I just thought I would post some pictures of Fiat style 4x4 offroaders I took a couple of summers ago. Those of you in the US may not be aware of their small vehicle 4 wheel drive programme. These pictures were taken driving down a ski run at Val d'Isere in France (in the summer so no skiers around!!). I run one of these alongside my diesel Patriot, both are great fun. None of these bottomed out while a JEEP Commander behind kept grounding and burying his nose.....
FIAT are coming.......
greenfintry
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I just thought I would post some pictures of Fiat style 4x4 offroaders I took a couple of summers ago. Those of you in the US may not be aware of their small vehicle 4 wheel drive programme. These pictures were taken driving down a ski run at Val d'Isere in France (in the summer so no skiers around!!). I run one of these alongside my diesel Patriot, both are great fun. None of these bottomed out while a JEEP Commander behind kept grounding and burying his nose.....
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I don`t think these cramped Panda 4x4`s will dominate the US market anytime soon. Not even the EU. Anyone buying a SUV wants at least reasonable space in it and some road presence and "domination"... that`s why they`re buying a SUV and not just for the 4x4 capability alone. Would anyone care for a 4x4 "off-road" Smart-Fart? 
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please, no more pics of that ugly thing, i can't take it anymore.
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If that's what the "Next Generation" Patriot is going to look like, I'll be shopping for an Xterra or FJ when the time comes. I hope they don't do that to the Wrangler.
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A smaller vehicle like the Panda can go down extremely narrow mountain trails with ease, navigate around obstacles other vehicles must try to climb over, and can get better fuel efficiency. It's a precision tool, not unlike an Xacto knife amongst hacksaws.I don`t think these cramped Panda 4x4`s will dominate the US market anytime soon. Not even the EU. Anyone buying a SUV wants at least reasonable space in it and some road presence and "domination"... that`s why they`re buying a SUV and not just for the 4x4 capability alone. Would anyone care for a 4x4 "off-road" Smart-Fart?
It isn't really an SUV, in the purest sense of an SUV. It's an offroad car. It's definitely no replacement for a Wrangler or Land Rover, but in the right conditions it has its place.
As for off-road in quotations, I'll bet it'll do about as well as an average Patriot, if not slightly better thanks to a narrower size and the crazy departure angle.
they serve no purpose in the US. Here there's plenty of room and open roads, sub-compacts are rarely seen, and quite unsafe with our highway system. They could be rigid as can be, but versus what you normally see in the US (full size pickups or monster SUV's like the Ford Excursion) the impact would kill anyone inside in a highway accident (g-forces if the compartment doesn't crumple)
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I have a neighbor that describes his wife just like this!!! LOL
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I agree. They may not dominate but I do think that there is a possibility that they could be popular with the younger generation depending on price and MPG's.
At least here in PR the Suzuki SX4's AWD models are more and more popular. Ok, not a 4x4 but there is no 4x4 offering in that vehicle size segment that I can think of at this time. Maybe they will be picked up as a rental car here.
Again, it will depend on the price these Panda's are offered at. If too expensive, I do not see them being popular then. It will go the way of the VW Beetle. A few interested parties will buy them for the "nostalgia" and then they will slowly fade away. I see less Beetles now than when they made their come back a few years ago.
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fiat 4x4
Thought I should add, I get 54.0 mpg versus 40.0 on the diesel patriot driving the same routes.... both diesel and UK size gallons.
Thought I should add, I get 54.0 mpg versus 40.0 on the diesel patriot driving the same routes.... both diesel and UK size gallons.
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From my perspective, I think the 4x4 Panda *could* be both a very popular and useful vehicle in the Jeep lineup. While I agree with others above about the issues for the vehicle on the highway... I feel it could be an excellent choice for a city vehicle (high mpg and maneuverability). And, in many regions of the Northern US, the 4x4 aspect would be useful as well in poorly plowed areas (yes, unfortunately there are many areas of urban environments that are poorly plowed for days after a storm).
Now, for me, I personally will prefer my Patriot (when I get it) or my Liberty (a second choice alternative, depending on which I find first in the configuration I like (4x4, manual transmission, fair price). But, I would think adding another class of Jeep vehicle to the lineup could be a very good thing. And, with the notion that it now seems likely there will be a Patriot successor in a close to similar size as it is now, adding a smaller option will only help to draw more to the Jeep brand.
Just my opinion. I am not trying to be controversial.
PipeTobacco
Now, for me, I personally will prefer my Patriot (when I get it) or my Liberty (a second choice alternative, depending on which I find first in the configuration I like (4x4, manual transmission, fair price). But, I would think adding another class of Jeep vehicle to the lineup could be a very good thing. And, with the notion that it now seems likely there will be a Patriot successor in a close to similar size as it is now, adding a smaller option will only help to draw more to the Jeep brand.
Just my opinion. I am not trying to be controversial.
PipeTobacco
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I hope they change the styling. I for one think the idea is great, and the whole mindset of always neeing a bigger SUV to run to the corner store no doubt is just retarded. People should start to consider fuel economy and the emissions produced.
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Well, hands down, even people who don't like the Patriot think it "looks" like a Jeep. If they copy the Patriot styling onto a Fiat Platform vehicle, it will sell regardless of how capable or incapable it may be.
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Yes, but it should be able to go up mountain trails as well. I just don't think it would have the grapes. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pandas in the photos drove up a service road to the summit and then bounced their way down the slope using gravity to aid their meager power output.
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I'll bet your right about the service road joesjeep. And I'll bet that it can go down / off a steep cliff with the utmost ease also.
When and if they come to our market I'm willing to go to Badlands and see how one stacks up against my FDI. If someone gets one.
When and if they come to our market I'm willing to go to Badlands and see how one stacks up against my FDI. If someone gets one.
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Not at all... I was on board and just got out of the lead vehicle to take photos. All cars actually had 4 adults in and were driven (albeit hard) up the regular slopes.
I just posted the pictures to let folk see what these machines are like.... The lack of overhang and light weight is fun to drive and I suspect they could do OK on the Rubicon?!
I have driven round Moab as well as Montana and Wyoming on trips to the states and love the far West. Most of the time out there was using a Blazer (a la OJ), so have never actually found a Jeep rental place, which is quite annoying.
In terms of finish etc, the Jeep (Cherokee mk1 and Patriot) and Fiat share quite a bit of similar philosophy: fairly easy to fix, not too flash and fit for purpose. I have owned the first Cherokee in the UK (diesel, which had a Fiat engine in it in 1996!). Maybe the marriage will be good for all?
I just posted the pictures to let folk see what these machines are like.... The lack of overhang and light weight is fun to drive and I suspect they could do OK on the Rubicon?!
I have driven round Moab as well as Montana and Wyoming on trips to the states and love the far West. Most of the time out there was using a Blazer (a la OJ), so have never actually found a Jeep rental place, which is quite annoying.
In terms of finish etc, the Jeep (Cherokee mk1 and Patriot) and Fiat share quite a bit of similar philosophy: fairly easy to fix, not too flash and fit for purpose. I have owned the first Cherokee in the UK (diesel, which had a Fiat engine in it in 1996!). Maybe the marriage will be good for all?
Remember the Panda is a tiny vehicle and probably too small for the US whereas the Sedici is more Patriot sized.
http://www.automotto.org/entry/fiat-sedici-rolled-out-in-italy/
Also, both are some years old and any Fiat/Jeep collaboration for the global market will be light years ahead.
http://www.automotto.org/entry/fiat-sedici-rolled-out-in-italy/
Also, both are some years old and any Fiat/Jeep collaboration for the global market will be light years ahead.
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As I recall the Suzuki Samurai sold pretty well in the US and it was tiny.
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I personally prefer the Sedici to the Panda in terms of looks and size. I saw an SX4 and think it's quite awesome. But to make it a Jeep they're going to have to increase its ground clearance and change its approach/departure/break angles significantly. It would also need skid plates and a lower-range gearing.
I wish they'd make a trim level of the Nissan Juke with some offroad capability (i.e. skid plates, lots of ground clearance and a low range gear). It would still be ugly but it'd fill a niche that's pretty much not served in the U.S.
I wish they'd make a trim level of the Nissan Juke with some offroad capability (i.e. skid plates, lots of ground clearance and a low range gear). It would still be ugly but it'd fill a niche that's pretty much not served in the U.S.
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