December 14, 2011. Copyright 2011, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Curvier, chubbier new Fiat Panda faces competition from VW Up
By Neil Winton

LONDON, December 14, Graphic News:  Fiat's new Panda looks like a curvier and chubbier version of the old one and it has to be good because the competition is hotting up.

Fiat has dominated the small, city-car market for years, and currently has a market share of about 30 percent in Western Europe, roughly three times the level of its nearest competitors like GM Europe's Opel-Vauxhall-Chevrolet, and France's Peugeot-Citroen and Renault, which have shares of just over 10 percent. But Fiat, which now controls Chrysler of the U.S., will soon face a new and formidable competitor. When Fiat unveiled the new Panda at the Frankfurt Car Show in September, Germany's Volkswagen also showed off its new and weirdly named little Up. VW hasn't been a serious player in this sector before but it has invested heavily in the Up, and is also planning versions from its Skoda and SEAT subsidiaries, and possibly Audi too.

Milan-based IHS Automotive analyst Pierluigi Bellini doesn't think the Up will be too much of a threat.

"I've seen the Up and it doesn't impress me too much. Yes it will take something from Fiat but I don't think the leadership of Fiat (in the small car sector) will be under question," Bellini said.

There are two and four cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and a natural gas version is planned. This new Panda will be built in the former Alfa Romeo plant at Pomigliano, near Naples, Italy, moving from the Poland plant where the incredibly successful Fiat 500 and the former Panda were built.

Since the original Panda was launched in 1980, more than 6.5 million have been sold. This latest and third version provides more flexible space for five adults and is slightly longer and wider. The new Panda has more leg room in the back than the old one and now has a rear seat which slides to give either more passenger space or luggage capacity as required. The interior looks very trendy and is practical too, with 14 storage compartments. You can fold the front passenger seat to form a table. The designers have thinned-out the backrests to free up extra rear legroom too. There are LED daytime running lights fitted below the headlamp clusters, which have been raised to improve visibility and safety at night. Flared wheel-arches give a rugged feel, which will sit well on the planned 4x4 version.

The new Panda's engineering and components were developed for the so-called new Fiat Mini programme, and are also used for the Lancia Ypsilon. Engines include high-tech TwinAir 875cc two-cylinder petrol motors developing 65 and 85hp, and two four cylinders -- a petrol 69hp 1.2 litre and a 75hp, 1.3 litre diesel. There will be an 80hp turbocharged bi-fuel engine able to burn petrol or compressed natural gas which can achieve more than 80mpg (3.5 litres per 100km).

Expect prices to start at just over £8,000-€9,300 when it goes on sale across mainland Europe in January.
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Fiat Panda 1.2
Engine: 1.2 litre, 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 69hp @ 5,500
Torque: 102 Nm @ 3,000
Drive: front wheels
Gearbox: 5 speed manual
Acceleration: 0-62mph-100km/h: 14.2 seconds
Top speed: 101mph-162km/h
Fuel consumption: claimed combined: 54.3mpg-5.2L/km
C02: 120g/km
Emissions class: Euro V
Suspension: MacPherson/torsion beam
Length: 3,653mm
Width: 1,643mm
Height: 1,551mm
Wheel-base: 2,300mm
Weight: 940kg
Boot capacity: 225/870 litres
Price from £8,000-€9,300
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