The phrase “little cars, little profits” is the blunt retort credited to Edsel Ford when presented with the the primary proposals for the Fiesta. Within the even more Lilliputian world of sub-B cars like the Panda, or its new rivals Volkswagen’s Up or Kia’s Picanto, you need to get the production right or otherwise you can lose money on every car you sell.
Perhaps that explains why some early products in this sector were so lacklustre to drive and to possess. The first Panda in the 1980's was plain, but much like automotive Lego that Fiat produced it in three Italian factories; Mirafiori, Desio and Tremini, and one Sicilian, Imerese. In 23 years, Fiat sold 4.5 million Pandas and it achieved a sort of cult status, although the joke was that the last examples were 40 per cent larger than the firsts because the press tools were so worn.
Fiat was strangely ambivalent towards reusing that name for its 2003 replacement, which was built in Tychy, Poland. The Italian giant preferred Gingo, which Renault contested, reasoning it was too close to Twingo. So Panda stuck and the Nuova Panda won the 2004 Car of the Year title and sold just over two million in eight years.
Perhaps that explains why some early products in this sector were so lacklustre to drive and to possess. The first Panda in the 1980's was plain, but much like automotive Lego that Fiat produced it in three Italian factories; Mirafiori, Desio and Tremini, and one Sicilian, Imerese. In 23 years, Fiat sold 4.5 million Pandas and it achieved a sort of cult status, although the joke was that the last examples were 40 per cent larger than the firsts because the press tools were so worn.
Fiat was strangely ambivalent towards reusing that name for its 2003 replacement, which was built in Tychy, Poland. The Italian giant preferred Gingo, which Renault contested, reasoning it was too close to Twingo. So Panda stuck and the Nuova Panda won the 2004 Car of the Year title and sold just over two million in eight years.
Assembly Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples, Italy
Body style 5-door hatchback
van
Platform Fiat Mini platform
Engine 0.9L TwinAir I2 petrol
1.2L Fire I4 petrol
1.3L Multijet I4 diesel
Transmission 5-speed manual
6-speed manual
5-speed semi-auto
very fine cute Italian car. i love it, its so pretty cute and girly. i haven't seen this is personal hope that i can see this car one day
ReplyDeletefast cash for cars