Fiat Pandina: The Best Panda Ever with New Tech and Safety Features

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 2024 Fiat Panda 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 2024 Fiat Panda 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.

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How does the Fiat Pandina compare to its competitors?

The 2024 Fiat Panda is a unique offering in the city car segment, as it combines the charm and versatility of the Panda with the latest technology and safety features. The Pandina is also a more affordable option than some of its rivals, such as the Hyundai i10, the Kia Picanto, and the Toyota Aygo, which have similar dimensions and engines but higher prices and lower equipment levels. The table below shows a comparison of the main features and specifications of the Pandina and its competitors:

Model	Price	Engine	Power	Torque	Fuel economy	Boot space	Safety features
Fiat Pandina	$23,000	1.0-litre mild hybrid	70 PS	92 Nm	4.7 l/100 km	225 l	Automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, driver fatigue detection, traffic sign recognition, cruise control, automatic high beam, 6 airbags, rear parking sensors
Hyundai i10	$24,500	1.0-litre petrol	67 PS	96 Nm	5.1 l/100 km	252 l	Forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, 6 airbags, rear parking sensors
Kia Picanto	$25,000	1.0-litre petrol	67 PS	96 Nm	5.1 l/100 km	255 l	Autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, 6 airbags, rear parking sensors
Toyota Aygo	$26,000	1.0-litre petrol	72 PS	93 Nm	4.8 l/100 km	168 l	Pre-collision system, lane departure alert, road sign assist, 6 airbags, rear parking sensors

As the table shows, the Pandina has a slight advantage in terms of engine power and fuel economy and a significant advantage in terms of safety features, as it offers more driver assistance systems than its competitors. The Pandina also has a distinctive design and personality, which make it stand out from the crowd. The only drawbacks of the Pandina are its smaller boot space and shorter wheelbase, which may affect the comfort and practicality of the passengers.

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Why is the Pandina important for Fiat?

The Fiat Pandina is not only a special series of the Fiat Panda but also a symbol of Fiat’s commitment to the future of its iconic model and its production site in Italy. The Pandina celebrates the production extension of the Panda at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant, at least until 2027, thanks to new investments and increased demand. The Fiat Pandina also anticipates some of the features available on the new Fiat Panda, unveiled on July 11, marking a revolution for Fiat’s small car, which will be electric and grow in size to become a B-SUV.

The 2024 Fiat Panda will be based on the same platform as the Citroen C3 and will have a more modern and dynamic design, with an LED grille and two-tone bodywork. The 2024 Fiat Panda will also feature a 50 kWh battery and a 136 HP engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 150 km/h and cover up to 300 km on a single charge.

The Pandina is, therefore, a bridge between the past and the future of the Fiat Panda, a car that has been loved and appreciated by millions of customers for over four decades. The Pandina is a tribute to people's love and affection for the Panda and a way to thank them for their loyalty and trust. The Pandina is also a way to show that Fiat is not resting on its laurels but is constantly innovating and improving its products to meet the changing needs and expectations of the market. The Fiat Pandina is the most advanced Fiat Panda ever and a preview of what is to come.