Panda Pops

Roland Rendell is sent back to the 80s by a car that really gives you the feel-good factor.

As a massive fan of all things 80s (especially the sweets and crisps) I’m old enough to remember the first Fiat Panda that hit the roads in 1980. Designed as a modern day ‘peasant car’ (a basic, inexpensive no-frills vehicle) the Italian giant was looking to shift plenty of the ‘Mini-Gems’, and managed to come second in the European Car of the Year in 1981, only losing out to the Escort Mark III.

As you’d expect, this latest version sees a massive improvement in looks, design and performance. The ‘smiley-faced’ front of the car was surrounded in Sweet (Cough) Candy Beige paintwork. Open the door and the Rubik (Cube) fabric, is very retro. The print features solid and outlined squares, called Squircles, but to me, they look more like Spangles.

Space invader
Although not quite the Millennium Falcon the dashboard is well thought out. The first thing I notice is the conveniently high-mounted gear stick, with a much nicer feel than the Atari joystick-styled ones in older models. This will make things easier for those in and around towns and cities, where stopping and starting and changing gear is commonplace. I glance down to my left and the handbrake is flat, rather than a stick. Apparently it is space-saving, and is supposed to resemble a (White Chocolate) mouse.

I’m in the TwinAir model, with a 37 litre capacity fuel tank, and powered by something which Fiat boast as being the ‘cleanest petrol engine in the world’. It’s an 875cc turbo, with two in-line, transverse cylinders. It (apparently) fits on an A4 sheet of paper, or a ‘Connect 4’ rack. It sounds great, reminding me of the old motorbikes my mates used to buzz around on when we were (much) younger. At 5500rpm, it will kick-out 78-85 bhp, depending on whether you press the ECO-mode button on or off (On is by default every time you start up). Emissions range from 95-99g/km.

I’m surprised by the poke this little car has got. Capable of 0-62 in around 14 seconds and with 100-145 Nm of torque, it’s capable of holding each gear much longer than I am used to, and as I glance at the amber-glowing display in front of me, I notice the gear-shift indicator flashing before me. I also glance at the rev counter and after a while it becomes clear that this appears to run smoother by changing at 3500 rpm - much higher than I would expect. I found myself lowering the electric windows just to hear the engine noise.

Opal fruits
After about an hour of driving around town, I realise I am still achieving the 49-50 mpg figures, which means the car has a role to play for companies operating in and out of towns and cities. Now it’s time to hit the bigger roads, but first some roadworks. I pull up in front of some temporary traffic lights, which remind me of Opal Fruits, and shift in to neutral and the engine dies, thanks to the Stop&Start system that comes as standard.

The Panda comes with four airbags as standard, ABS complete with a Brake Assist System, front head restraints with an anti-whiplash system and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and ISOFIX attachments. An additional option is the Electronic Stability Programme complete with Hill-Holder, to help the driver with hill starts – meaning you can easily pull away on a slope, a bit like BigTrak.

So, on to the A12, I find myself now trying to prove that the driver still has a vital role to play in the battle to cut fleet running costs, and above all, emissions. My journey turns in to a Marathon - a 26 mile stint. Averaging around 45mph, I arrive at my destination in good time, with Duran Duran still ringing loud in my ears. I glance down at the display to see an incredible 71.4 mpg. Not quite the 74.3 this is supposed to be capable of, but a very modest difference I can live with.

The new Panda is nippy about town, and quite happy on a longer stint. It features great styling throughout and fantastic economy from its superb engine. And what a noise! Speaking of noises, the model that saw the first TwinAir, the 500, currently sits on the Top Deck as it’s  the GreenFleet City Car of the Year. In 2012, it has certainly got a challenger from within. We could well see the Golden Cup change hands this year. So watch this Space (Invaders).