New Fiat Panda 4x4 a chance for Oz

Fiat has revealed a third-generation Panda 4x4 ahead of its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in four weeks, and both it and the standard Panda are in with a chance of being released in Australia.

Unlike the Panda upon which it’s based, the 4x4 is not yet confirmed for right-hand drive production, but Fiat Chrysler Group Australia Corporate Affairs Director Lenore Fletcher told motoring.com.au that both models were under serious consideration for local release.

“We’re on record as saying we’ll consider anything that has volume potential in Australia, and the Panda is being very closely looked at as one way to extend the Fiat range in Australia, which is still quite small,” she said.

Ms Fletcher indicated that, if produced in RHD guise, the Panda 4x4 could generate significant sales volume for Fiat in Australia’s booming compact SUV segment.

“The Panda 4x4 is definitely very exciting too,” she said. “It’s an absolute cracker, with plenty of flexibility, and the fact it’s available with both petrol and diesel engines makes it even more interesting to us.”

Motoring.com.au understands Fiat Chrysler Group Australia’s General Manager Product Strategy, Alex Tam, discussed the Australian potential of the Panda and its 4x4 sibling in Italy a month ago, and will have further discussions on the matter in Turin soon.

Billed as the only 4WD in its class, the Panda 4x4 will be a direct rival for a host of current and upcoming small crossovers, including next year’s all-new Holden Trax and Ford EcoSport.

Blending an original SUV look with compact dimensions, it employs a ‘torque on demand’ part-time all-wheel drive system incorporating an electronic differential lock that can be operated at speeds under 50km/h.

Two Fiat engines will be available in Europe: a 63kW 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo petrol engine and a 56kW 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbodiesel, both matched with a fuel-saving idle-stop function and a unique six-speed manual transmission with low-ratio first gear.

Fiat says the turbo-petrol twin-cylinder engine offers 40 per cent more torque than the 1.2 Fire engine it replaces, while the MultiJet II diesel four ups torque output by 30 per cent. However, at this stage there is no mention of an automatic transmission, which would be a problem in Australia.

The third Panda 4x4 to emerge in almost 30 years measures 3680mm long, 1670mm wide and 1600mm high, making it about 50mm shorter than a MINI Cooper hatch and much shorter than the four-metre-plus MINI Countryman SUV.

The higher-riding Panda was designed by Fiat Centro Stile and is differentiated from the latest mainstream Panda by chunkier geometric front and rear bumpers with silver and matt-black cosmetic inserts, matt-black bodyside rub strips, concealed exhaust outlets and ‘4x4’ badging.

Two exclusive paint colours will be available in addition to the Panda’s colour palette – Sicilia orange (pastel) and Toscana green (metallic) – while the 4x2 Panda-based interior gains a new green instrument fascia, new leather-highlighted fabric seat trim in green, beige or orange colours, leather door inserts and a new large centre console storage compartment, in addition to the 14 already standard in the Panda 4x2.

Standard Panda 4x4 equipment in Europe will include electronic stability control with Electronic Differential Lock, a manual climate-control system, CD/MP3 audio, 15-inch burnished alloy wheels with 175/65 R15 M+S tyres, powered mirrors and remote central locking.

New Trekking and Natural Power versions of the Panda will also be revealed in Paris. The latter is fitted with a 60kW dual-fuel (methane and petrol) capable 900ccTwinAir engine, while the former is claimed to provide a link between 4x2 and 4x4 Panda models by combining front-wheel drive with a new Traction+ traction control system

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