FIATPanda 2011 - Present

　　Fiat unveiled the third generation of the Panda at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and continued the saga of this small-sized Italian four-door vehicle on a market where most customers turned their eyes towards SUVs and crossovers.

　　Besides those who were looking for larger family vehicles, there were those who needed affordable means of transportation to move in and around cities. For these tasks, the Panda was close to ideal thanks to its tiny size and the ability to carry up to five people on board. Furthermore, the nameplate has been well-known in Europe since it was introduced by Fiat in 1980 and was appreciated for its low fuel consumption and ruggedness.

　　The exterior design was more of an evolution than a revolution compared to the second generation of the Panda that was released in 2003. At the front, the car got a set of headlights that integrated the turn signal lamps on their inner sides. Between them, the automaker placed a slim grille adorned by the Fiat’s logo in the middle, supported by a chromed slat. The bumper sported the main cooling area on its lower side and was crossed by a fat horizontal slat that housed the license plate. Lower, on the apron, customers could opt for a set of fog lamps.

　　From its profile, the Panda revealed its short overhangs and tall greenhouse. In addition, Fiat made the hood very short compared to the rest of the car. A set of plastic molds adorned the door panels to protect them against scratches. Depending on the version and grade, the car featured steel or alloy wheels, and the slightly flared fenders gave the car a sporty flair. The tall doors and vertical windows allowed Fiat to create a roomy interior. In addition, behind the C-posts, the automaker added a third set of windows that increased the driver’s visibility. Finally, at the back, the vertical tailgate flanked by high-mounted taillights featured a large glass area.

　　Inside, Fiat installed a slim and almost vertical dashboard that featured a storage area in front of the side passenger. The driver fronted an instrument cluster fitted with large dials for the speedometer and tachometer in independent binnacles that flanked a TFT for the car’s onboard computer. Depending on the grade, the Panda featured either a simple CD radio or a more complex unit with a separate screen for the navigation system. Despite the short wheelbase, there was enough room for four adults to sit comfortably inside the Panda, but a third, middle-seated one on the rear bench, had limited legroom.

　　Under the hood, Fiat installed a choice of three engines for most of the countries. A naturally-aspirated 1.2-liter inline-four powered the base model, while the top-of-the-range version featured the award-winning two-cylinder 0.9-liter turbocharged TwinAir unit. In addition, a turbo diesel was also on the table. For selected countries, Fiat also provided customers with a 1.2-liter engine that ran on gasoline and GNC.

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