The FIAT Panda consolidates and extends its production with the new Pandina special series

Great news if you are among those who want to get hold of a FIAT Panda soon or in the more distant future, as FIAT’s CEO and Stellantis Global Marketing Director, Olivier Francois, has confirmed that the Panda will continue to be manufactured in Pomigliano d’Arco until at least 2027 and, just as importantly, production is also set to increase by 20% to meet customer demand in Italy and across Europe.

The FIAT Panda is a true icon not only for Italians but for Europeans in general, thanks to a history it has forged over 44 years on the market, during which different generations of this model have followed one another, varying, improving and adapting over the years. More than eight million units sold underpin its story, and these figures will keep rising, partly because European emissions regulations are now more flexible and the Panda’s existence is no longer under threat.

Even so, the FIAT Panda must meet certain requirements before it can stay on the market, since with the entry into force of the new European regulation on safety equipment for all vehicles, the Panda had to introduce new features. Taking advantage of this situation, during the announcement of its continuity and increased production, Olivier Francois also revealed the “special series” Pandina, which, as you can imagine, includes as standard the safety equipment needed for sale, and which obviously makes the “special series” label a bit of a stretch.

In this way, in terms of safety the FIAT Panda “Pandina” will come with Advanced Emergency Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Drowsiness Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, new Cruise Control, rear parking sensors, Automatic High Beam and a total of six airbags. Furthermore, to make this equipment even more attractive, the instrument panel will now be a seven-inch digital screen with three graphic modes, accompanied by another 7-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.

To this expanded standard technological equipment one must add other aesthetic details, such as the new Positano Yellow body colour and new two-tone combinations with the roof always in black as a contrast, body cladding painted in yellow, or the “Pandina” lettering on the side mouldings. Inside we will find a new steering wheel, and the dashboard can now also be painted white, along with new seats featuring the embossed “Pandina” logo, double yellow stitching, white details and Seaqual thread.

Mechanically, no engine options are mentioned, so it is assumed that the Panda will continue to be sold with its only available engine, the 1.0 GSE petrol engine and mild-hybrid technology, which earns it the ECO label and produces 70 CV, achieving a consumption of 4.8 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.

The FIAT Panda “Pandina” will be available from next summer, so we will have to wait a while longer to learn its specific price in our country.