Frankfurt: Fiat Panda
Monday 19 September 2011
• More spacious interior
• Less boxy design
• On sale in Spring 2012
Fiat has sold more than 6.5 million Fiat Panda’s since it first went on sale 31 years ago. It has unveiled the third generation of this worldwide favourite at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Web Editor Adrian Higgins took a look.
What is it?
The Fiat Panda is a pioneering little city car with style and practicality. Amazingly this, the latest version of the car, is only the third generation of the car in more than three decades.
What’s it like?
The Panda ain’t broke and Fiat ain’t fixed it. But it has improved it. More spacious than its predecessor, the Panda is also a little bit longer and wider while some of the boxier edges have been smoothed off. There’ll be a choice of diesel and petrol engines which significantly sees Twinair technology introduced into the baby of the brand. Daytime running lights are a new addition if that’s your thing.
Much to get excited about?
Well, it certainly wasn’t going to hog the headlines at Frankfurt, but it looks as though an already decent city car just got heaps better.
When can I buy one?
Our European friends could get their hands on the new Panda before the year’s out but it’s looking like spring 2012 for UK buyers. A 4×4 version will follow on later.
By Adrian Higgins, web editor