The aging Fiat Panda just got another special edition, just in time for the 40th birthday of the Panda 4×4 nameplate. Honoring the debut year of the original, Fiat will only make 1,983 units of the nostalgic Panda 4×40° which will be exclusively available in Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The Fiat Panda 4×40° is based on the 4×4 version of the third-gen model which has been around largely unchanged since 2011. The special edition features the Panda Cross bodywork painted in a solid Ivory shade while boasting a number of unique touches.
The body-colored side moldings feature red
4×40° lettering combined with matching graphics of Panda silhouettes under the
rear side windows. The model comes fitted with a new set of repurposed
Stellantis-sourced 15-inch steel wheels painted in white with custom center cap
covers. It also gets red tow hooks, black roof rails, and privacy glass.
Inside, the Ivory theme continues on the
seat upholstery, featuring recycled fabric, double stitching and red accents.
Besides the 4×40° emblems, we find the silhouettes of the first-gen Panda 4×4
and the third-gen Panda on each of the front seats alongside 1983 and 2023
lettering. Standard equipment includes the 7-inch infotainment, leather-wrapped
steering wheel and shift knob, automatic air conditioning, electric and heated
mirrors, automatic lights and wipers, height-adjustable driver’s seat plus rear
parking sensors, which is pretty much all you can get from a Panda nowadays.
There is no mention of the technical
specifications, which will be announced at a later date. The Panda 4×4 had been
out of production so we don’t know if the turbocharged 0.9-liter Twin Air
twin-cylinder petrol of the outgoing model will make a return. In any case,
power will be transmitted to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox
with the help of a proper 4WD system.
Fiat didn’t announce pricing for the Panda
4×40° which is described as a “collector’s edition”. The model will reportedly
make an appearance in the upcoming “Panda a Pandino 2023” event that will take
place in Italy the coming weekend. Despite its age, the current generation of
the Fiat Panda will soldier on until 2026, although its fully electric
successor is expected to debut in 2024 featuring a crossover stance.