2007 Fiat Panda 100HP Car Review and Specs | 2007 Fiat Panda 100HP Car Wallpaper Pictures Pics

The sporty new Fiat Panda 100HP, 'flagship' of a revised and expanded 2007 Panda range, has just gone on sale in the UK. The arrival of the Panda 100HP boosts the UK range to nine versions with a choice of six trim levels " Active, Dynamic, Dynamic Aircon, Dynamic Sky Dome, Eleganza, Alessi, 4x4 and 100HP each offering unprecedented levels of equipment in this segment. The two special equipment upgrades to the Dynamic version offer additional features of a value far exceeding the individual Pack costs. Panda Alessi, 4x4 and 100HP versions each benefit from unique, bespoke trim and equipment specifications.

The 2007 Fiat Panda range offers a choice of four low fuel consumption and low emissions powerplants. Fiat Auto's widely acclaimed 1.3 litre 16-valve 70 bhp MultiJet turbodiesel is joined by three lively, refined and economical FIRE petrol engines " 1.1 litre 8-valve, 54 bhp; 1.2 litre 8-valve, 60 bhp; and a new 100 bhp version of Fiat's spirited 1.4 litre 16-valve FIRE petrol engine, which powers the new Panda 100HP.

Both 1.1 and 1.2 litre petrol engines and the 1.3 litre turbodiesel are mated to 5-speed manual gearboxes, whilst the new 100 bhp 1.4 litre petrol unit in the Panda 100HP is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The Panda 4x4, one of Europe's most affordable four-wheel drive hatchbacks, features a variable torque distribution four-wheel drive transmission system. Dualogic " a clutchless, 5-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable fully automatic mode " is offered as an optional transmission on all 2WD 1.2 litre 8-valve models.

Following a highly successful introduction to mainland European markets in the autumn of 2003, the Fiat Panda went on sale here in January 2004, further reinforcing the company's 60 year pedigree in the manufacture of small cars. By October 2006, Panda had easily outstripped a projected sales target of 200,000 units per annum, with 660,000 cars sold throughout western Europe in under three years, and a market share of some 30% " three times that of any rival.

Having won the prestigious pan-European Car of the Year 2004 (a title which Fiat Auto has won no less than 11 times, a record unmatched by any other manufacturer), Panda has continued to win over the UK automotive press, picking up a series of important awards including Auto Express Car of the Year, What Car? City Car of the Year and Top Gear Budget Car of the Year. As recently as June 2006, Panda won the City Car category in Auto Express magazine's Annual New Car Honours for the third year in succession.

Born out of Fiat Auto's philosophy that a compact, affordable car need not manifest itself as merely the poor relation of higher segment vehicles, the 2007 Panda range offers an unrivalled combination of design flair, build quality, interior space, flexibility, practicality, refinement, superior driving dynamics and affordability.

DESIGN

Within compact, urban-friendly exterior dimensions, the Fiat Panda's unique design combines the road presence and elevated driving position of a small SUV and the space and flexible practicality of an MPV. However, thanks to MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension, together with an advanced platform, the Panda boasts driving dynamics far superior to those which so often relegate vehicles in this class to poor relation status.

2007 Panda offers levels of equipment more usually associated with cars of a higher segment. Electric front windows, central locking, Dualdrive electric power steering, twin front airbags and a stereo radio/CD player are fitted as standard in even the entry level, Active version. Moreover, the availability of up to six airbags, automatic climate control, parking sensors, a Sky Dome electric sunroof, steering wheel audio controls and a stereo CD with MP3 player, imbues the Fiat Panda with a level of on-board sophistication and refinement unusual in this class.

Within a bodyshell of exceptional torsional stiffness, the Panda offers a fully comprehensive array of both active and passive safety features. It remains the first car in its class to offer up to six airbags, whilst front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiter, three-point rear seat belts, and anti-submarining seats are all fitted as standard.

Fiat Auto has also equipped the 2007 Panda with the full range of braking, traction control, and stability systems available today: ABS anti-lock brakes complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel slip during acceleration, MSR to modulate engine torque whilst changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control stability whilst cornering " the only car in its class to offer this system. Vehicles fitted

with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a unique Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.

Building on Fiat's unrivalled reputation as the world's pre-eminent small car specialists, the 2007 Panda range's combination of design flair, flexibility, practicality, refinement, technological innovation and outstanding value for money continues to set a benchmark for cars in this class, reflecting the increasing reluctance of car buyers to compromise at any level of the ownership experience, even in the lowest segments.

Styling

The front of the revised 2007 Panda range harmoniously blends powerful, rectilinear headlamps with an understated grille and deep front air dam incorporating foglights and urban-essential rubbing strips, making it instantly recognisable as a member of the Fiat family, and also rewarding the car with one of the best Cd figures in its class " 0.33.

In profile, Panda is characterised by large, bow shaped windows linked via blacked out door pillars to the rear quarterlight. This affords maximum glazing to the cabin space, whilst creating a graphic motif unique to the car and hinting at the raised driving position and MPV-style practicality within.

This practicality is further reinforced by a full height, top-hinged tailgate, flanked by high visibility rear lamp Ëœtowers' designed to offer full width access to the loadspace throughout the low-silled aperture.

Life on board

The ultra-compact exterior dimensions of the Fiat Panda " 1.58 m wide, 1.54 m high and 3.54 m long, with a wheelbase of just 2.30 m " belie an exceptionally spacious, flexible interior.

The vehicle boasts an overall passenger room coefficient of more than 68%, one of the best in its class. And, thanks to an innovative split/folding and sliding rear seat, the 206 litre luggage compartment may be quickly and easily increased to 236 litres.

The combination of a raised driving position, height adjustable seat, rake adjustable steering wheel and generous glazing offers Panda drivers a comfortable, highly adaptable driving position allied to excellent all-round visibility. Unrivalled driver ergonomics have been achieved through painstaking detailing and the careful placement of all switchgear.

Complementing a clear, functional driver's instrument binnacle, the prominent, high quality centre console raises the gear lever to within the closest practical proximity of the steering wheel, allowing for quick, accurate changes with minimal physical effort. Careful consideration has gone into the placement of all other console based functions, with the stereo radio placed at the highest level to offer ease of access with minimal driver distraction.

Extensive cabin storage includes two enclosed dashboard compartments, generous door pockets, centre console cup holders and a removable rear parcel shelf.

The seats, produced in accordance with principles developed by Professor Dal Monte, head of the Biometrics Department at the CONI Sport medicine Institute, are

exceptionally comfortable, devoting particular attention to passenger posture and lateral containment.

The Fiat Panda offers a choice of four rear seating solutions: one piece with two or three places, 50:50 split with two places, and 50:50 split/sliding with two places. Both the latter also have ISOFIX child seat attachments. All options come with a one piece cushion with anti-submarining function and a fully folding backrest for greatly enlarged load carrying capacity.

The one piece backrest can include a third, inertia reel seatbelt, whilst the two place, 50:50 split option offers even greater loadspace flexibility. The sliding seat, 50:50 split option boasts the added advantage of rake adjustable backrests and the ability to boost loadspace by 30 litres without the need to fold down either seat back. In all cases, the seat folding mechanism may be operated from inside either the passenger or luggage compartments.

A comprehensive range of accessories includes rubber or carpet matting, assorted loadspace nets including a dog containment screen, a demountable load compartment tray, transverse roof bars and a wide selection of child seats, including a bespoke Kiddy ISOFIX seat for children up to 40 lb.

2007 Panda comes in a choice of ten body colours, of which five are new: Surf azure, Cumbia beige, Samba orange, Electroclash grey and New Orleans blue. A choice of eight stylish, durable, cabin upholstery finishes, is available; the Fiat Panda being the only car in this class to have 99% of its interior surface lined, setting new class standards for quality and comfort.

Panda 100HP

The new Panda 100HP is instantly recognisable as the sporting Ëœflagship' of the 2007 model year line-up thanks to a revised exterior design which features new front and rear bumpers and enlarged wheel arches which flair into new sideskirts.

A chrome exhaust tail pipe, body coloured door handles and wing mirrors, front foglights and a tailgate spoiler are all fitted as standard, and the Panda 100HP is also equipped with all-new, bespoke, 15 alloy wheels shod with 195/45 x 15 tyres. The brakes have been uprated with the fitment of larger (257 mm) front discs and solid (240 mm) rear discs; while the suspension has also been significantly modified in terms of dampers, springs, bushes and compliance.

Panda 100HP is geared towards a younger audience who are in the market for a driving experience that's both sporty and fun, and as such, the Panda 100HP represents a particularly appealing proposition. With an OTR price of under £10,000, and low insurance costs, (Group 5), it is also one of the best value-for-money packages for those seeking performance and handling, combined with low running costs and low emissions. This vehicle has been designed to put a smile on the face of the driver, with entirely usable performance, and its obvious competitors are generally less powerful, less well equipped and more expensive.

On board, the Panda 100HP is characterised by a sporting, dark grey dashboard and bespoke black and grey upholstery trim. A leather steering wheel and gear knob, height adjustable driver's seat, split/folding rear seats, automatic climate control, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and a new ËœSport' button for enhanced steering and throttle sensitivity, are all fitted as standard.

The latest addition to the 2007 Panda model range is available in a choice of four colours; New Orleans blue, Rumba red, Darkwave black and, unique to the Panda 100HP, Electroclash grey.

Panda Alessi

Derived from a concept car that made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motorshow, the Fiat Panda Alessi demonstrates the innovative and stylish outcome of a unique collaboration between two brands that are world-renowned for their contribution to the development of Italian industrial design.

Externally, the unmistakable Panda Alessi retains all the key design cues of the much acclaimed standard model, but adds a number of new styling and colour details to the front grille, door mouldings, rear aerial and wheel arch trims. The Panda Alessi is instantly recognisable through an original hubcap design which features Alessi's Ëœlittle man' figure, as well as roof bars and white side stripes, plus a choice of three bespoke body colours: Narciso orange, Tagliente green and Cattivo black.

On board, the instrument dial graphics and the seat fabric and colour " available in orange or green " have also been revised, and the climate control system surround and gearbox shield are treated with a distinctive metallic paint finish. The fully redesigned tunnel console incorporates a unique, round storage compartment " ideal as a CD holder " and a silicone-formed mobile phone holder.

MODEL RANGE AND EQUIPMENT

The expanded, 2007 Fiat Panda range, (prices effective from 01 January 2007), is as follows:

1.1 8v Active £6,890

1.2 8v Dynamic £7,290

1.2 8v Dynamic Aircon £7,840

1.2 8v Dynamic Sky Dome £7,840

1.3 16v MultiJet Dynamic £8,160

1.2 8v Eleganza £8,490

1.2 8v Alessi £8,995

1.2 8v 4x4 £9,495

1.4 16v 100HP £9,995

EQUIPMENT

There are six trim levels and nine versions available " Active, Dynamic, Dynamic Aircon, Dynamic Sky Dome, Eleganza, Alessi, 4x4 and 100HP " offering unprecedented levels of equipment in the supermini segment. The two special equipment upgrades to the Dynamic version of the 2007 Panda range offer additional features, the value of which far exceeds the individual Pack costs. Panda Alessi, 4x4 and 100HP versions each benefit from unique, bespoke trim and equipment specifications.

The six specification levels include the following:

Active:

Twin front airbags
ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD
3-point inertia reel seatbelts on all seats
Central locking
Dualdrive electric power steering
Adjustable steering column
ËœFollow Me Home' headlights
Fiat Code II Engine immobiliser

Radio/CD player
ËœIntelligent' windscreen wipers
Heated rear window with Ëœintelligent' wash/wipe
Electric front windows
Thermal glass

Dynamic:

In addition to the Active specification, Dynamic adds, together with the larger 1.2 petrol or 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine:

Rev counter

Trip computer

Body coloured bumpers

Multifunction display

Brake assist

Remote central locking

Dynamic Aircon:

The Dynamic Aircon Pack includes the following upgrade:

Manual air conditioning
Black aluminium roof bars
Side rubbing strips

Dynamic Sky Dome:

The Dynamic Sky Dome pack includes the following upgrade:

Sky Dome electric sunroof
Black aluminium roof bars
Foglights
Side rubbing strips

Eleganza:

In addition to the Dynamic specification, Eleganza adds:

14 alloy wheels
Electric, heated door mirrors
Black aluminium roof bars
Reconfigurable multifunction display
Automatic digital climate control
Height adjustable driver's seat
50:50 split/folding rear seat with ISOFIX attachments

Alessi:
The highly distinctive Panda Alessi combines comprehensive exterior and interior restyling with one unique trim designation. This bespoke specification includes the following:

ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD
Dualdrive electric power steering
Remote central locking
Twin front airbags
Foglights
Automatic digital climate control
Radio/CD player with MP3
Steering wheel audio controls
Electric, heated door mirrors
Height adjustable driver's seat
50:50 split/folding rear seat with ISOFIX attachments
Remote control tailgate with Ëœactive' handle
Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity

4x4:

The Fiat Panda 4x4 also benefits from a bespoke trim and specification designation, which includes the following standard equipment:

ABS with EBD
Remote central locking
Twin front airbags
Four 3-point inertia reel seatbelts
Electric front windows with driver's ËœOne Touch' facility
Electric, heated door mirrors
Radio/CD player
Dualdrive electric power steering
ËœFollow Me Home' headlights
ËœIntelligent' windscreen wipers
Heated rear window with Ëœintelligent' wash/wipe
Foglights
14 alloy wheels
Black aluminium roof bars
Body coloured Ëœoff-road' bumpers
Front and rear body shields
Engine sump guard

100HP:

The Ëœflagship' of the 2007 Fiat Panda range, the new 100HP's unique trim specification includes the following standard equipment:

ABS with EBD
Dualdrive electric power steering

Remote central locking

Twin front airbags
Foglights
Automatic digital climate control
Radio/CD player
Electric front windows with driver's ËœOne Touch' facility
Electric, heated door mirrors
Height adjustable driver's seat
50:50 split/folding rear seat with ISOFIX attachments
Sports interior trim
Sports body kit
Body coloured door handles and mirrors
Chromed exhaust
15 alloy wheels
Leather steering wheel and gearknob
Tailgate spoiler
Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity
ËœSport' button for enhanced steering and throttle sensitivity

Panda 100HP ËœSport' button

The new Panda 100HP is fitted, as standard, with a dashboard mounted ËœSport' button for enhanced steering and throttle sensitivity. This enables the driver to choose between ËœNormal' or ËœSport' steering and throttle settings. When ËœSport' is selected, the steering offers less power assistance to provide improved feedback whilst, simultaneously, the throttle becomes more sensitive to driver input.

Dualdrive electric power steering

All Panda versions are equipped with this innovative, speed-sensitive power steering system, which comes with two operating modes and uses an electric motor, rather than a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, which results in a considerable reduction in both fuel consumption and noise.

The system offers a choice of two settings: The first ensures maximum feedback and driver involvement, the second lightens the steering to minimise effort, and is therefore ideal for urban driving and low speed manoeuvring.

Pressing the ËœCity' button on the fascia activates the latter mode. But, to ensure maximum safety under all driving conditions, both settings offer identical power assistance over 44 mph, thus ensuring a steering wheel response suited to higher speed driving.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

The comprehensive standard equipment package of the 2007 Fiat Panda range is further enhanced by a range of innovative, safety and comfort enhancing options more usually reserved for vehicles in a higher segment, such as a Sky Dome glass sunroof, parking sensors, side and window airbags, ESP (including ASR, MSR and Hill Holder), smart windscreen wipers, Follow Me Home headlights, a CD sound system that can play MP3 music files, and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.

Sky Dome sunroof

The Sky Dome, a large, crystal-glass sunroof, occupies nearly 70% of the Panda's roof. It consists of two glazed panels " one fixed and one mobile " and two sunblinds that may be independently retracted towards the rear of the car.

Via a button adjacent to the central courtesy light, the retractable glass panel becomes a raised spoiler in the first position, thereafter sliding on aluminium guides to the fully opened position. Releasing the control button stops the movement at any required position. Both glass front panel and sunblind may be fully opened in just 7 seconds.

Parking sensors

The parking sensor, which is activated whenever the ignition is turned on and reverse gear engaged, consists of four ultrasound sensors fitted in the rear bumper linked to an electronic control unit and a buzzer.

The four detectors cover the rear corners of the Panda from a distance of less than
60 cm, and the area immediately behind the car from a distance of less than 150 cm. Proximity information is transmitted to the driver in the form of bleeps at intervals.
The bleeps are emitted with increasing frequency, becoming a continuous signal when the car reaches a distance of 30 cm from any obstacle.

Follow Me Home headlights

A practical, safety conscious innovation designed to light the interior of a garage or a path to a front door after the car has been locked. Follow Me Home activates the dipped beams and sidelights of the Panda. The driver simply operates the light flasher stalk within 2 minutes of switching off the engine. Each time the stalk is operated, light activation is extended by 30 seconds up to a maximum of three-and-a-half minutes.

ËœIntelligent' windscreen wipers

All Panda versions feature two continuous and four intermittent wiper speeds. A Ëœsmart' washing system simultaneously operates wipers and water jets with one stalk

movement. The same system applies to the rear window wiper, which is automatically activated when the windscreen wipers are switched on and reverse gear is engaged.

Bluetooth connectivity

The Fiat Panda may be equipped with Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone technology with voice recognition, to ensure maximum driving safety under all conditions. The system allows for the use of Bluetooth compatible mobile phones anywhere on board, even when stowed in storage compartments, jackets or handbags.

The Bluetooth hands-free system is fully integrated into the Panda. It is accessed via a control panel display allied to control keys located on the steering wheel as well as the latest voice activation technology, which has no need to learn a user's voice in advance.

The system automatically lowers the volume of the radio, and allows occupants to hear the caller through the stereo loudspeakers. An integral, echo-cancellation device maintains sound quality without any deterioration in timbre, thus preventing unpleasant, metallic tones. Moreover, the Bluetooth system is operable not only in the presence of a radio, but also when only the wiring is installed, hence retaining radio unit choice for the customer.

SAFETY

Benefiting from 15,000 hours of computer aided design, 80 crash tests, 70 HyGe slide simulations and 140 tests on components and subsystems, the new Fiat Panda is one of the safest cars in its class.

State-of-the-art passive safety is provided by an all-new chassis/platform designed to provide maximum torsional stiffness yet absorb impact with maximum efficiency. Moreover, the Fiat Panda is the first car in its class to offer up to six airbags, whilst front seat belts with pretensioner and load limiter, three-point rear seat belts, anti-submarining seats, ISOFIX child seat attachments to the split rear seats and an FPS Fire Prevention System are all fitted as standard.

Airbags

The 2007 Panda range may be fitted with up to six airbags: driver and passenger front and side airbags, as well as two side curtain airbags providing head protection in the

case of side impacts. Their operation is controlled by an electronic control unit that evaluates crash severity via a number of sensors located throughout the car.

The front passenger airbag may be deactivated manually via an ignition key switch on the fascia: a dashboard warning light indicates this condition. Though the seatbelt pretensioner remains active, a rear facing baby seat can therefore be safely fitted.

Automatic Door Locks

Available on selected models, automatic door locks activate on all doors as soon as the Panda reaches 12 mph " an important safety and security feature.

ISOFIX Attachments

Certain versions of the Panda are fitted with ISOFIX mountings to ensure the easy and safe installation of child seats. The attachments take the form of two pairs of brackets located at the base of the rear seat squab. The bracket sizes and settings are in accordance with European standards so that the seat can be re-used on any other vehicle.

Fire Prevention System

The FPS includes a cut-off valve and an inertia switch which immediately locks the electric petrol pump. This prevents fuel loss in the case of impact, roll-over or damage to the fuel lines. The fuel tank, located in a protected position in front of the rear axle, is formed in a plastic resistant to mechanical stress and fire. The Panda's interior trim is also flame resistant.

ACTIVE SAFETY

The 2007 Fiat Panda offers the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems on the market today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel slip during acceleration, MSR to modulate brake torque whilst changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control stability through bends. Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a unique Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.

ABS Brakes

The latest addition to the Panda range, the sporting 100HP, is equipped with powerful 257 mm ventilated front and 240 mm solid rear discs, whilst all other 2007 Panda models feature 240 mm front discs and 180 mm x 30 mm drum brakes at the rear.

An advanced BOSCH 8 ABS system, featuring four active sensors, four channels, an electronic control unit and eight solenoids, is standard across the entire Fiat Panda range.

The system is complemented by an Electronic Brakeforce Distributor (EBD) that governs the braking action on the rear axle to prevent the wheels locking and ensure

full control of the car in all situations. The system also adapts its operation to wheel grip conditions and brake pad efficiency to reduce pad overheating.

ASR and MSR

2007 Panda can also be equipped, as an option, with a sophisticated Anti Slip Regulation system (ASR) to restrict wheel slip in cases of reduced grip. ASR traction control works at any speed, and prevents the driven wheels from slipping by adjusting torque according to available levels of grip.

MSR cuts in when a gear is shifted down abruptly under conditions of low grip. The system restores torque to the engine to prevent skidding as a result of wheel lock-up.

Both ASR and MSR are available when ESP is ordered as an option, along with Hydraulic Brake Assist.

HBA

On Pandas without ESP, emergency brake assistance takes the form of Emergency Valve Assistance (EVA); a mechanical system located inside the brake servo. On vehicles fitted with ESP, the function is carried out electronically by the ABS control unit and is known as Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA). Both systems carry out an identical function with equal efficiency.

ESP

The Fiat Panda also offers a permanently engaged Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) which activates to help control the car when stability is at risk.

Via sensors monitoring car body rotation, lateral acceleration and steering wheel input, the system assesses vehicle stability and the proximity of either an understeer or oversteer slide. The system restores stability by applying smoothly modulated braking to the appropriate wheel individually, and simultaneously reducing engine power. Engine power reduction is also carefully modulated to ensure a minimum of performance loss and, hence, continued driver satisfaction.

Hill Holder

Fiat's Hill Holder system helps drivers pull smoothly away from an upwards-facing hill start. Operating via the ESP longitudinal acceleration sensor when first gear is engaged and both clutch and brake pedals are pressed, the control unit maintains front calliper pressure for about 1.5 seconds after the brake pedal is released to eliminate the risk of rolling backwards and ensure a smooth pull away. Hill Holder does not
operate when setting off downhill in first gear, but does so when reverse is engaged and the driver wishes to back uphill.

ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS

The 2007 Fiat Panda range is on sale in the UK with a choice of four powerplants. Fiat Auto's widely acclaimed, state-of-the-art, 1.3 litre 16-valve 70 bhp MultiJet turbodiesel is joined by three lively, refined and economical FIRE petrol engines " 1.1 litre 8-valve, 54 bhp; 1.2 litre 8-valve, 60 bhp; and a new 100 bhp version of Fiat's spirited 1.4 litre 16-valve FIRE petrol engine.

Both 1.1 and 1.2 litre petrol engines and the 1.3 litre turbodiesel are mated to 5-speed manual gearboxes, whilst the new 1.4 litre petrol unit is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The Panda 4x4 features a variable torque distribution four-wheel drive transmission system.

Dualogic " a clutchless, 5-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable fully automatic mode " is offered as an optional transmission on all 1.2 litre 8-valve models.

1.4 16v FIRE

1368 cc
4-cylinders, 16 valves
Power: 100 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 97 lb.ft @ 4250 rpm
Top speed: 115 mph
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 9.5 seconds
Fuel consumption: in town: 32.4 mpg
# out of town: 53.3 mpg
# combined: 43.4 mpg
# CO2: 154 g/km

This new 100 bhp, 1.4 16v FIRE unit marries a fly-by-wire, electronic throttle control system to new engine control unit management software.

An increase in compression ratio and the high torque values at low speeds, allied to the precision management of the engine control system succeeds in reducing fuel consumption whilst optimising flexibility, performance and low emissions. As with the 1.2 litre FIRE units, a catalytic converter is integrated into the exhaust manifold within the engine bay.

Sharing the 1.2 litre engine's barycentric engine mounting system to minimise the transfer of vibrations to the body, The 1.4 16v FIRE unit also benefits from a number

of further developments designed to minimise noise, vibration and harshness; an aluminium crankcase base with cast iron main bearing caps cast together; an aluminium oil sump connected directly to the crankcase base and gearbox to increase the torsional rigidity of the unit; a crankcase and flywheel system damper to minimise
vibrations; an optimised piston skirt profile with a molybendum bisulphate coating to minimise piston/liner clearances and thus reduce noise.

1.2 8v FIRE

1242 cc
4-cylinders, 8 valves
Power: 60 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 75 lb.ft @ 2500 rpm
Top speed: 96 mph
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 14.0 seconds
Fuel consumption: in town: 39.8 mpg
# out of town: 58.9 mpg
# combined: 50.4 mpg
# CO2: 133 g/km

This tried and tested unit is installed in the Panda with a number of refinements to further improve fuel economy without affecting its lively performance.

The engine is now fitted with a sophisticated, Marelli I.A.W. phased sequential multipoint injection system. New, convergent/divergent intake manifolds and camshaft profiles optimise power and efficiency, and a new active knock sensor manages ignition advance effectively under all conditions.

Lighter componentry has also improved fuel consumption. In particular, a new glass-fibre reinforced polymer intake manifold has been developed with U-shaped branches and a built-in plenum. A new auxiliary drive circuit featuring built-in mountings in aluminium squeeze castings, and an automatic low torque tensioner has
also been developed for improved reliability. The mating clearance between crankshaft and crankcase has also been optimised through computerised selection of main bearings.

Quality of life on board had been improved through a special engine installation system which minimises the transfer of engine vibrations to the body " a barycentric power unit mounting system consisting of two blocks plus a reaction rod that acts as a link. The new mounts are aligned along an axis that passes through the engine's centre of gravity to obtain reaction forces with zero offset.

Additionally, the catalytic converter is welded to the side of the exhaust manifold within the engine bay, allowing it to reach the necessary high temperatures more rapidly, thus reducing emissions before the engine itself is at optimum running temperature.

1.1 8v FIRE

1108 cc
4-cylinders, 8 valves
Power: 54 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 65 lb.ft @ 2750 rpm
Top speed: 93 mph
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 15.0 seconds
Fuel consumption: in town: 39.2 mpg

# out of town: 58.9 mpg
# combined: 49.6 mpg
# CO2: 135 g/km

The torque delivery curve of this notably reliable engine offers maximum output at just 2750 rpm, ensuring a sprightly urban performance whilst maintaining low emissions and the most frugal levels of fuel consumption.

As with the 1.2 litre version, two valves per cylinder are driven by a single overhead camshaft with a toothed belt. The tappets are driven directly, whilst the crankcase is in cast iron with an aluminium cylinder head, and the lubrication system is a forced circulation type with coaxial gear pump and full flow filter.

1.3 16v MultiJet Turbodiesel

1248 cc
4-cylinders, 16 valves
Power: 70 bhp @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 107 lb.ft @ 1750 rpm
Top speed: 99 mph
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 13.0 seconds
Fuel consumption: in town: 52.3 mpg
# out of town: 76.3 mpg
# combined: 65.7 mpg
# CO2: 114 g/km

Weighing just 130 kg, the 1.3 litre 16v MultiJet " a 1248 cc, 4-cylinder in-line unit with a bore of 69.6 mm and a stroke of 82 mm " is the smallest and most advanced second generation Common Rail direct injection turbodiesel in the world.

It features twin overhead camshafts, a chain driven timing system, hydraulic tappets, a cast iron crankcase with an aluminium base, a steel crankshaft and an aluminium cylinder head. The cylinder head is equipped with highly efficient directional intake ports to ensure an optimum fuel mix despite the small bore. The 1.3 MultiJet engine is boosted by a turbocharger with wastegate and intercooler, and possesses an electronically controlled exhaust gas recirculation and cooling system.

The engine offers two highly innovative features: extremely compact dimensions
(460 mm long, 500 mm wide and 650 mm high) that enable it to be installed in
B-segment and A-segment city cars, and the sophisticated MultiJet technology of second generation JTDs. The latter is the fruition of groundbreaking development work at the Fiat Research Centre, itself responsible for the introduction of the world's first UniJet Common Rail engine in 1997.

Within a UniJet engine, a pilot injection raises temperature and pressure inside the cylinder to improve combustion at the time of the main stroke. However, by dividing the main injection into a number of smaller injections, a MultiJet engine affords a fuller, more gradual combustion whilst the amount of diesel burnt at each stroke remains the same. This promotes smoother, quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance.

A MultiJet engine differs from its UniJet counterpart in two essential areas: the injectors and the electronic control unit.

To facilitate multi-injection, the new injectors can both reduce the time lag between injections from 1500 to just 150 microseconds, and reduce the minimum quantity of fuel injected from 2 to less than 1 cu mm. In tandem, the new control unit modulates

injection strategy continually to adjust to changes within three parameters: engine rpm, torque required at any given time by the driver, and coolant temperatures.

Thus, when coolant temperature is less than 60 degrees and torque requirement low, two small and one large injections are performed. As torque demand increases, the number of injections drops to two; one small and one large. Under conditions of high rpm and high torque demand, only one injection is required whilst, with coolant temperature at over 60 degrees, emissions are minimised with one small, one large, then one small injection in the sequence.

The state-of-the-art, 1.3 16v MultiJet powerplant in the Panda develops 70 bhp and 107 lb.ft of torque at just 1750 rpm.

Start-up times and exhaust smoke are significantly reduced; noise levels and vibration are lowered to ensure a quieter drive and improved passenger comfort; fuel consumption is reduced by a further 10% and emission control reduction amounts to 50%.

Dualogic

Dualogic power assisted transmission is available with the five speed manual gearbox of the 1.2 litre 8-valve engine. This innovative transmission system features a servo automated clutch and gear lever, whilst retaining all the attributes of a dry clutch and manual gearbox; low weight, strength, reliability and fuel economy.

Two operating modes are selectable; semi-automatic and automatic. In the absence of a clutch pedal, fast, accurate gear changing in semi-automatic mode simply requires the movement of the lever forward to change up and back to change down.

Once the Panda has been started, brake pedal pressure allows the selection of either first or reverse gear (second gear may be selected to aid traction in slippery conditions). To ensure safety and prevent unsolicited gear changes, the system automatically engages neutral when the engine is still running and the door is opened. Dualogic also prevents gear changing errors that risk damage to engine or transmission, reinforced with both visual and aural alarms.

In fully automatic mode, Dualogic offers two options: Normal and Economy. The Normal option offers outstanding driving comfort through the smoothest gearchanges under all conditions. Pressing the Economy button on the gear control panel offers reduced fuel consumption whilst maintaining first class driving comfort.

The Dualogic system offers the ideal compromise for those who prefer an automatic gearbox for day to day use, but do not wish to relinquish the driver involvement and satisfaction of a manual change.

4-Wheel Drive Transmission

The Panda 4x4's 4-wheel drive transmission, developed in conjunction with GKN Driveline, is a simple, robust, yet highly effective system capable of mastering severe winter roads, challenging off-road conditions and gradients of more than 50%, with minimal compromise to the vehicle's on-road refinement.

The system features a front differential allied to a power transfer unit (PTU), a two-piece propshaft, a viscous coupling in front of the rear differential, a rear differential module (RDM), and front and rear driveshafts.

The key to the system's efficiency is the viscous coupling. It consists of a sealed container within which there are a large number of metal discs, fixed alternately to the outer casing and the inner shaft. In order to increase the viscous drag, the discs fixed to the outer casing are perforated, whilst those on the shaft, which are free to slide along it, are slotted. The container is almost entirely filled with a silicone based fluid.

When there is little difference between the speed of the two sets of discs, (i.e. when all four wheels are turning at the same speed), the viscous coupling has little effect. But if one of the front wheels begins to spin, then the set of discs attached to the casing will begin to rotate much faster than the other discs. This relative motion causes viscous drag to force the other discs to rotate, thus transmitting some of the torque to the output shaft. This is known as the viscous mode.

If the front wheels should spin considerably faster than the rear, the difference in the relative speeds of the discs will cause the temperature of the fluid inside the coupling to rise. This will cause it to expand, which will increase the area of discs in contact with the fluid, increasing the viscous drag and hence the transmission of torque.

Once the fluid expands to fill the coupling, further increases in temperature cause the pressure to build up inside the casing. The presence of the perforations and slots causes pressure differences to act on the discs, and those which can slide along the shaft will do so until they are in contact with the discs fixed to the casing. At this point the coupling acts as a friction clutch, transferring maximum torque to the gripping wheels.

When the relative motion of the discs reduces, the temperature will drop and the coupling reverts to its viscous mode until the wheels all rotate at the same speed again.

Hence the viscous coupling provides a locking action proportional to the difference in speed between its input and output shafts: the higher the speed difference, the greater the torque transference, up to a maximum of a 50:50 split between front and rear wheels.

In addition to its simplicity, Panda 4x4's durable, low maintenance drivetrain has several further advantages; the system is entirely automatic, requiring no driver input; it is entirely mechanical, requiring no electronic control; it has a benign impact on day-to-day driving dynamics, and provides excellent compatibility with the car's ABS systems.

SUSPENSION

Allied to a bodyshell of exceptional torsional stiffness " 70,500 da Nm/rad " the 2007 Panda range employs an independent MacPherson strut front suspension configuration, and a lightweight torsion beam axle at the rear, to offer a level of driving precision, roadholding and ride comfort more usually associated with cars of a much higher segment.

The front suspension layout features an anti-roll bar connected by rod to the shock absorber (a first in this category), new design coil springs that increase the absorption of minor surface roughness, and wishbones with both front bushes and new vertical rear bushes of rubber and metal. The new bushes contain an increased percentage of rubber, offering an excellent compromise between vibration suppression and road adhesion.

The rear suspension configuration combines a folded sheet steel torsion beam with double acting telescopic hydraulic dampers located beneath the floor to improve comfort without compromising load space. Single rubber and metal bush attachment of the rear axle to the body further lowers noise and vibration intrusion into the passenger compartment, whilst promoting greater driving stability under all conditions by generating a wheel toe-in effect during cornering.

Panda 100HP

As befitting its sporty status, the Panda 100HP's independent MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension systems have been significantly uprated. Springs are some 25% stiffer; the ride height has been lowered by 25mm; the front anti-roll bar is thicker, and all the suspension's bump-stops are longer and are manufactured in Cellasto polymer rather than rubber. Alterations to both spring and damper rates, as well as stiffer bushing and a reduction in overall compliance promote significantly greater high-speed stability, a reduction in body roll, sharper turn-in and improved road holding under all driving conditions.

Panda 4x4

The Panda 4x4 employs a modified version of the independent MacPherson strut front suspension found on front wheel drive versions of the Panda. At the rear, the front-wheel drive model's torsion beam axle has been replaced with an independent configuration featuring longitudinal tie rods and a torsion bar.

Allied to an increase in ground clearance of 50 mm over front wheel drive models to 165 mm, this suspension system affords the Panda 4x4 outstanding off-road comfort and performance combined with a level of driving precision, roadholding and ride comfort more usually associated with cars of a much higher segment.

The 4x4's front suspension layout is similar to that of front wheel drive Pandas. However, the dimension of the shock absorber bush rods has here been enlarged from 20 to 22 mm to promote off-road durability, whilst new, bespoke coil springs both increase ground clearance and off-road ride comfort.

The rear suspension's independent configuration accommodates the rear differential and drive shafts whilst affording the rear wheels the extensive vertical travel essential to off-road prowess. A rear frame, fastened rigidly to the body at four points, acts as a load-bearing element for the mechanical components, whilst the longitudinal tie rods are fastened to the frame via two composite rubber and metal bushes per arm.

An anti-roll bar is connected to the tie rods via ball joints designed to offer improved suspension rigidity and improved body stability during cornering.

As with front wheel drive models, the Panda 4x4's rear shock absorbers are located beneath the floor to improve comfort without compromising load space.

The Panda 4x4 runs on purpose-made 185/65 R 14 tyres. Through optimised tread pattern geometry featuring fewer strips, this tyre design offers excellent handing and traction over snow covered terrain, complemented by first class steering response and driving satisfaction on both dry and wet road surfaces.

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