Hi, the man from Sunderland here.
I've just had a look at the Cross at Springfield Fiat, Gateshead and booked a test drive for Monday. Originally I went to Benfield Fiat in Newcastle as I had an appointment in the city anyhow. Sadly they are giving up the Fiat franchise. I'm disappointed as I found their workshop to be reliable and their reception staff helpful and knowledgeable.
Anyhow, to enter the debate as to how the transmission operates on the Cross. First off, Fiat have produced no literature or information and the sales staff do not understand any of the technicalities. So, like others on this forum, I got down on the ubiquitous white tiling of the Fiat dealership's floor and had a look.
The viscous coupling that sits between the rear end of the propshaft and the rear diff on the petrol 4x4 is not there. I cannot see such a unit anywhere along the run of the propshaft and suspect that drive to the rear axle is engaged electronically rather than mechanically. The "diff lock" is engaged by a button on the central console. Looking at the vehicle, it is impossible to establish whether this is a virtual diff lock, achieved by the ABS system braking any wheels that spin or a real diff lock that physically locks up one or both differentials.
Littlepip's information from Italiaspeed suggests that it is a virtual diff lock.
The forward pointing part of the rear diff has a canister either side, as previously mentioned, which must be an elecro-mechanical sytem to engage rear wheel drive. This sytem must include some form of differential or transmission wind-up would occur on non-slippery surfaces between front and rear axles. However, this system could also have been designed to provide a front to rear diff lock, such as is provided on Land Rover vehicles. However, this would not restore traction when the vehicle is "cross-axled", a situation that the Cross is capable of coping with.
I do like the way that on the cross the sump-guard has been lightened by more perforations though this may make it more vulnerable to damage. The slightly better ground clearance is good. Lower profile, more road-biased tyres are not so good and the purely decorative plastic unit in the middle of the roof is pointless.
The overall styling and colour scheme is pleasing to the eye. Headlamp washers are a useful addition.
If the vehicle is appreciably faster, particularly in reaching a 70mph cruising speed and for overtaking, I might be tempted.
From the point of view of running costs it makes no sense to change from my 3 year old 4x4 Climbing where depreciation has slowed right down to a new Cross and I have no reliability worries about a 30,000 mile Panda which I feel has many miles of service left in it.
Oh and finally, I don't mind all those minor dints and scratches that urban driving inevitably leave on a car now that the Panda is 3 years old but I would be devastated to see them on a new Cross.
Sorry for the verbal diarrhoea.