Fiat Panda gets Euro 5 engine

Fiat has introduced new Euro 5 engines across the Fiat Panda city car range giving each model a higher top speed, stronger acceleration, improved fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions. The new line-up is Panda 1.2 Active, 1.2 MyLife, 1.2 Dynamic and the diesel 1.3 MultiJet Dynamic.

The 1.2-litre Euro 5 petrol engine replaces the outgoing 1.1-litre and the 69bhp unit takes the car from 0-62mph in 13.4 seconds, has a top speed of 101mph, returns 57.6 combined mpg and emits 113g/km of CO2. The 1.3-litre diesel MultiJet engine accelerates from 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds, has a top speed of 103mph, combined mpg is 67.3 and CO2 emissions of 109g/km.

All versions of the new Fiat Panda come with a generous standard specification with even the entry-levl Active offering power steering, electric front windows, body-coloured bumpers and driver airbags as standard. If you want air-con, opt for the Dynamic model and we have Fiat car leasing prices on the site now.

The 2,000,000th Panda

Fiat has just announced that the 2,000,000th Fiat Panda has just rolled off their car production line at Fiat Auto Poland at Tychy. The actual car was a Panda Cross version finished off in Pasodoble Red and powered by a 75bhp 1.3 MultiJet engine. The second series Fiat Panda was launched in 2003 and has been sold in 76 countries worldwide and is a successful city car for Fiat.

The Panda was also recently upgraded with Euro 5 engines, methane and LPG, as well as versions with front-wheel and four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive version also gets Electronic Locking Differential with ESP as well. There are many different versions to order namely Actual, Active, MyLife, Dynamic, Mamy, Emotion, Climbing and Cross with 15 different colours available. Fiat car leasing on the whole range is on the site now.

Peugeot 207

The popular Peugeot 207 has topped a Warranty Direct survey which analysed more than 20,000 live warranty policies on three to seven year old cars, made by European manufacturers, to see the difference in claims for repairs.

The Peugeot 207 has an excellent repair record at a 6% repair rate in an average year, while the Fiat Panda came in second at 14%. Two other Peugeot models scored well with the 206 CC in 3rd and the Peugeot 107 at 9th position. The Warranty Direct Reliability Index looks at a number of items, including a review of the rates of mechanical failure, average mileage, age and repair cost, to calculate the Reliability Index rating.

Warranty Direct Managing Director, Duncan McClure Fisher, commented,”The Peugeot 207′s incredibly low incidence rate of just 6% is excellent and is certainly a match for the most reliable vehicles”. Vehicle reliability is just one of the measures a lease company looks at when setting their residual values and to calculate their contract hire leasing rental, so this news should have a positive impact, especially if “with full maintenance cover” is also included. Peugeot contract hire leasing prices are on the site now, on the 207 range.

Alfa MiTo

The readers of What Car? have voted the sporty Alfa MiTo as Best Supermini with an average rating of 4.6 out of five. The Alfa MiTo not only topped the Best Supermini category but also came third overall in the Best Car segment, out of 167 competitors. In addition in the supermini class, the Fiat Group came second and third for the Fiat 500 and Panda respectively.

The Alfa MiTo was launched in the UK in 2009 and defined a new era for cars in the B segment class with its array of new technologies including its dynamic control system (or DNA as Alfa Romeo calls it), five star Euro NCAP rating,  its award winning MultiAir engine technology plus head turning looks as well.

All of these key attributes were recognised by the readers of What Car? and if you are interested in Alfa Romeo MiTo business car leasing then all models are on the site now, with either maintained or non-maintained prices, on a variety of terms.

Ford Focus

The Ford Focus has been voted the “car of the decade” according to a poll by Auto Trader.

The top five “cars of the decade” according to Auto Trader are as follows

1) Ford Focus

2) Ford Fiesta

3) BMW 3 Series

4) Ford Mondeo

5) Vauxhall Astra

Sat-nav topped the list of extras, the “most value car” was the Fiat Panda, most “green car” was the Toyota Prius and “Best Motoring Personality” was Jeremy Clarkson.

Fiat Panda - new milestone

Fiat has celebrated as the 1.5 millionth Fiat Panda has come off the production line at the Fiat Auto Poland plant in Tychy. The left hand drive car was a 1.3 MultiJet in magnetic blue and is on its way to an Italian customer.

Panda production at Tychy started in 2003 and in 2009 alone 285,000 vehicles will be produced exported to over 74 countries. The Fiat Panda is available in 1.1-, 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines with full Fiat vehicle specifications available here.

Fiat hopes to benefit from new capital allowance rule changes

The new tax changes relating to capital allowances (if owning) and rental allowances (if contract hiring) came into force on the 1st April. The new threshold of 160g/km CO2 is key to paying less tax and Fiat is anticipating a lot of interest in their range of models. Fiat has 70 models (83% of their UK range) with emissions of 160g/km CO2 or less.

The sub 160g/km models from Fiat include Panda, the stylish 500 city car plus Grande Punto, Bravo, Doblo, Sedici and Qubo. Adam Pumfrey, Fleet and Remarketing Director, Fiat Group Automobile UK said ” Fiat is recognised as having the lowest average CO2 emission scores of any manufacturer in Europe across its range of vehicles”.

The new tax changes have been introduced to encourage greener vehicles to be added to fleets.