Here are the latest spy shots of the next Fiat Panda 4×4, which allow us to make a first comparison with the ‘regular’ front-wheel drive version. Quite understandably, there are not going to be any radical change in respect to the current model as it just needs a little restyling to make it more appealing for the next couple of years. The new all-wheel drive version of the Panda can be recognized by the newly designed front and rear bumpers, the increased ride height and the several raw plastic inserts that have been added here and there on the exterior, most notably the bars on the sides.

The new Panda 4×4 should get a new suspension at the back and an AWD system with a viscous coupling unit. There should be three engine options: a 1.2-litre delivering 69 hp, a 0.9-litre Twinair producing 85 hp and a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel unit producing 95 hp. The model will be officially introduced to the world at the forthcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show, in March.

View the full New Fiat Panda 4×4 spy shots photo gallery

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31 years after the original was launched, the third generation of the Panda is finally here, and to celebrate the event Fiat has released an official photo gallery picturing the model in some of the most glamorous and evocative Italian cities: Rome, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Venice and so on (see below). The new Fiat Panda will be available for order starting December 20th in three different versions: Pop, Easy and Lounge. The ‘Pop’ is the entry level version, and comes with a standard equipment including ABS and EDB, front and side airbags, daytime running lights, Fix&Go puncture repair kit, radio dock, steering wheel adjustable in height, servo drive and (1.2-litre aside) Start-Stop system. The middle version is called ‘Easy’ and comes with also an audio system with 6 speakers, radio and CD/MP3 player as well as longitudinal roof bars. At the top of the range there is the ‘Lounge’ version, which also uses fog-lights, air conditioning with pollen filter, driver seat adjustable in height and color matching wing mirror shells.

In comparison to its predecessor, the new Panda is 110 mm longer, 50 mm wider and 10 mm taller, whereas the wheelbase remains 2,300 mm. The more rounded exterior styling makes it somewhat reminiscent of the Fiat 500, with which the new Panda shares the platform it has been built upon. The model now has blackened B and C-pillars while the LED day lights have been integrated below the head lamps.

Initially there will be three engine options: a 1.2-litre delivering 69 hp, a 0.9-litre TwinAir delivering 85 hp, a 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel unit delivering 75 hp. The 1.2-litre unit pushes the Panda from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 14.2 seconds, reaching 164 km/h (101 mph) of top speed, with an average fuel consumption rated at 5.2 l/100 km. The 0.9 TwinAir provides the car with a 0-100 km sprint time of 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 177 km/h (110 mph) with 4.2 l/100 km of average fuel consumption. The 1.3-litre MultiJet needs 12.8 seconds to take the Panda from standstill to 100 km/h, with a top speed of 168 km/h (104 mph) and 3.9 l/100km of fuel consumption. In the course of 2012, Dualogic transmission as well as hybrid powertrains (petrol-LPG for the 1.2 engine and petrol-methane for the 0.9 Twin Air) will be introduced. Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below to find out more about the new Panda.

View the full Fiat Panda photo gallery

Continue reading: New Fiat Panda available for order

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Fiat is at the Bologna Motor Show with a few interesting models. The Italian carmaker anticipates the 2012 version of the Fiat Punto with the Punto Born This Way Concept, sporting a matt yellow paint job in contrast with the glossy black roof, door handles, wing mirror covers and 17″ rims. Besides, all four brake disc calipers are also painted in matt yellow. Under the bonnet there is a supercharged 1.4-litre MultiAir engine with start-stop system delivering 135 hp and 206 Nm of peak torque. The Punto Born This Way Concept can reach 205 km/h top speed (127 mph) with just 129 g/km of CO2 emissions.

The other star at the Fiat’s stand is the 500 Nation Limited Edition, adopting a mostly pearl-white color scheme called Blu America also featuring an American Flag theme for the wing-mirror covers, customized decals and 16″ alloys with a thin red outline. Then there is the even more exclusive 500C National Limited Edition, with red foldable roof top, American Flag graphics and 16″ alloys with thin blue outline. Last but not least there is the new Panda, which is likely to become the more sought-after model at the booth once the fair will open its doors to the general public. We will have a more in-depth look at this model soon.

View the full Fiat line up at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show full gallery

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We wouldn’t describe the new 2012 Fiat Panda as a revolution but in this video which gives us the full visual tour of the new Panda, we can see all the new design elements of the more modern version. And more modern it definitely is with some design inspiration from the Fiat 500 and an updated interior.

We’re not sold on the dash’s squared off features, but the new Panda is definitely more sophisticated on the inside and Fiat claims overall that quality has been improved on the utilitarian model. There is one on every street corner in Italy and the Fiat Panda is key to the company’s sales volume, especially in its home market.

The initial engine launch offering won’t excite the pants of anyone wanting performance on their Panda, but it’s appropriate to this kind of vehicle. We get the two-cylinder 0.9 TwinAir Turbo with 85 hp, the 0.9-litre Aspirated TwinAir with 65 hp and the 1.2-litre Fire with 69 hp. The first diesel available is the 1.3 Multijet II with 75 hp and following will be bifuel methane and LPG versions.

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Fiat has released basic pics and information of the new 2012 Fiat Panda which gets a bit grown-up for its third generation. A long history in Italy and abroad, the Fiat Panda continues what the brand describes as its “functional design, manoeuvrability, space, reliability and comfort”.

We’d pretty much have to agree with that. The compact SUV-style citycar gets a new look and updated engine range which will debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Despite a more modern and mature style with a redesigned front grille and headlights, the new Panda does still have a snuggly look which should help it continue to appeal to families.

The Fiat Panda has grown slightly in size to 365 cm long to maximise interior space both for passengers and luggage space. New flexible seating arrangements have been included where the rear seat can be split and slid to make more room and the front passenger seat can fold down to make a table. There is also a flat storage space option called the “cargo box” for the boot, although Fiat offers no capacity figures. Other redesigned interior elements include an updated dash which works like a large “shell” for optimal storage capacity.

Continue reading: New Fiat Panda

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The Mini Countryman was out to seek new buyers and it certainly got a few in Italy, of all countries. The Italian market can boast the biggest sales figures in Europe so far for the Countryman and we’ve seen a few on the streets, already. The news came as a surprise at first until we realised that Italy was probably far more prepared for a compact SUV of this dimension than other markets, having had a long love affair with its own Fiat Panda.

While the Fiat Panda is not strictly to be classified as a compact SUV, and will never match the Mini for style (or price for that matter), the vehicle has optional all-wheel drive, an upright sitting position, space for four people and a compact boot. In fact, the model has been a big seller in Italy for a long time and you’d be hard placed to drive through any Italian town and not see at least five of these in your first ten minutes in town.

In Italy the Mini Countryman has sold over 3,800 units and the brand saw a sales increase in January of 15.4 percent. The most sold version, unsurprisingly, is the Cooper ALL4 model which makes up about 40 percent of all sales. More success is likely as the 2.0-litre diesel with 143 hp hits the market in March. Could we start to see more of these on little Italian mountain roads? Possibly, but they won’t be so easy to overtake as the Fiat Panda.

Source | Autoblog.it

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These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged Lancia Ypsilon doing the testing thing on the streets of Italy. The new Ypsilon will be presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March next year and will probably have an engine line-up of just three models: 0.9 SGE, 1.4 Multiair and the 1.3 Multijet.

The Lancia citycar is expected to be joined by the new Fiat Panda next year, on whose platform it’s based. The Panda platform gets lengthened slightly although the Ypsilon will retain a size comparable to the current generation. It will have Delta-inspired style and five doors and we can make out some details of the cabin, like the centrally-mounted instrumentation. The rest among all that camouflage is difficult to identify but if it’s out and about already, it won’t be long before we see more spy shots emerge.

Source | Autoblog.it

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This year the Fiat Panda, one of the most popular city cars, is celebrating its 30th birthday and Fiat has decided to celebrate the event with a special edition, simply dubbed the “Anniversary Edition.”

This special edition is based on the Panda Active 1.1 version and will be available in three new colours, White, Red and Optimistic yellow. It’s interior will sport black denim fabric, that was previously offered only the Panda 4×4 Glam and also includes “liner” applications for the center and rear pillars.

The Fiat Panda Anniversary edition has the same price as the Active model, 9.950 euros.

Since its original launch in 1980 the Panda has registered sales of over six million units and it’s the best selling city car in Italy with a 33,1% share, while it reached an 18% share of the European market last month.

The Panda is available with both front wheel drive and all wheel drive and featuring gasoline, diesel, LPG or CNG engines.

Source | auto-types.com

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As you may well imagine, Volkswagen did very nicely in the European market for 2009, as did Opel and Ford (and there’s no prizes for guessing for which models). There are a couple of surprises though, with Fiat doing very well, but not with the Fiat 500, which makes a nice change, and Peugeot and Renault put in appearances as well. Check out Europe’s top ten cars for 2009 after the jump.

Continue reading: Europe's top ten cars for 2009

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Some car trivia for the weekend was required as we get down to the business of Christmas cheer, and in this gallery we take a look at all the Car of the Year models from 1964 to today. This year, the humble Volkswagen Polo took out the title, marking the 47th since the award was incepted. The Car of the Year award is judged by seven European car magazine titles: Autocar in the UK, Stern in Germany, Vi Bilägare in Sweden, Autovisie in the Netherlands, L’Automobile Magazine in France, Auto in Italy, and Autopista in Spain.

The first Car of the Year back in 1964 was the Rover 2000, and things have come a long way since then. The Car of the Year must be a new vehicle that is available to at least five European markets in the year in question. Criteria such as design, comfort, performance, safety, practicality, ecology and economy, price and overall driveability are considered.

Perhaps surprisingly, the brand that has received the most awards in the history of the Car of the Year is Fiat, with a total of nine models, and that’s not including other Fiat Group brands such as Alfa Romeo or Lancia. Following Fiat, the company with the most success has been Renault, winning six times. The Volkswagen Polo for 2010 marks only the second time that Volkswagen has won the prize. After the jump is the full list of Car of the Year models from 1964 to 2010.

Car of the Year 1964 to 2010

Continue reading: Pics: Car of the Year 1964 to 2010

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The presentation from Fiat-Chrysler on future plans for the Chrysler brand and models has been comprehensive, if a little confusing, and confirms much of what was already thought. The Fiat 500 will be the first Fiat group model to reach American shores, late next year, with dedicated sales teams and “salons” in Chrysler showroooms.

The hope is that the cute little Fiat 500 will hold much of the same fascination for the Americans as the Mini, with its retro style winning hearts. It will be followed by the Fiat 500 cabrio in 2011 and the Abarth 500 in 2012, in a logical progression which will be the first introduction to the US market and distribution channels for Fiat.

As for Chrysler models, there will be a number of “special editions” launched to get the last few models off the production line. The 300, Town and Country, Sebring and PT Cruiser will transform into a sports edition, fashion edition, ocean edition and final edition respectively, to tie the models over before new production, style and models kick off later next year and into 2011.

Continue reading: Fiat-Chrysler plan: Fiat 500 confirmed to US

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As already announced, the Fiat Panda will soon debut on the US market, and the Cross 4×4 city car will appear with the Jeep brand, and will be sold under the name “Phoenix”. Expected for 2011, the Jeep Phoenix is planned for success with an off-road look, practical use and different enough from the rest of the Jeep range.

Here are the first Fiat Panda reconstructions of the stars and stripes version of the Italian car. Seeing one of the originals on mountain roads in Italy, she’s difficult to recognise. Time will tell if the choice is a hit or not.

Source | Autoblog.com

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