(August 30, 2012) The new Fiat Panda 4x4 — the only four-wheel drive model in the city car A segment — will make its debut at the forthcoming international Paris Motor Show.

"The successor to a bestseller which first appeared almost 30 years ago, today’s third-generation four-wheel drive Panda is a perfect interpretation of the spirit of the times, uniting consolidated off-road capabilities with a refined design and compact, efficient architecture. The Panda 4x4 is the superlative expression of the model’s great versatility, a genuine Super Panda, ready to tackle mountain mule tracks and the urban jungle in the same assured manner," Fiat says in a press release.

From a technical point of view the new Panda 4x4 has been further improved to reassert its capacity to compete with off-road vehicles of much greater dimensions and higher prices.

The 5-door Panda is 145 inches long, 66 inches wide and 63 inches high. The wheelbase is 90 inches.

The Panda 4x4 is equipped with a torque-on-demand transmission system with two differentials and an electronically controlled coupling. This is a permanent four-wheel drive system managed by an electronic control unit which, by analyzing vehicle signals, distributes traction on the front and rear axle homogeneously and proportionally according to road grip conditions. The advantages of this system are that it is entirely automatic in operation and requires no maintenance.

The Panda 4x4 features an ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system with an ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) function as standard. This system provides additional assistance while driving and setting-off uphill on slippery terrain (snow, ice, mud etc.).

More specifically, the ELD acts by braking the wheels with poor grip (or those slipping more than the others), thereby transferring the drive force to those which have more grip on the ground. This function can be activated manually by pressing a button behind the gear lever and operates below 30 mph.

Two engine versions of the Fiat Panda 4x4 will become available, both with Start&Stop: the new 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo and the 75 HP 1.3 MultiJet II diesel. Compared with the 1.2 Fire of the previous generation, the TwinAir Turbo has 40% more torque. In combination with a special six-speed gearbox with low-range first gear, it ensures better uphill starts, flexibility and pick-up. A similar improvement is found on the MultiJet II engine.

The new car’s rear suspension is lighter than its predecessor and provides better ride and acoustic comfort, with the same off-road performance as before.