Fiat Panda 100HP spearheads expanded UK range

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.