wheels, water reserves for the crew and different particular tools helpful for the occasion. Fiat’s expedition to the occasion included a Fiat Sedici and three Iveco vans to move spare components and technicians. Sadly, each have been withdrawn on the fourth stage of the race.
Particular fashions
After all, there was no scarcity of particular fashions. The Italian design firm Alessi created a particular version with two-tone paintwork and distinctive inside and exterior trim. Fiat gave away some Alessi merchandise (espresso maker and might opener) to mark the premiere of the particular mannequin on the Best House Present within the UK.
The Fiat Panda Jolly was designed by the Fiat Styling Centre and Stola, and was impressed by boat design. In the summertime of 2006 it was used as a particular bus in Capri. This automobile was based mostly on the 600 Multipla Jolly, a mannequin developed by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1956, which may very well be seen on the streets of Capri on the time.
The creator of the Panda Terramare was the Milanese Maurizio Zanisi, a former unbiased engineer at Iso Rivolta. His amphibious automobile was based mostly on a Panda 4×4 chassis, however outfitted with an inflatable flotation belt and a water jet propulsion system pushed by the rear axle. On 21 July 2006, the Terramare crossed the English Channel in simply over six hours.
The Panda Hydrogen, a prototype powered by a hydrogen gasoline cell, was a joint challenge of Fiat Auto, the Fiat Analysis Centre and Fiat Powertrain Analysis & Know-how, with the assist of the Italian Ministries of Analysis and Surroundings.
The battery was housed beneath the ground and consisted of a number of cells linked in collection. At full energy, the Panda Hydrogen produced 81 bhp, with which the automobile reached a prime pace of over 81 mph (130 km/h) and accelerated from 0 to 50 km/h in 5 seconds. The automobile was additionally capable of climb a 23% gradient with none issues.
Modifications and finish of manufacturing
In September 2005, a number of modifications have been made to the Panda, together with the addition of ABS and a passenger airbag as normal.
The Panda vary acquired minor updates in March 2007, together with a brand new darker colored dashboard. The Lively model additionally acquired a darker, greater high quality seat upholstery and was fitted with a CD participant as normal. In summer season 2007, the brand new Fiat badge in darkish crimson changed the spherical blue one.
The Panda vary was barely revised once more in 2009 and Lively Eco and Dynamic Eco fashions have been added. These fashions have been outfitted with revised 1.1 and 1.2 petrol engines designed to enhance gasoline consumption and cut back CO emissions.
On 4 July 2011, Fiat introduced that the two,000,000th Panda rolled off the manufacturing line in Tychy (Poland). The commemorative automobile was a Panda Cross in Rosso Sfrontato color, outfitted with the 1.3-litre 74 bhp Multijet four-cylinder diesel engine. Fiat didn’t specify the nation during which it was delivered.
The Panda Basic was a Fiat Panda II that was renamed and lowered in record worth to distinguish it from the brand new technology launched in late 2011. The engine vary included the 1.2-litre Fireplace petrol, 1.2-litre Fireplace EasyPower (petrol and LPG), 1.4-litre Fireplace Pure Energy (petrol and CNG) and 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. The 4×4 was provided with 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engines. The Panda Cross was discontinued. This Panda Basic was produced till 2012.
Precisely 2,168,491 models of the second technology Panda rolled off the manufacturing line in Poland. A great determine, particularly because the Panda has all the time been the chief within the small automobile class. However from 2007 onwards, an much more in style inside rival was created in Tychy: the Fiat 500. The Panda continues to be on sale in the present day in its third technology, however in summer season 2024 Fiat will introduce the fourth instalment, which will likely be an reasonably priced electrical automobile based mostly on the Centoventi idea automobile.
