Fiat Pandas

Forgive me for mentioning the 500 rather than the Panda, but Fiat is offering 10,000 cars developed in conjunction with fashion label Diesel - and they're only available online.

Buyers can configure the car the way they want it, pay a deposit, track its production, make a final payment and organise the best dealer from which to collect it. All via the website.

And that's after 200 Abarth 500s were available for pre-order by an online desposit, six months before it was released. It sold out three months ahead of schedule.

You can see the 500byDiesel here, and unsurprisingly, it's a 1.2 Diesel!

I just stumbled on a nice blog post discussing the old style Fiat Panda, and how it has remained popular for residents of hillside towns in Italy as it's one of the few cars that can fit in the narrow streets. You can read it for yourself at 2 Italy - We moved to Italy.

Meanwhile fans of the new version might like this modified example found via Flickr:

The image is by _najt, and it's used under a Creative Commons licence.

It's an update of the 4x4 model, with a new differential unit which allows the Panda to get grip, even if only one wheel can get traction.

It's down to a new viscous coupling and some clever electronics. It's also 11cm higher than the normal 4x4, and with chunkier tyres, making it perfect for rough terrain.

It's powered by the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine, and is an obvious contender for success in Fiat's homeland of Italy. - the downside is whether the type of English driver who might need proper off-road capability will be tempted by something which could fit inside the average SUV for £11995.

We might have already seen the next evolution of the Fiat Panda being tested, but that hasn't stopped a new special edition being launched in Italy.

The Fiat Panda 4x4 Glam has a pearl white finish, aluminium roof bars, and new 15 inch alloy wheels. The interior gets a denim-like covering on the seats and door panels, and the dash has aluminium trim. Very 'glam'!

You get the choice of the 60 horsepower 1.2 litre or 70 horsepower 1.3 litre engine for Italian prices of 14,800 Euros, or 16,910 Euros.

If you fancy trying your hand at racing a Fiat Panda, then you've now got the chance without leaving your computer.

A German made promotional game is available online, and it's simple enough to play without knowing the language.

So if you fancy a quick spin, try Panda Racer.

The Motor Authority site has got hold of sneak pictures of the Fiat Panda test mule - showing how the car will look when it arrives in late 2010, to go on sale for 2011.

They claim the car will have a much more rounded appearance than the current model, with either front or all wheel (4x4) versions, a new range of lightweight aluminium engines, and possibly an electric hybrid. It's expected Fiat will only offer the four door option.


See the Motor Authority story for more pictures.

Just found Novitec, as a source of parts for tuning and modifying your Fiat Panda - and they've got some great photos of their modified Pandas on the site. I'm not entirely convinced by the chrome bull bar on the front, but the other mods look pretty good - as does their work on the Fiat 100HP Panda.
If you're looking for the parts they have available, the English listing of Novitec modifying parts for the Fiat Panda is here. I'm rather taken by the wheels, and definitely tempted by the adjustable suspension, although at 859EUR, I might have to settle for the 109EUR lowering kit for the moment!

Just seen that Car Magazine in the UK is running a vote for 'The Greatest Car in Film History', with all the usual suspects - Bonda's DB5, the Back to the Future DeLorean etc.

Sadly no cinematic exploits starring the Panda have made it. But having had a look at the Internet Move Car Database, I've seen some interesting info.

For a start, Pandas make 103 appearances on film and TV as a standard new or old model, with a handful extra for the 4X4 and 100HP. You can see Pandas in Film and TV here. It turns out they quite often pop-up as the automotive equivalent of a TV extra - even being used as cover in Ronin, but not making it into the chase scene.

I guess they're just not as comical as a Citroen 2CV! And yet, looking at the statistics page, The Panda gets outshone by the Punto, the 1100, and the Uno.

I mean, the Uno? More of a film star? Really? I hoped the 100HP might redress the balance, but then the new 500 came along.

With a base model like the Panda, there are some really interesting and cool special editions in existance.

One that I can't find on the official site, and that launched before this blog began, was the Fiat Mamy limited-edition which went on sale in the UK earlier this year, based on the 1.2-litre Dynamic.

It's £8200, and has some female and family focused tweaks to the colours and features, with front seat covers, orange air vent surrounds, aubergine or orange paint, and Mamy logos. It's also got special carpet mats with a high grip mat in the back, and the great idea of a second internal rear-view mirror for keeping tabs on the back seats.

But it also comes with £1000+ of valuable freebies. Air-con, Bluetooth hands-free, a 50/50 split and sliding rear seat with Isofix (for baby seats) attachments, a height adjustable driver seat, a radio/CD/MP3 player, ABS anti-lock brakes, two front airbags and remote central locking as standard.

As a Panda-owning father, I'd say the split and sliding rear seat, the Isofix attachments, and the second internal rear-view mirrors are great ideas and additions.

Not so sure about the purple paintjob, though...

Unlike most green vehicles, the Fiat Panda Eco features a petrol engine, yet still gets official CO2 emissions of under 120g/km. That means it drops down a tax band in the UK, from Band C to Band B, saving £85 in annual car tax.

You can pick from the 54bhp 1.1 litre engine in the Active Eco and a 60bhp 1.2 litre engine in the Dynamic Eco. The higher spec model also has remote central locking, colour-coded bumpers (which do improve the looks of any Panda) and a CD/MP3 player.

Both engine versions claim fuel economy and CO2 figures of 56.5mpg and 119g/km, obtained by using low-viscosity engine oil and fitting low-resistance tyres - so theoretically then, something that could be achieved by any Panda owner at oil change and tyre replacement times?

The good news is that you'd soon be in profit, as the modifications are only £100 over the standard prices for Pandas - the Fiat Panda Active Eco is £7105, and the Fiat Panda Dynamic Eco is £7705.

Every so often I consider making some changes to the Panda - despite being a cheap first car to buy and insure, it seems even the 100hp has failed to inspire much in the way of tuning and modifying.

Perhaps it's the image of it as an old person's car, and the launch of the Fiat 500 and especially the Abarth model?

But the 100hp has shown that it's possible to make a much cooler Panda - and with the right modifications, I reckon it could be improved upon. Particularly by lowering it for starters, and some better wheels.

So have you modified your Panda? What have you done? And was it for speed and performance, handling, or looks?

With the Panda being produced in it's original form from 1980 to 2003, and the new model existing for five years, you wonder if any of them will become as collectible as the Fiat 500, or other small cars like the Mini.

Two cars answer that question, for each of the models. For the old model, the 4WD variant gained a good following for a robust, rural car. And even the new 4x4 climbing hasn't replaced it totally, as it's seen to be too low for rough ground.

Meanwhile of the new generation Pandas, there's just one obvious future classic: The Fiat Panda 100hp (Pic by Daz n P on Flickr).

The 100hp features a 1.4 litre 16 valve FIRE engine originally from the Fiat Punto, and now tuned to develop 100bhp. Not only does it have a 6 speed gearbox, all disc brakes and a new suspension, but it's capable of 115mph, making it a far more fun and sporty car to drive. Which is perfect for anyone who has driven the normal versions and wants something with a bit more power.

Originally available in Black, you now also get the options of Grey, Blue, White or Red. The body coloured bumpers, dark tinted rear and side windows and 15" alloys also make it a far more attractive car, for £10,260. Options include a subwoofer and 6 speakers, CD changer, Skydome double sunroof, roof bars, window airbags, and front side airbags.

Certainly as the owner of a 2003 standard Panda I'm tempted to price up the changes to the body, suspension modifications and alloy wheels!

Interestingly, the 100hp seems to be much more of an enthusiasts car, with a far higher proportion of members of the Fiat Forum, for example, than you'd expect given by the amount you see on UK roads. It certainly suggests that it will be the one to treasure as it's far closer to the spirit of the best small cars of the past - at least until the Abarth version of the new Fiat 500. Even then, the 500 loses a lot of the practicality that makes cars like the Panda so attractive.

It may seem a strange car to devote a blog to - after all, it's not the most glamorous or sporty vehicle out there...

But the Fiat Panda is one of the unsung heroes of the car world - the modern version is comfortable, spacious, and if you have the 100HP version, even quite sporty. It's also surprisingly roomy, especially for taller drivers, and with the rear seats folded down you can fit a reasonable amount inside.

The dash mounted gear lever is easy to use, and you actually get quite a high up driving position for such a small car.

Plus I ended up with one, and I'm quite attached to it.

For the record, mine is a 2003 1.1 litre Fiat Panda in blue.