Fiat’s Panda 4x4 is one of the oldest and well-known small off-roaders we have seen. The car is as happy in city traffic as it is taking on the road less travelled. The new Panda Cross (based on the 4x4) is said to boast of even more off-road capabilities, thanks to a host of new features and improved ground clearance.
Design-wise, the front end of the Panda Cross features new light clusters, a new bumper and new fog lights integrated into front fascia. Completing the refreshed look is the new LED DRLs integrated into the skid plate. The rear end is also revised with a new bumper with under-body protection echoing the design of the front skid plate, a new rear light cluster and a chrome tail pipe. Inside, the cabin features unique fabric upholstery and a new dashboard finish.
The Panda Cross comes standard with something called ‘Torque-on-Demand’ transmission system, which uses the car’s electronic locking differential and ESP system to control the engine’s torque delivery in rough terrain. In addition, the Panda Cross also comes fitted with all-season 185-section 15-inch tyres designed specifically to perform well under low-grip conditions.
Fiat has also improved the Panda’s ground clearance; 16cm for the Multijet version and 15cm for the TwinAir Turbo version. Under the hood, two engines will be offered in the new Panda Cross, both with Start/Stop tech as standard. The 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo engine puts out 90bhp and 145Nm of torque while the popular 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine delivers 80bhp and a generous 190Nm of torque.
Fiat will unveil the new Panda Cross at the upcoming 2014 Geneva Motor Show, before putting it on sale in Europe later in the year.
