Third generation (319)
Overview
Production	2011–present
Assembly	Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy
Designer	Centro Stile Fiat
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive
Platform	Fiat Mini platform
Related	Lancia Ypsilon Fiat 500 Fiat Uno Ford Ka
Powertrain
Engine	0.9 L TwinAir I2 (petrol) 0.9 L TwinAir Turbo I2 (turbocharger petrol) 0.9 L TwinAir Turbo I2 (turbocharger CNG/petrol) 1.2 L FIRE I4 (petrol) 1.2 L FIRE I4 (LPG/petrol) 1.3 L Multijet I4 (turbocharged diesel)
Transmission	5-speed C514 manual 5-speed C510 DS manual 6-speed manual 5-speed Dualogic semi-automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,300 mm (90.6 in)
Length	3,653–3,686 mm (143.8–145.1 in)
Width	1,643–1,672 mm (64.7–65.8 in)
Height	1,551–1,605 mm (61.1–63.2 in)
Curb weight	940–1,115 kg (2,072–2,458 lb)

 

Fiat Panda rear

Fiat presented the third generation of the Panda at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011.

The new architecture is based on the Fiat Mini platform. The production began in the renewed Pomigliano d'Arco Plant in the last quarter of 2011.

The older model stayed in production and was sold as Panda Classic, remaining popular thanks to its lower pricing (about 27%). The decision to manufacture the car in Italy, instead of manufacturing it with the cheaper workforce in Tychy, Poland, was taken because of the agreement between Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Fiat directors not to close down any of Fiat's plants in Italy.

Models

Panda Natural Power

The Natural Power is the CNG/petrol bi-fuel version of the Panda. Unlike the previous generation - which adopted a 70 PS 1.4 FIRE inline four - it is powered by the turbocharged, 0.9 liter, two-cylinder TwinAir engine. The system is developed in-house and factory installed. CNG is stored in two - one 22 L and one 50 L - gas cylinders: the former housed longitudinally in the transmission tunnel, the latter transversally behind the rear axle. The boot's volume remains unvaried, thanks to the cylinders being both located under the floorpan; on the other hand this requires a 40 mm taller ride height and a reworked, transversal silencer.

Total fuel capacity is 72 liters - or 12 kilograms - of CNG and 35 L of petrol - two liters less than the monofuel version's 37. At startup the engine runs on petrol, but switches to CNG immediately after; the car switches back to petrol only if it runs out of CNG or by driver input via a dedicated button on the dashboard.

Panda EasyPower

The EasyPower is the LPG/petrol bi-fuel version of the Panda; like the Natural Power it too is factory developed and manufactured. Its 1.2 FIRE inline four develops 69 PS.

Panda Trekking

Launched in late 2012, the Trekking is a two-wheel drive model offering the looks and features of the Panda 4x4. It is distinguished from the 4x4 by the absence of skid plate inserts on bumpers, no "4x4" inlay in the bodyside molding and alloy wheels painted silver instead of a darker grey. Available on this model are the 0.9 TwinAir turbocharged petrol, TwinAir Natural Power turbocharged petrol/methane and PS 1.3 Multijet II turbodiesel. Despite being front wheel drive only, the Trekking still offers some offroad capability thanks to the standard M+S tires and "Traction +" ESC-based electronically simulated front locking differential.

 

A Panda 4x4 in action.

Panda 4x4

The third generation all wheel drive Panda was introduced at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The engine lineup includes the TwinAir turbocharged petrol engine and Multijet II turbodiesel. The TwinAir engine is linked to a six-speed transmission with a short ratio first gear and the Diesel is linked to a 5-speed transmission.

The Panda 4x4 receives model specific bumpers with extra cladding, body side moldings, plastic wheelarch extensions and 175/65 M+S tires on 15" dark grey alloy wheels. The full-time all wheel drive system is composed by two open differentials front and rear and a rear-mounted electronically controlled coupling, which sends torque to the two axles in proportion depending on road conditions. At the rear there's a specially developed torsion beam semi-independent suspension, a change from the previous generation's trailing arms. An electronically simulated locking differential (termed ELD,Electronic Locking Differential) supplements the open-type differentials. The ELD works automatically by braking the wheel(s) where the ESC sensors detect excessive wheel slip, thus making the differentials more torque to the wheels in better traction conditions; this functionality is useful on low-grip surfaces, and is activated by the driver via a console switch.

 

Fiat Panda Cross.

Panda Cross

Launched at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, it's the range topping, offroad-styled Panda. Mechanically it's based on the Panda 4x4, offering the same choice of powertrains. As in the previous generation the Cross is recognizable by its wider 185/65 tyres on specific alloy wheels, new fascias with prominent skid plates and unique broken up head- and taillights arrangement. The new bumpers, together with an increased ground clearance, give the car better approach and departure angles.

Special editions

Panda 4x4 Steyr

Austrian market only special edition, announced in 2012. Its Steyr Tractor theme celebrates the several collaborations throughout the years between Fiat and former Steyr-Daimler-Puch, such as the development of the original Panda's four wheel drive system. Built on the basis of the Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet II with richer interior standard equipment, it was available in red or white with contrasting colour side stripes and Steyr logo decals.

Panda 4x4 Antarctica

This limited, 200 cars edition was premiered at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Panda 4x4. It was too based on the Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet II, featuring several normally extra cost options like automatic climate control, parking sensors and Blue&Me Bluetooth connectivity as standard. The exterior was characterized by a white with black roof two-tone paint scheme accented by orange wheel centers and side mirror caps.

Euro NCAP test results
Fiat Panda (2011)
Test	Points	%
Overall:
Adult occupant:	30	80%
Child occupant:	31	63%
Pedestrian:	18	49%
Safety assist:	3	43%

Safety

The third generation Panda was tested by Euro NCAP towards the end of 2011, and achieved a four star result. One star was dropped mainly because the Panda's electronic stability control wasn't available on all trim levels, such as the one of the tested car. Fiat clarified on the same day that ESC would be offered on the entire Fiat Panda range in the first months of 2012.

Collision avoidance system

Fiat's City Brake Control low-speed crash avoidance system is available as optional on the Panda. The system works by readying and if necessary automatically executing an emergency stop whenever an imminent collision is detected by its laser sensor. In 2013 City Brake Control attained the Euro NCAP Advanced reward.

Records

At 5:28pm on Monday 11 February 2013, Philip Young and Paul Brace broke the world record drive, in either direction, from Cape Town in South Africa to London in Great Britain with a Fiat Panda two-cylinder 0.9 TwinAir. The drive started on 1 February and ended 10 days, 13 hours and 28 minutes later, shaving over a day off the previous record, achieved in 1983 by a Land Rover Defender two years earlier.

Awards

• Panda 4x4: Top Gear Magazine's "SUV of the Year 2012".
• Panda TwinAir Turbo Natural Power: "Das grünste Auto der Schweiz 2013" ("Greenest car in Switzerland"), part of Swiss Car of the Year 2013.

Engines