Panda prices posted as car hits showrooms

ITALIAN car giant Fiat has announced the price structure for its new Panda, which goes on sale at the end of the month (February).

The much-anticipated new Panda has an entry price of £8,900 on the road, competitively priced among its rivals. The top spec model, equipped with the 1.3 Multijet 2 turbodiesel power plant costs £12,250 on the road. This price includes air conditioning, Start&Stop, roof rails and alloy wheels.

Three engines are available at launch, all offering ultra-low CO2 emissions, claim Fiat. They are a 1.2-litre petrol (69bhp), 0.9-litre TwinAir (85bhp) and 1.3 MultiJet 2 turbodiesel (75bhp). There will be three trim levels: Pop, Easy and Lounge.

With more than six million examples sold, the Fiat Panda has proved its popularity, and this larger, more sophisticated version retains that appeal, with an even stronger, more emotional design which will attract a still broader audience.

Standard equipment in the entry level Pop includes electric windows, central locking, Dualdrive electric power steering, four airbags and body colour bumpers. The extensive options list includes ESP, roof rails and black pastel paint.

Easy trim versions add remote central locking, air conditioning, roof rails and a higher grade audio system, while Lounge additionally receives heated electric mirrors, 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, body coloured mirrors and door handles, and side mouldings.

Safety is of course top of the agenda with up to six airbags, double seatbelt pretensioners, an active anti-whiplash head restraint system, and available ESP. In addition, a new Low Speed Collision Mitigation system will become available for the first time. This uses a laser sensor on the windscreen to scan a space a short distance in front of the vehicle to determine the risk of a collision. It is capable of automatically activating emergency braking at speeds less than 30km/h (18.6mph).

A vast list of available options will allow customers to specify a car to suit their own needs and, with a huge choice of 10 exterior colours and six interior/dashboard combinations, everyone will be able to create their own special Panda.

On-the-road pricing for the range is as follows:

PRICES ON THE ROAD

POP 1.2 8v 69 CV £8900

POP 1.3 MULTIJET 75 CV £11,100

EASY 0.9 TWINAIR 85 CV £10,750

EASY 0.9 TWINAIR 85 CV DUALOGIC £11,500

EASY 1.2 8V 69 CV £9550

EASY 1.3 MULTIJET 75 CV £11,750

LOUNGE 0.9 TWINAIR 85 CV £11,250

LOUNGE 0.9 TWINAIR 85 CV DUALOGIC £12,000

LOUNGE 1.2 8V 69 CV £10,050

LOUNGE 1.3 MULTIJET 75 CV £12,250