What they said when the Fiat Panda was new… (Jan 16 2004)
CHOOSING a name for your new baby is never easy.
And so it is in the car industry, when deciding what to call a model is fraught with practical and political difficulties.
In a global marketplace, you don't want to choose a name that sounds stylish in one language but means something obscene in another.
History is littered with examples of cars doomed to failure by a laughable or inappropriate choice of name - and Fiat's latest arrival could so easily have been another example.
The original cheap and cheerful little Fiat Panda, launched in 1980 and on sale here until the mid-1990s, had a good track record with some 4.6 million sold around the world.
But the Italians were unsure whether it was a good idea to hark back to the past when naming the car destined to replace the Seicento.
Popular as the Panda undoubtedly was, it was a distinctly low-tech city runabout in comparison with its 21st century namesake.
Hence the original intention to call the new car Gingo (pronounced with a soft initial "g") until French car maker Renault got upset by the similarity to its Twingo, a small car which many UK drivers have encountered as holiday rental cars abroad.
Thankfully instead of Gingo we now have the new Panda, already voted Car of the Year 2004 and a very different breed from its predecessor.
The city car couldn't be arriving at a better time for Fiat, which has had a tough time of it over the past couple of years, with the company's misfortunes becoming almost a daily feature of the business pages.
Another blow was the firm's poor performance in customer satisfaction league tables, arguably more the result of lacklustre support from some dealers than any intrinsic problem with the actual vehicles.
The Punto is already a world bestseller and the new Panda looks set to blaze a similar trail, with more than 95,000 ordered in the two months following its launch in Italy and a handful of other left-hand drive markets in September.
The Panda reaches Britain this month and offers a very interesting alternative to cars like the Agila and Matiz.
The price for a start, from £6,295, should ensure that it's worth a closer look.
But cheap doesn't mean basic - and nor does it mean boring. The new Panda has a distinctive exterior with a flat rear tailgate and highish roof helping to maximise interior space while still allowing it to slip into the smallest of parking spaces.
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It cleverly incorporates some of the more desirable features of mini-MPVs without ever becoming a gawky giraffe like some of the earliest Japanese contenders in this market.
Big glass areas create an airy feel, but there's also been a lot of work on the build quality. The doors shut properly, the interior mouldings feel reassuringly chunky and there were no rattles or creaks in the test cars.
Best news is the curvy dashboard design, with clear gauges and a classy looking central console that neatly incorporates all the switches you need, along with a very handy dashboard-mounted gearstick that comes readily to hand and is a delight to use.
The pedals aren't as cramped as those in Fiats of old, the roof is high enough in the rear to accommodate adults easily and the top-end models are very well equipped for a car in this class.
You might take issue with the choice of colours, which include some uninspiring pale yellow, green and blue hues. You also get a modest choice of engines at launch, but if the familiar 54bhp eight-valve 1.1 litre is sluggish on hills and takes a desultory 15 seconds to reach 62mph, the equally economical 60bhp 1.2 is sprightlier than it sounds, especially around town.
For those used to grappling with traffic queues on their way to work, the prospect of a combined fuel economy figure of more than 50mpg is a stronger selling point, and the arrival of a multijet diesel later in the year will also be eagerly awaited by more frugal types.
Of the three trim levels, the mid-range Dynamic is likely to account for half of all sales, even if it doesn't quite live up to its name when it comes to performance. Three additional packages offer buyers the chance to add almost £1,000 worth of equipment for £600 extra, depending on whether air conditioning, sunroof or audio equipment are top of their list of priorities.
It's easy to drive and a joy to park, but don't expect acres of room in the back, though it will accommodate two good-sized adults with room for a little bit of baggage.
But versatility is a key selling point, so top of the range models have not only split-folding rear seats, but also incorporate a sliding mechanism which allows you to push the whole bench forward a few inches to incorporate extra luggage.
It's important too not to underestimate the advantage of having five doors in this size of car, not to mention features like electric front windows and power steering as standard.
Some models also boast the sort of equipment - stereo CD with MP3 player, automatic climate control - that you might expect not to find in this size of car. Options even extend to intelligent wipers and parking sensors.
The handling is nothing exceptional, as you might anticipate from such a tiny car with wheels at the rear corners, but the 1.2 is nippy enough around town and the no-fuss gear changes are a big advantage for everyday use.
Niggles? The rear-view mirrors are a little small still, the standard one-piece bench seat in the back is pretty basic and some of the interior trim colours are unlikely to stand the test of time.
But you do get safety equipment like anti-lock brakes and traction control, the car doesn't feel cheap and tinny and it cruises comfortably in the outside lane on the motorway without making you feel nervous.
The controls are generally quite stylish as well as functional, and the fact that so many of the interior surfaces are lined undoubtedly helps to keep cabin noise to acceptable levels.
It's not everyone's dream car and it's competing in one of the most hotly contested sectors of the market, but for all that it feels light years removed from the Panda of old, and a worthy successor to a car still regarded with affection by many owners.
Fiat car sales have been in the doldrums in the UK, although the Punto is popular and Stilo purchases have begun to pick up after a very slow start.
There should be no such concerns about the Panda. Whatever its limitations, 10,000 of the little cars are likely to hit our roads next year, with the appointment of some 30 new dealers helping it on the road to success.
Words: Andrew Knight
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