The BBC’s Top Gear website has given the new Fiat Panda Eco a test spin and concluded that it "attracts less resentment than other small cars".
The vehicle’s release shouldn’t mean that the old Fiat Panda becomes an endangered species – it will still be sold and used Fiat Pandas should enjoy long and happy lives owing to the popularity of the brand.
A price tag of £7,705 means the Panda Eco and neatly slots into the government’s lower tax band, saving £85 when you drive it out of the showroom.
Top Gear reviewer Piers Ward was surprised at the lack of surprises with the car. "It’s still an awesome little town car," he wrote.
The only difference between the Eco and the Panda original that Mr Read could note were the low-rolling-resistance tyres and low-viscosity oil "which helps with the friction levels in the engine".
Even the gear ratios have stayed the same.
The car is part of Fiat’s drive to satisfy the EU’s desire that car manufacturers have an average CO2 value across their range of 130g/km.
‘Green’ used cars are soaring in popularity as the government introduces incentives to reduce the prices of less polluting vehicles.
Written by Bobby Minter
Two money-saving, planet-friendly versions of Fiat’s top-selling Panda city car are to go on sale in the UK.
Hot on the heels of the family-friendly Panda Mamy and the rugged four-wheel drive Panda Cross, the new Panda Active Eco and Dynamic Eco will go on sale at the end of September.
"It has been a busy summer for Panda with the launch of Mamy and Cross, and we are delighted to announce these new Eco cars too," said a proud Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat UK.
"This is another example of how seriously we take the environmental issue, while offering drivers real value-for-money motoring."
Top speed for the Active Eco is 93 mph, with a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 15 seconds, while the Dynamic Eco reaches a maximum 96 mph and has a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 14 seconds.
These two newcomers cost just £100 more than the standard versions on which they are based.
That means the Panda Active Eco costs £7,105 on the road and the Panda Dynamic Eco £7,705. But thanks to a reduction of the VED tax band from C to B, there is an immediate saving of £85 to owners.
Written by Gilbert Charleston
Fiat has introduced a new type of Panda to the UK marketplace – one which it hoped will be popular with both city and country-dwellers alike.
The Panda cross is a 4×4 sports utility vehicle which offers sure-footed drive both on and off-road as well as the traditionally manoeuvrability which makes it so handy in an urban environment.
In addition to the 1.3 16v MultiJet turbodiesel engine found in the traditional Panda 4×4, the Panda Cross also comes with new round light units, side protection strips in contrasting colours, roof-bars, 15-inch alloy wheels and new bumpers.
On the inside, meanwhile, two-tone interior trims will come as standard.
According to Elena Bernardelli, marketing director for Fiat UK, it is this style as well as the car’s performance that will set it apart from its rivals.
"This is not just a fantastic-looking car – it’s also highly versatile and great fun to drive. We are delighted to have it in the UK," she commented.
Potential buyers may also be interested to hear that the MultiJet turbodiesel engine produces 70 bhp and torque of 145 Nm at just 1500 rpm – making it especially suitable for off-road use.
Automobile manufacturer Fiat has revisited two of its best-selling models with a pair of limited edition releases.
The company is to make the Panda Special Series 360 and Grande Punto Special Series 360 available through its 162 dealerships until the end of 2007.
The Panda unit includes 14-inch alloy wheels and a split-folding rear seat as standard, while they will receive power from its 1.2-litre engine.
Motorists can pick up the Grande Punto for £8,495 or £9,095 depending on whether they want a three-door or a five-door model.
The vehicle comes with larger alloys (15-inch) and a hands-free media system, with the total worth of the added extras coming to £1,700.
"With such a remarkable level of free standard equipment and attractive on-the-road prices, we believe these new special edition 360 cars will prove very popular," said Andy Rowe, commercial director of Fiat.
Last month, famous artist Tracey Emin decorated a Fiat 500 for charity.
The vehicle sold at a charity auction for more than £40,000.
The millionth Panda vehicle to be produced by Fiat rolled off the production line at a factory in Tychy, Poland this week.
The Fiat Auto Poland plant first began putting the cars together in May 2003, with the model’s popularity seeing it become a European sales leader.
In 2004, the vehicle picked up the prestigious Car of the Year award that is continuing today, with 270,000 vehicles planned for 2007.
Fiat has called the plant "one of the most modern car factories in Europe".
"Currently, 4,200 people work at Fiat Auto Poland and 1,400 cars are produced at the Tychy plant every day. In 2007, an output of 366,000 units is planned," the company stated.
Fiat is an Italian automobile company that was first established in 1899.
The name is an acronym of Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, which is Italian Automobile Factory of Turin in Italian.
The Fiat Panda supermini has picked up an award this week and been described as the "best bet" for driving around the city.
Also saying that the Panda is easy to manoeuvre, Auto Express named the model its city car of 2007 in this year’s New Car Honours.
Light steering and straightforward controls both contribute to the car’s accessibility – and with prices starting at £6,995 it could be an ideal first car for young and new drivers alike.
"It stands out from the crowd and it’s equally special inside," Auto Express stated. "But perhaps the panda’s greatest quality is its sense of fun."
The first-generation Panda ceased production in 2003, while the second-generation model is available with up to a 1.4-litre engine.
It is often seen on the streets of European cities, where the supermini is considered by some to be a preferable method of transport.
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