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A
money-saving, planet-friendly version of Fiat’s top-selling Panda has
just gone on sale in the UK, making it the third new version of Fiat’s
widely-acclaimed city car announced this summer.
Following in the impressive tyre tracks
of the family-friendly Panda Mamy and the rugged four-wheel drive Panda
Cross, this new version goes on sale through Fiat’s 167-strong dealer
network at the end of September. A choice of two is available – the new
Panda Active ECO and Dynamic ECO.
The new cars will further help to
reinforce Fiat’s leading environmental credentials – the company is
European leader in low CO2 vehicles. Both newcomers are
fitted with special, low rolling resistance tyres, and use a low
viscosity engine oil which helps the Panda ECO to reach an impressively
low CO2 emissions level of 119 g/km.
“It has been a busy summer for Panda
with the launch of Mamy and Cross, and we are delighted to announce
these new ECO cars too,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director,
Fiat UK. “This is another example of how seriously we take the
environmental issue, while offering drivers real value-for-money
motoring.”
The Panda Active ECO is powered by a
1.1-litre petrol engine which develops 54 bhp at 5000 rpm, while the
Panda Dynamic ECO’s 1.2-litre petrol engine produces 60 bhp at 5000 rpm.
As with any Panda, fuel consumption is
exceptionally low, but the ECO cars take these benefits even further.
Both Active ECO and Dynamic ECO models return 42.8 mpg in the urban
cycle; 68.3 mpg extra urban; and 56.5 mpg combined. Top speed for the
Active ECO is 93 mph, with a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 15 seconds,
while the Dynamic ECO reaches a maximum 96 mph and has a 0-62 mph
acceleration time of 14 seconds.
The Active ECO’s standard equipment
list includes: immobiliser, driver and passenger airbag, ABS anti-lock
braking with EBD, electric power steering, Follow Me Home headlights and
electric front windows; while the Dynamic ECO also gets remote central
locking, colour coded bumpers and a CD/MP3 player.
These two newcomers cost just £100 more
than the standard versions on which they are based. That means the Panda
Active ECO costs £7,105 on the road and the Panda Dynamic ECO £7,705.
But thanks to a reduction of the VED tax band from C to B, there is an
immediate saving of £85 to owners. |
