Have you heard the news about the Fiat Panda 4x4 Adventure? It's a stripped down, "eco-friendly" version of Fiat's micro-sized off-roader. According to the press release, this bundle of fun is "aimed at "those at one with nature, with a love of outdoor activities, but also for professionals in the agricultural and forestry sectors." Clearly, Fiat was looking to satisfy all constituencies.
And why should you care? Because one of those constituencies could be you someday. Forecasting firm Global Insight is already predicting that the Panda will head our way badged as a Jeep in the summer of 2011. And if you thought Jeep's current compact vehicles are anemic, this particular Panda features a base engine with 60-horsepower. Don't worry though, there is a higher-spec model with 70-hp.
IL News: Fiat Panda 4x4 Adventure Unveiled
firstwagon says:
06:29 PM, 07/ 9/09
I'd might buy one. I imagine we'll get the 100 hp engine here though.
http://www.fiat.co.uk/Showroom/#showroom/panda_100hp
While the base engines are supposed to feel quite peppy due to the low 2200 lb curb weight, I think Americans are too obsessed with HP numbers to accept that.
estreka says:
06:44 PM, 07/ 9/09
Maybe. There's lots of folks out there that have no idea how much "boost" their cars have.
bankerdanny says:
07:06 PM, 07/ 9/09
I might, but firstwagon is right, it needs at least 100hp to be practical in the US. Oh, and on regular gas too!
I know that the Smart has 70 hp, but I don't see the IL using the Smart for any of their runs to Vegas.
petrolhead85 says:
07:12 PM, 07/ 9/09
Would I buy THIS Fiat? probably not
However....
I would definitely look at the Panda 100HP, the 500 (1.4L sport and especially the Abarth) and the Grande Punto (again in Abarth trim). While I'm on the topic of Fiat cars I'd like to drive, how about an Alfa Romeo Mito and the upcoming Milano?
rsholland says:
07:24 PM, 07/ 9/09
I'd consider it.
stephen987 says:
08:31 PM, 07/ 9/09
Diesel, please.
moparbad says:
08:38 PM, 07/ 9/09
70 to 80 HP would be fine, 90 HP would be great, and 100 HP is just not needed.
I've driven a Willy's Jeep with 60 HP and I think it weighed about 2500 lbs and it was good off road and adequate on pavement.
I would welcome Panda as a modern Jeep, it is likely more cabable off road than Patriot.
stovt001 says:
10:33 PM, 07/ 9/09
I'll second moparbad and say off-road capability is more important than power. No one expects a Jeep to be a drag-racer on the road, but they do expect it to be a star on the road. That is why Jeep's current compacts are so easily dismissed.
iwatchf1 says:
11:52 PM, 07/ 9/09
On a picture it looks awful but I would like to see cars like this one on U.S. rads. And as for my own preference, I wouldn't buy this car.
eric808 says:
12:17 AM, 07/10/09
Hell no!! I wouldn't buy this Fiat, or any Fiat out there at all. This car looks crappy, probably performs crappier than the compact 4x4's out here in the U.S., and looks shittier than the Jeep Compass. And trust me, the Compass looks shitty.
9000aero says:
04:47 AM, 07/10/09
Not a chance. I would rather walk that drive that ugly thing. I don't really care how much horsepower it has or doesn't have, if it is that ugly I wouldn't be caught dead driving it.
9000aero says:
04:54 AM, 07/10/09
oh and another thing... did you look at the specs on the Fiat cars? The Panda 100hp is the fastest thing they make. It gets to sixty in over 9 seconds! Come on, how could anyone want that? I can see it now, I'll be walking to work and still get there faster than all the morons in their overgrown mopeds.
sabastian says:
05:00 AM, 07/10/09
Never.
I would buy a 500 Abarth.
niallyb says:
05:25 AM, 07/10/09
Driven a couple of Pandas in Italy. Great city car. Got smoked on the highway by a Murcielago once - shocker that.
The car has a very good reputation for what it is but there should be a new one on the way next year so showing this picture I think it probably a waste of time. As far as I know the engineering and design work on the replacement is nearly done
philipd1 says:
05:29 AM, 07/10/09
look at this and then decide if 60hp is not enough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y&feature=fvst
ofmachines says:
05:53 AM, 07/10/09
People here in the states balk at small economical (read "slow") vehicles like this and then bitch about the terrible mileage in the bigger ones. 60hp would be fine for a non-performance vehicle this light, though 70-80 may be better suited for our roads. Diesel would make the decision for me to buy this...currently own two diesel cars and couldn't be happier.
brn says:
06:06 AM, 07/10/09
The people obsessed with HP are the ones here on this blog.
Some people will buy this because it's cute. It won't be taken seriously as a Jeep, nor should it.
goaterguy says:
07:25 AM, 07/10/09
Excellent video Philipd1, I would consider it if I needed something similar, or a Suzuki SX4 crossover.
brn, I think this Fiat would make a better Jeep than the Compass or Patriot.
Funy how the author was probably looking for everybody to say, "hell no, I won't be buying that thing" and most people have said that would consider it.
Even more people want the even lower horsepower (but more torque) diesel engine.
Hopefully us Americans will start withdrawing from our HP addiction.
Think about it, how many HP you are using in that traffic jam or commute to work everyday?
goaterguy says:
07:32 AM, 07/10/09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAQu8PMZSSk&feature=PlayList&p=446348B935D4CBCB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51
I own a rebadged Holden Monaro (Pontiac GTO) and the best suggestion for Fiat is to bring the European models as undiluted as possible.
Please, don't make the suspension more soft, or more ridiculous luxuries, just slap the Jeep badge and be done with it.
festiboi1 says:
07:53 AM, 07/10/09
For a small car like this, 60-70hp should be fine. My daily driver, a Subaru Justy, has 66hp and does just fine tackling the steep grades in Southern California. My recently departed '95 Escort had 88hp and never felt strained or underpowered; in fact, it felt downright peppy.
inlinesix says:
10:06 AM, 07/10/09
I'd consider this car. The problem, like others have said, is that we American's have to get over the HP number itself.
estreka says:
08:47 AM, 07/11/09
Top Gear did an episode (13-3) where they test drove economical cars and their ultimate conclusion was the Fiat 500.
uncanny_man says:
10:04 AM, 07/11/09
No! No, no, no. nope
k55 says:
12:58 PM, 07/12/09
Maybe not this...but I definitely would buy a 500 Abarth Esse Esse.....Panda 100.....Alfa Romeo Mito GTA.....These are the Fiat (and Alfa) products we want in the USA.
txxterra says:
07:18 AM, 07/13/09
I'd rather see Fiat kill the Chrysler brand altogether, take over the dealerships, and start selling honest-to-goodness Fiats and Alfas out of them. Aside from the 300 (which peaked three years ago anyway) and the Town & Country, the brand has nothing to recommend itself anyway.
uejtd19 says:
06:58 PM, 08/ 8/09
By the way, this type of Pandas are practically the only types of cars you see near the Alps in Italy, because they are narrow, have short overhangs, and work perfectly for the Narrow mountain streets.