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General Facelift Fiat Panda 319.

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General Facelift Fiat Panda 319.

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It's disappointing so far what Fiat has shown for the 2016-2017 Panda.
The rumored facelift/restyle is noting more then a "model year" change at best.
We had exterior color changes before and interior color changes is a small step from that.
But there are no real fundamental changes to the Panda so far.

# No exterior upgrades.
# No new engines.
# No power upgrades.
# No real tech upgrades, like disc brakes all around for all Panda's
# No 6-speed gearbox.
# No better front-seats.
# No 16" wheels option like the 500 has.

(n)
 
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When you say 'so far' I'd say what we have seen is final. I've been on the Italian Fiat site which lets you configure a Panda and the new interiors are in fact showing.

Personally I prefer the non facelift options as the coloured dash looks done away with completely :-(
 
I wasn't really expecting the facelift to be heavy .....Fiat have already said the panda will be their budget offering and 500 premium . I think it'll gradually get a bit crapper if I'm honest ...
 
SB1500 said:
To be honest, by the time I can afford a new car it'll probably be the new Panda whether it's a face lifted 319 or a complete new approach. It'll also have the base model engine, I'm not too fussed on diesel and can't see the 1.2 sticking around another 4 years! Whatever it may be, 1.2 or 1.0 I'll have to have faith in Fiat to be able to keep it serviced and working flawlessly. Surely that's not a big demand, especially as I'd be choosing the new Panda which will likely be priced higher than VW, Ford, Vauxhalls more 'modern' superminis with a lot more features for the money but they never win over the character of the current Panda! Or am I going mad?!
Click to expand...

Sounds pretty sane to me :) . Don't know why you say the Panda will be more expensive then the other offerings though. Over here I found that the Panda was cheaper with roughly the same options and the competition certainly didn't offer 85bhp or performance that came even close. And as for character I totaly agree :)
 
The Pretender said:
It's disappointing so far what Fiat has shown for the 2016-2017 Panda.
The rumored facelift/restyle is noting more then a "model year" change at best.
We had exterior color changes before and interior color changes is a small step from that.
But there are no real fundamental changes to the Panda so far.

# No exterior upgrades.
# No new engines.
# No power upgrades.
# No real tech upgrades, like disc brakes all around for all Panda's
# No 6-speed gearbox.
# No better front-seats.
# No 16" wheels option like the 500 has.

(n)
Click to expand...

Don't agree with you at all. I'm really pleased with the very minor changes. It keeps are own model actual and all the facelifts that Fiat have done in the past where pretty dreadfull (Punto, Grande Punto, Barchetta all looked like crap after their facelifts).
Also I drove the Punto with the six speed gearbox and hated it. Don't see any need for that extra gear if six isn't realy an overdrive for highway use.
Rather see them develop a real new model and am very content with the minor changes they have made for now.
 
R1NGA said:
In my experience the slight hesitation lumpiness occurs only during those first 2 minutes after a cold start and then disappears. A colleague at work has a TA Trekking and has exactly the same observation. Provided the proper oil is used (0w30 not 5w40), then all will probably be OK. I noticed a difference after the last service when the dealer used the thinner oil, no question about it.
Click to expand...

My percieved lumpiness started just after the 1st service at 16000 miles. Only in 3rd gear at full throttle, and on one particular road. I thought it was all in my head for ages until i thought it started getting worse after another service 6000 miles later.
Driving the car in eco was fine. Still unsure if it was all in my head as my wife said it was fine?

Could it be that my dealer was using the wrong oil too?

I'll have to dig out the invoices.
 
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deeyup said:
My percieved lumpiness started just after the 1st service at 16000 miles. Only in 3rd gear at full throttle, and on one particular road. I thought it was all in my head for ages until i thought it started getting worse after another service 6000 miles later.
Driving the car in eco was fine. Still unsure if it was all in my head as my wife said it was fine?

Could it be that my dealer was using the wrong oil too?

I'll have to dig out the invoices.
Click to expand...


In my experience what's on the invoice and what the mechanic actually put in can vary sadly! I always asked to see the can which produced some shocking results, planning on supplying my own oil going forward.
 
Mercky said:
...planning on supplying my own oil going forward.
Click to expand...

deeyup said:
Makes total sense. It's the only way you can be sure the correct oil is used.
Click to expand...

Even that may not be enough. How can you be sure the mechanic doesn't appropriate your own oil and substitute some cheap rubbish. I've had something similar happen in the past with a company car; but with plugs instead of oil.

The only way to be 100% certain is to do it yourself.

And yes, I know I'm paranoid.
 
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For the life of me I can't believe how a lot of people are acounting everything to a bit of oil. Maybe software was changed, weather was different, sparkplugs where also changed to another spec etc. etc....
The engine management is pretty sophisticated and I'm quite sure that the car defenitly runs quite different when it's warm or cold. I always warm my cars up gently by keeping revs low for the furst miles . I'm not sure if the rev limiter per gear also differs cold and hot but couldn't it just be that your overstressing the engine when it's cold? Might be just the motornanagement kickin in. Also the fuell quality could play a big part at high revs
All this oil business is getting a little bit crazy in my opinion as the viscosity is also effected by outer temperatur. Simply put in the winter the 0w30 wull be thicker then the 5w40 in the summer at a cold start so I see no reason why this would all make so much differance.
 
TheR said:
All this oil business is getting a little bit crazy in my opinion as the viscosity is also effected by outer temperatur. Simply put in the winter the 0w30 wull be thicker then the 5w40 in the summer at a cold start so I see no reason why this would all make so much differance.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this one; during warmup, the differences due to climate will be greater than the differences due to oil grade.

My own suspicion is that the change to 0W30 was made for reasons of emissions compliance (it's an easy way to squeeze a little more economy out of the engine). I'd be interested to know if there are any physical component differences between the two engines in terms of clearances or oil pump specs - I rather suspect not.
 
The Pretender said:
It's disappointing so far what Fiat has shown for the 2016-2017 Panda.
The rumored facelift/restyle is noting more then a "model year" change at best.
We had exterior color changes before and interior color changes is a small step from that.
But there are no real fundamental changes to the Panda so far.

# No exterior upgrades.
# No new engines.
# No power upgrades.
# No real tech upgrades, like disc brakes all around for all Panda's
# No 6-speed gearbox.
# No better front-seats.
# No 16" wheels option like the 500 has.

(n)
Click to expand...

OK. Getting back on track with the revision ...

When a new model of a car I like is released, my main concern is that the maker hasn't messed up the things that made me like the car in the first place.

I've watched Minis get bigger and bigger, and the latest version has lost the proportions of the first two, looks stretched and no longer 'mini'. And the 5-door is even worse.

imo even the gentle 500 revision, was a step backwards in styling with its ringed sidelights, and hole in the rear light cluster.

So I'm actually happy to see no external Panda changes apart from redesigned alloys. I like the interior trim changes. Cream seemed an impractical colour for 4x4 trim, so the new scheme seems better, and a bit more mature. I am disappointed that seat improvement seems to be confined to a lumbar support for top models.

With the talk of 3-cyl engines I'm glad to see the TA is has not been replaced. I love it - long may it continue.

Given the issues with squealing rear disk brakes on Panda 4x4s maybe it's good that they're not standard across the range.

I'm hoping that the new steering wheel will be leather as standard on mid range and up. I don't get why manufacturers skimp here: it's what the driver touches constantly, and a decent wheel adds so much to the perceived quality of the car. The motoring press seem obsessed with soft touch plastic trim - the wheel is much more important.

My biggest complaint is that they're taking so long to release the update in the UK, when italy has it already! Get a move on, Fiat.
 
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My understanding is, that it will be fully introduced @ the Paris autoshow later this year, deliveries would start after that.
The Italian Configurator has got some changes, but looks far from complete and 100% functional.
For example you don't have other wheel options for the Lounge version in the Italian configurator, beside the standard 14" LM wheel, i hope for a 15" or even a 16" wheel option.
Further we have to wait and see what 2017 will bring for the Panda.
The New GSE-engines production will start in 2017, but it is still unclear what 3 and/or 4 cylinder versions will find there way to Europe.
The base NON-turbo 3 cylinder 1.0ltr 80 hp engine could end up being the new base engine for a lot of european Fiat models.
But i doubt we will see the NON-turbo 4 cylinder engine in this neck of the woods.
Instead Europe would most likely also get the Turbo 3-cylinder GSE-engine as well.
The turbo Power range could reach from ± 90 hp up to 120 hp with 150 up to 180 Nm of torque.
 
TinyTurbo said:
..........and a decent wheel adds so much to the perceived quality of the car.
Click to expand...

I stil think that the 15" Panda accessoires wheel is one of the best looking Fiat wheels for the Panda. ;)

maxresdefault.jpg
 
gar074 said:
Jury's still out for me, too. I'm noticing some occasional lumpiness/misfiring at part-throttle - I guess it could be the plugs, at 14k miles - and the little beast just doesn't feel that robust. Hope I'm wrong, because I bought it as a keeper.
Click to expand...

There have been a few reporting this around this sort of mileage, it's the plugs, both of them!
They cough and fart mid revs and can sound a bit rough and rattly.
Mine did it and a new set sorted it out.


In regards to 2017 models.
It's just a mid life face lift like the 500 got recently.

A few tweeks to the styling like indicator repeators in the mirror covers, some new colours (which won't be a shock as only three or four are offered at the moment)

A couple of (or more like one) new seat fabrics, I'm sure they'll jam in a version of their Infotainment system in at least one trim level with perhaps a revised dash to make it fit (though the thought of them hacking a hole in the current one wouldn't surprise me).

You'd guess something new to the Panda, safety related would be offered as standard.
It would be on Fiat's shelf already, if not on the current options list.

I believe they'll also tweek some of the current engines for emissions reasons (so even thinner oil) and revise (cheapen) the rear suspension set up.

Seems a new Panda with new engines is due in 2020 (ish).

But we'll see/hear the new engines sooner, they are breaking cover in next years Uno/Palio in Brazil and perhaps some other markets like India. (those markets that G8 sanction due to pollution while looking the other way in their respective countries) and then appear in the 500 replacement before the new Panda.

I'm guessing, as it seems a trait of Fiat and most other manufacturers, that some of the current engines will carry over for a while, probably in the lower specced cars and/or markets they can get away with it, they'll be cheaper to buy, but more to run due to heavier emission/taxation.

You'd think this would likely be the TA as it seems Fiat have taken the FIRE about as far as possible, emissions/cost wise, but you never know, it could be with us for a lot longer yet if regulations allow!

I don't think the TA has been the massive success hoped of it, probably due to it's poor real world mpg figures, don't know why they didn't offer it as a Hybrid?
 
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