Fiat Panda
From WOI Encyclopedia Italia
- For the 2003 redesign, see Fiat Panda (2003)
| |
| Fiat Panda | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Fiat |
| Production: | 1980–2003 |
| Body Styles: | FF supermini 3-door hatchback |
| Predecessors: | None |
| Successors: | Fiat Panda (2003) |
| |
The Fiat Panda (project code 141) was a small automobile produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1980 and 2003. Total production : more 4.000.000 units.
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Panda was intended as a modern day interpretation of the Citroën 2CV, being a basic, simple, no frills utility vehicle that was easy to use and maintain. Introduced in 1980, the Panda was noted for its box-like styling, which would be developed two years later in the design of the Uno. Mechanically, it borrowed heavily from the Fiat parts bin, using engines and transmissions from the Fiat 127 and in certain territories, the air-cooled 652cc 2-cylinder powerplant from the Fiat 126 was also used. Suspension was courtesy of a very basic leaf-sprung dead axle at the rear, and MacPherson struts at the front.
There were many features which contributed to the Panda's "utility car" role, for example the rear seat could be folded flat to make a bed, or folded up to act as a bottle carrier, or removed altogether to increase the load space. The front seats had removeable covers so that they could be washed. The fabric covered dashboard could also be removed, and the Panda could be specified with a full-length roll back canvas roof. In 1983, a four-wheel drive system was developed, and this proved popular in rural Italy, where roads are often very poor. 1986 saw some major mechanical changes to the Panda, centering around the introduction of the FIRE engines from the Uno, and a new coil sprung rear axle to address the Panda's ride quality.
From 1996 the Panda began to be phased out across Europe, being a victim of tightening safety legislation. Production finally ended in September 2003. However, Fiat introduced a all-new Panda the same year. The new Panda was originally known as Gingo, but Fiat had to change the name because of a possibly conflict with the Renault Twingo. The Panda Nuova was voted European Car of the Year for 2004.
The SEAT twin
Spanish automaker SEAT also produced a version of the Panda. Up to 1983, SEAT lacked their own designs and only made rebadged versions of Fiat cars, through a licence agreement between the two firms. Examples of this are the 124, 127, 131, 132 and Ritmo, all of which are exact clones of their Fiat namesakes. Thus, there exists a Spanish version of the Panda called the SEAT Panda, produced from 1981 to 1986. After Fiat sold their share in SEAT in 1983 and the licence agreement was over, the whole SEAT Fiat-clone model range was quickly given the least possible changes so that Fiat couldn't sue SEAT on the basis of patent infringement. The SEAT Panda had its front and rear lights and panel shapes redesigned and was marketed as a SEAT Marbella from 1986 to 1998. The same happened to the Fiat Ritmo, whose redesigned version was known as the SEAT Ronda.
External links
- Fiat Panda Club
- Fiat Panda UnOfficial Web Site
- German Fiat Panda fan club and forum
- German Fiat Panda forum
- The Fiat Forum
| <- Older Models | Fiat car timeline, European market, 1980s-present - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | 126 | Cinquecento | Seicento | 500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panda | Nuova Panda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 127 | Uno | Punto I | Punto II | Grande Punto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | Ritmo | Tipo | Bravo / Brava | Stilo | Nuova Bravo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regata | Tempra | Marea | Linea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Argenta | Croma I | Croma II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | X1/9 | Coupé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster | Barchetta | Barchetta | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II | Doblò | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini SUV | Sedici | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini MPV | Idea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Multipla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large MPV | Ulysse I | Ulysse II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current models | Albea | Barchetta | Croma | Doblò | Ducato | Fiorino | Grande Punto | Idea | Marea | Multipla | Nuova 500 | Nuova Panda | Palio/Palio Weekend | Punto | Scudo | Sedici | Seicento | Siena | Strada | Stilo | Ulysse | |
| Historic models | 1 | 1T | 3.5 CV | 4 HP | 8V | 10 HP | 12 HP | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 130 | 131 | 132/Argenta | 133 | 147/Spazio | 2B | 24 HP | 242 | 500 | 502 HP | 503 HP | 508 | 508C | 509 | 510S | 514 | 518 | 519 | 520 | 524 | 574 Corsa | 60 HP | 600 | 750 | 850 | 1100 | 1200 | 1400 | 1300/1500 | 1800/2100/2300 | 2800 | Albea | Balilla | Bianchina | Bravo/Brava | Campagnola | Cinquecento | Croma | Coupé | Dino | Duna/Prêmio | Elba | Mod 5 | Oggi | Panorama | Panda | Regata | Ritmo/Strada | Siena | Tempra | Tipo | Topolino | Turbina | Uno | X1/9 | Zero | |
| Fiat Group brands | Abarth | Alfa Romeo | Autobianchi | Ferrari | Fiat | Lancia | Innocenti | Maserati | |
| Fiat Group Corporate Website | Fiat Auto Website | ||
