Just 1,983 will be made, honoring the Panda 4×4's year of birth.
The Fiat Panda 4×4 is celebrating its 40th birthday, and to commemorate the occasion, the Italian brand is introducing the Panda 4×40°. The 4×40° production run will be limited to just 1,983, referencing the year Fiat started producing the Panda with a 4×4 drivetrain. These limited-edition models will only be sold in Italy, Germany, France, and Switzerland.
Fiat chose an ivory theme for this celebratory model, painting the exterior in the hue and adding it to the dashboard, the seat side bolsters, and the top of the front seatbacks. Fortunately, there's more going on than just new paint.
Among other things, the 15-inch white-painted steelies are the perfect homage to the original Panda's no-nonsense steel wheels.
Naturally, there are a few 4×40° emblems scattered around the interior and exterior, but the coolest design features are the two silhouettes of the Panda, as seen on the decals at the C-pillar. On one side of the car is the new model, while the other is blessed with the 1983 model. These silhouettes can also be found on the front seats.
Speaking of the interior, the Panda 4×40° comes standard with climate control, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a leather-clad steering wheel and shifter. Other exterior adornments include red tow hooks, privacy glass, and black roof rails. These items contrast nicely with the ivory paint and the black protective body cladding.
Fiat did not provide mechanical details, but it's easy enough to guess.
Fiat canned the Panda 4×4 in 2022 due to parts shortages, and the standard model across Europe has since become a front-wheel-drive model powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder hybrid. The hybrid engine was never used in the 4×4, and Fiat opted to use its 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel and 0.9-liter turbocharged two-cylinder. We're betting the 4×40° will use the latter, not just because diesel has fallen out of favor with most of the world.
The TwinAir engine is a wonderful piece of engineering and an absolute delight when coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox. We've had the pleasure of driving a 500 equipped with this engine, and you have to adopt an Italian driving style to get the most out of it. You have to rev it until the pistons start knocking dents in the hood, and only then may you hook another gear.
Modern Panda 4x4s use a slightly more advanced all-wheel-drive system. Instead of only sending power to the rear wheels when the front starts slipping, the system sends a small amount of power to the rear wheels under normal loads. When it starts slipping more at the front, the electro-hydraulic coupling sends more power to the rear. The driver can also override the system and use a 50/50 split.
The OG Panda had a basic part-time four-wheel-drive system without low range. Instead of low range, Fiat equipped the Panda with an extremely low first gear, a tactic the Italians employed in all three generations of Panda. It seems silly, but the lightweight Panda will humble a Ford Bronco Sport in the right conditions.
Sadly, the Panda is not sold in the USA, but that might change with the incoming EV model. Alternatively, you could always import a first-gen Panda 4×4.
Keyword: Fiat Celebrates 40 Years Of Panda With Limited Edition