Debutta la Nuova Panda UK...

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UK: Right hand drive Fiat Panda debuts

13 Jan 2004

Source: just-auto.com editorial team

Fiat's redesigned Panda city car is making its right hand drive debut in the UK on January 17.

Orders from all markets had already exceeded 95,000 units by the end of November 2003.

The UK will get six versions priced from £6295 to £8095 with three trim levels – Active, Dynamic and Eleganza. Initially there’s a choice of two petrol engines, (1.1 litre 8-valve, 54 bhp, and 1.2 litre 8-valve, 60 bhp) with five-speed manual gearboxes as standard and the Dualogic ‘box, with sequential or fully automatic operation, is also an option with the 1.2 litre motor.

A 1.3 litre 16-valve turbodiesel engine option arrives this summer, and a four-wheel drive version, set to become the UK’s most affordable off-roader, will follow towards the end of the year.

Fiat models in the UK are often slightly more highly specified than their left-hand drive equivalents in Europe. Electric front windows, central locking, electronic power steering, two front airbags and a Blaupunkt stereo radio cassette are standard in the entry level Active version. Further up the range, up to six airbags, ABS, automatic climate control air conditioning, parking sensors, ‘SkyDome’ electric sunroof, steering wheel audio controls and a CD system with MP3 player are either standard or optional.

Fiat UK claims the new Panda is the only car in its class to offer a sophisticated ESP system that controls stability when cornering - models with ESP also have hydraulic brake assistance and a hill holder.