Fiat has unveiled a new special series of its iconic city car, the Fiat Panda, called the Fiat Pandina. The Pandina is a tribute to millions of customers' love and affection for the Panda, which has been the market leader in Italy and Europe for over four decades. The Pandina is also a celebration of the production extension of the Panda at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Italy, at least until 2027. The Pandina is based on the Cross trim level, with an off-road look, and features many new technological and safety features, making it the most advanced Fiat Panda ever.
What makes the Pandina special?
The Pandina is not a limited edition but a special series that will be available this summer, with a starting price of around $23,000. The Pandina is distinguished by some specific details on the bodywork and the interior, such as:
- The ‘Pandina’ lettering on the black covers on the lower part of the doors and on the rear side windows.
- The Panda snout is on the alloy wheel trims, and the new body colors are coral red, ocean blue, and lime green.
- The 7-inch digital instrument panel with various graphics is available for the first time on the Panda.
- The new central screen (also 7 inches) for the infotainment system has a redesigned interface and four touch-sensitive buttons on the sides.
- The new steering wheel has a design similar to that of the Tipo and several physical buttons to control the screens and the driver assistance systems.
- Automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, driver fatigue detection, traffic sign recognition, and cruise control are standard on the Pandina.
- The automatic high beam, 6 airbags, and rear parking sensors complete the equipment.
The Pandina is powered by the usual 70 PS 1.0-litre mild hybrid engine, combined with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. The mild hybrid system consists of a belt-driven starter generator and a 12-volt battery, which help reduce fuel consumption and emissions by recovering energy during braking and coasting and providing electric assist during acceleration and restart.