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General Is The Panda 4x4 Cross Coming To The Uk???

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General Is The Panda 4x4 Cross Coming To The Uk???

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stephenbeetleman

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Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the fiat forum and think its a great idea. Im a big fan of the Panda 4x4 and thinking of buying one soon but ive been looking online and dont seem to be able to find a Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 Diesel as the Fiat dealers tell me that there are only standard 4x4's available with the 1.2 petrol engine in the uk without diff lock! Is this true? When are they likely to start shipping them to the uk? Maybe if Fiat werent for doin this is it possible to buy one abroad and ship over then change to rhd? Maybe im mad...tell me what you think? I just think its frustrating that fiat choose to build a great car then only send cars with half the spec over to the uk. Anyone else feel the same. Keep up the good work on the site guys! Cheers.
 
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That's a question that so many of us would like answered... There's so many who would love the 4x4 in diesel form and it wouls truly be great if Fiat would make and send some our way...
 
Sadly, I reckon you've more hope of platting fog than seeing FIAT import the Cross into the UK. And conversation here to RHD would be phenomenally expensive I reckon. May be someone in Cyprus or Malta could advise you about import if they are available there? Would be a nice little running-in exercise... :D
 
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Can't understand Fiat's thinking in not offering the UK a more interesting rang of specs with the Multijet motor? Surely it's torque would make the 4x4 a really useful off road tool? The lack of a high spec diesel is also putting people off. Fiat do have a history of producing an excellent product and then letting it whither on the vine e.g. X/19.

JON
 
Yea i know.... its really frustrating! I contacted Fiat headquarters Northern Ireland and they didnt even know what a fiat panda cross was and Fiat Headquarters UK said that they had heard of them but couldnt see them coming our way in the near distance future. The girl on the phones only alternative was that she suggest that i'd import one but she said as far as changing to a rhd i would need to get someone independent to do it for me! I then sent an email direct to Fiat.com enquiring about what their plans where for the car and whether it was being sent our way but they're yet to get back to me. Wouldnt i just be great if they became the must have in the uk and passed out range rovers and bigger suvs on the most difficult of inclines? ...leaving bigger suv drivers with their jaws hittin the ground! Come on Fiat! Bring it on!!!!
 
Another one from Northern Ireland... :D

The main problem with importing the Panda Cross to the UK is that the lights are unique to left-hand drive and not made in right-hand drive for that version at all. You would have to get a normal 4x4 Climbing (or whatever they call it it Europe) and work from it as the lights for that version would be interchangeable.

Was it Mervyn Stewarts that you were talking to?
 
Aye it was them i was talking to. Dont get me wrong the fella i was chattin to was helpful enough but he just had never heard of the fiat panda cross cos it hasnt hit the UK yet. Thats a nice wee panda uve got there! Is it a 4x4? I think probably the best option would be as another member mentioned there is get a climbing 4x4 then get the diff lock mechanism from a main dealer from a cross model and get it fitted if possible. I prefer the look of the climbing compared to the cross as all the trim is a bit over the top on it. Maybe its an option maybe im mad.. dunno!
 
The Panda cross is a version of the 4x4 panda we have here in the uk except it is only available in the eu to date. Instead of having the wheezy 1.2 petrol engine it has the 1.3 turbo diesel for more torque and power and it also has a clever diff lock function which means that it the car starts to spin it breaks up the power going to the spinning wheels and puts power out to the other wheels which have grip getting you out of sticky situations! It also has more external protective trim for off road use..
 
No I originally wanted a 4x4 but with a Multijet engine, but instead opted for the Multijet engine over the 1.2 4x4... There's not that many 4x4's around here. The only one I've seen other than the one I originally test drove is Stuartl's red one.

I instead opted to buy alloy wheels for summer use and a good set of Winter tyres for the steelies...
 
well to add to the above, i am from cyprus, and i own an orange 2007 panda climbing.. and we do not get the Cross... i dont think its being made at all in rhd. we do not have the diesel option on 4x4 at all, only on the plain pandas...
With all the workload fiat has at the factory that builds pandas, 500s, kas, etc, i dont think it will ever happen...
having said that, anyone thinks the diesel engine could be wedged in a 1.2 climbing?
 
That article from Auto Express has a wonderful error in it. It says there:
"As with the standard Panda 4x4, the Cross is a real hoot on the open road. But thanks to its higher ride height (11cm taller than the regular 4x4 model) and chunkier tyres, it's not a car for those seeking precise handling."

11cm higher?? I don't think so. Both the 4x4 Climbing and Panda Cross have about 5cm (50mm) more ground clearance than the standard Pandas. The Cross has 15 inch wheels (the Climbing 14), but lower profile tyres, so the overall result is the same -- I suspect what Autoexpress meant was that it is 1.1mm higher than the 'normal' 4x4 version.

I posted an earlier thread about whether the ELD (electronic locking diff system) could be retro-fitted to the Climbing. That would be a great addition - maybe even more use than the diesel engine??

If you really want to, take a look at the ePER system -- you can order all the extra trim panels to make a UK Climbing look like a Cross. They are listed under Panda SUV

Pete
 
Thanks for the input Pete... yea i read that thread you had put up earlier about the panda cross it was quite interesting! Do you have a climbing model yourself? If so how does it perform offroad? I think autoexpress review was a bit out alright! I think if it had been the case we've have a mini monster truck for sale in the uk! I dont have a panda 4x4 yet but plan to get one soon if i get the funds to spare! What confused me slightly though was... when exactly did the climbing model come out or is that the same as the standard 4x4 available from fiat at the moment in the uk? What was the link to those bits to make it look like a cross? + do you know much more now on whether an eld can be sourced or fitted in the uk to a climbing model?

Cheers

Steve
 
Hmmmm I do like the Panda 4x4.......don't hold any hope of seeing a Panda Cross over here.:rolleyes:

Now......how about the Suzuki Jimny JLX+?:eek:.....(lights touch paper and steps back to a safe distance:devil:)
 
Schwenck said:
Can we have this joker banned please, Jai? ;)
Click to expand...

:D Ah... I knew I could flush out my 'kindred spirit' with that one.

OK......how about the new Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 in Diamond spec with BIG rubber, leather and sat nav.?......(runs behind couch and sniggers)
 
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In reply to you Steve (and Hello!)

"Do you have a climbing model yourself? "
Yes. All the 4x4 Pandas in the UK are the 'Climbing' spec (in Italy and maybe elsewhere there's a more basic version too - no alloys, roof bars, unpainted bumpers, etc)

"If so how does it perform offroad? "
Not too badly at all, so long as you remember what it is. The ground clearance isn't huge but so long as there's no deep ruts it's great. Signs that say 'Unsuitable for Motors' seem to mean "But OK for the Panda". I did once find myself with all four wheels spinning and no traction on a Herts Green Lane (hence Q about ELD). A hoot up little steep hills. But downhill is more 'interesting' - can't do it Landrover style with low ratio and feet off all pedals.

"..when exactly did the climbing model come out or is that the same as the standard 4x4 available from fiat at the moment in the uk? "
Already answered second part. Mine is March 2005, which I think is about the earliest date they were over here (I'm its second owner, now at 31k miles).

"What was the link to those bits to make it look like a cross?..."
Click the ePER link at the top of these Forum pages. Look for the Panda 4x4 'SUV' model, under the section with bumpers and trim.

".. + do you know much more now on whether an eld can be sourced or fitted in the uk to a climbing model?"
No answer yet. It uses the ABS system (which is already there) plus the ASR (anti slip) part of the ESP package that can be spec'd on the 100HP. But not clear if these can be sourced and retrofitted. Can't fit the full ESP package as that would prevent wheel spin altogether, but wheels need to spin to get the 4 wheel drive into action. Best answer actually is probably better tyres (Mine has Bridgestones - not great in sticky mud and now at half tread). For offroad, something from Colway would be much better...

Hope this helps.
Pete
 
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