What is it?
An electrified version of the Fiat Panda Cross: the boxy, loveable, small Italian hatchback that seems set on trying to convince anyone who claps eyes on it that it really is a proper, mud-plugging SUV.
Only it isn’t really. It might have plenty of black plastic cladding and a slightly raised ride height, but beneath it lies a front-driven, slightly puffed up city car. But we knew that already. Of greater importance is the fact that this new Panda Mild Hybrid represents the first stage of Fiat’s quest to redefine itself as a maker of small, electrified city cars.
Of course, being a mild hybrid it does seem to be more of a tentative toe-dip than a bonafide head-on dive into the waters of Lake Electrification. But you’ve got to start somewhere, and in any case it’ll soon be followed up by the fully-electric 500e that’s expected to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in a few months’ time. So it’s not like Fiat is lacking intent on this front.
The Panda Mild Hybrid is being launched alongside the new 500 Mild Hybrid, and makes use of the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and 12v belt-integrated starter generator as its more diminutive sibling. This harvests kinetic energy during braking and deceleration, which is stored in a 11Ah lithium battery. This enables the engine to shut down to conserve fuel when coasting or at a standstill, and can also be used to assist acceleration. All up, the Panda Mild Hybrid makes a relatively humble 69bhp and 68lb ft.
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62 pound foot = 90 nm torque
62 pound foot = 90 nm torque - pretty poor.
This is basically the old 2003 Panda but more anemic and generally more sh!t.
I'd seek out a 2003 Panda for 500 quid. It'd have a better FIRE 4 cyliner engine than this thing and be more pleasant to drive while delivering better real world economy.
That 2003 is basically the same chassis/type
FIAT have only got themselves to blame for their under-investment.
14.7 seconds and 3 star safety - so avoid the open road then
'fuel consumption of 36 mpg' this has to be a joke, VW 1.5 Golf and A3s will easierly do 50mpg+, this Hybrid appears to use more fuel than the pre-hybrid Panda. So the only trick FIAT has pulled off here appears to be mugging the punter!
xxxx wrote:
Love to see what a normal person would get as you can guarantee they drove it like they stole it.
Can't see why they can't add the safety kit to improve the rating, after all it's still based on the 500 which gets a better score. Also the up is also now a 3star car iirc because certain safety kit is no longer standard.
These stars should be based on how well it fares in the impact tests with maybe a separate score for available kit/standard kit.
Shame it doesn't appear to have the AWD option.
xxxx wrote:
Well, they certainly didn't see YOU on the horizon...so caring are you of all city car buyers to put us off this car, also amazing that you were able to read the whole article and then rehash it albeit error laden. Again, why would anyone buying this type of car, in this price range, compare it to another car two classes larger and at least twice the price...you, because you are an ignorant, immature idiot who plagiarises and laboriously types out what you imagine to be an informed piece. Fool.
I've just driven 1100 miles
I've just driven 1100 miles (mixed motorway/city/country roads) in the similar FIAT 500 Mild Hybrid and it's done 53.5 mph throughout. Lead-footed youths must have been flogging this Panda.
What on earth have they done