FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14 January 2004

new breed of Panda in London

A new breed of Panda is heading for London this Friday, (16 January), but it may not be quite the animal you expect. This breed is the all-new Fiat Panda, recently voted Car of the Year 2004, which goes on sale here on Saturday 17 January.

Although the new Panda will not be released from captivity until this weekend, you’ll get a chance to see it before then, as it makes its maiden flight over London.

A helicopter, leaving from the Millennium Dome, and covering the Thames from the Tidal barrier in the east and Tower Bridge in the west, will be carrying the new Fiat Panda suspended in a steel cage, complete with a giant banner which reads: A new breed of Panda. The helicopter will be flying at an altitude of 250ft. (An itinerary is attached.)

The new Panda combines design flair, flexibility, practicality, refinement, technological innovation and outstanding value for money to set a new benchmark for cars in this class. With its combination of driving dynamics, refinement, technical innovation and equipment levels of higher segment vehicles, the new Panda reflects the increasing reluctance of car buyers to compromise at any level of the ownership experience, even in the lowest automotive segments.

All this has already led to excellent new Panda reviews in the UK motoring press.

more…

New breed of Panda in London…2

Take off point: Millennium Dome on the south side of the river, Friday 16 January 2004.

12:30 - Cage on-site at Dome

13:30 - 14:30 - Loadlift flight

Photo opportunity at Tower Bridge, (approx. 2pm). Helicopter will slow down considerably to turn in front of the bridge and then fly back to Dome landing site.

Alternatively at the take-off and landing site at the Millennium Dome. Meeting point: Pilot Inn Car Park, (68 River Way, Greenwich, London, SE10 0BE), which is close to the take off and landing area.

Contact for journalists intending to go down to the landing site or requiring information: Brian Roberts (020 8331 4002 or 07801 179039) or email

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Notes:

Six versions of the new Panda, priced from £6295-£8095 on-the-road, go on sale in the UK at launch, embracing three trim levels – Active, Dynamic and Eleganza – and a choice of two refined and economical petrol engines, (1.1 litre 8-valve, 54 bhp, and 1.2 litre 8-valve, 60 bhp). Both these proven, reliable power plants are mated to a
5-speed manual gearbox, whilst Fiat’s innovative, Dualogic gearbox with sequential or fully automatic operation is also available with the 1.2 litre FIRE engine.

For further information please contact:

PETER NEWTON Public Relations Director

or

Puneet Joshi Press Officer

Fiat Auto (UK) Limited

Tel: 01753 511431Fax: 01753 516871

E-mail addresses: /

34764/140104