01-12-2005
The Panda Monster has its world preview, making its debut in Bologna with the new Panda Cross that it derives from. It is a limited, numbered series that will be marketed with an approach usually adopted for luxury products: only 620 units will be built, a number that refers to the capacity of the Ducati motorcycle.
The "stylistic assertiveness" of the powerful Monster motorcycle is immediately obvious on this special series, starting from the characteristic "black livery" and other stylistic details that have been painted black: the shanks, the mouldings, the roof-top bars, the air inlet, and the headlight and rear light surrounds. The rear side windows, rear window and rear quarterlights are also darkened. The grill and the shield on the bumpers, on the other hand, are metal coloured, while the aggressive design of the alloy wheels offers a glimpse of the gold-painted brake callipers. This sporty imprint is repeated in the black leather upholstery inside the car.
The new Monster version is powered by the 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet engine, the best that mechanical engineering has to offer in the small turbodiesel market. And having been the first to introduce engines with Multijet technology in the compact car segment, Fiat is now the first to make this engineering heritage available on compact 4x4 models. It is an excellent solution for use around town or on longer distances, and complies with Euro 4 emissions standards. The 1.3 16v Multijet delivers a maximum power output of 70 bhp (51 kW at 4000 rpm) and torque of 14.8 kgm (145 Nm at 1500 rpm), and is combined with a compact mechanical five-speed gearbox, that has a gearshift which is extremely easy to manoeuvre. With this equipment, the Panda Monster accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 18 seconds and reaches a top speed of 150 km/h. And finally, torque delivery is excellent even at low speeds, and fuel consumption is minimal (5.3 litres for 100 km on a mixed route), guaranteeing an excellent ratio between performance and consumption.
To conclude, the new Panda Monster an outstanding expression of Italian styling combined with the technological supremacy that has always been a hallmark of two industrial companies that are famous all over the world: Fiat and Ducati.
Text and photos courtesy of FIAT AUTO S.p.A.
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