Latest news with #Fiat128
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Fiat debuts 4×4 concept as coolest iteration of new Panda yet
Fiat has very cleverly rekindled its off-road heritage with the unveiling of the Grande Panda 4×4 concept, which represents one of the coolest modern interpretations of the beloved Panda 4×4 from the 1980s. It is still a concept, but a production model could very well arrive in the near future. Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! First things first, this iteration of the production model is still merely a conceptual imagining of what Fiat would do should it want to instil nostalgia with some of its buyers. Interestingly enough, Fiat's footprint in South Africa dates back decades, with local production of models like the Fiat 128, 131 and 132 at the Rosslyn plant until the early 1980s, but the first-generation Panda (1980–2003) was never offered here. The second-generation Panda (2003–2012) saw limited presence, but it was the third generation that resonated best with and delivered some of Fiat's best sales results in the SUV segment. While not exclusively a 4×4, its off-road capabilities were commendable from the slender and petite model. The new Fiat Grande Panda is coming to South Africa By 2020, Fiat had ceased importing new Panda models, and now in 2024, the Italian automaker has continued to evolve the Panda line-up, with the introduction of the Grande Panda, which now features hybrid and electric options. The latest Grande Panda is now earmarked for local introduction, which means should it arrive and this concept go into production, it could make its way onto South African roads too. Related: Coming to SA in 2025 – Fiat – CAR Magazine The Grande Panda 4×4 concept pays homage to its predecessor with a boxy silhouette, steel wheels, and utilitarian design elements. The extremities feature chunky plastic body cladding, raised suspension, and underbody protection. The concept features a roof rack equipped with a spare wheel and auxiliary lights and the front bumper showcases four-point LED lights, complementing the pixelated headlight design, while a 'Panda' cutout adorns the side cladding. Built on Stellantis' Smart Car platform, the Grande Panda is currently available in mild-hybrid and fully electric configurations. The 4×4 concept introduces a rear electric motor, suggesting the feasibility of an all-wheel-drive system. While specific powertrain details remain undisclosed, the addition of a rear motor would logically enhance traction and off-road capability. Related: Grander Panda – Fiat's Funky Hatch Gets Electrified Fiat CEO Olivier Francois has acknowledged the brand's commitment to exploring a 4×4 variant of the Grande Panda, stating: 'We're trying to find the solution and a way. The question is whether it should be an ICE 4×4 or an EV 4×4. We're looking at solutions and how and when — but we get the point and would like to do something like it soon.' While no official production timeline has been announced, the concept's debut signals Fiat's interest in reintroducing a 4×4 model that aligns with modern sustainability goals. Related: Toyota Celebrates 40 Years at Le Mans With Throwback Liveries As said earlier, the Grande Panda is earmarked for South Africa since Fiat aims for it to be a global vehicle, with production planned across three continents. The Italian automaker has emphasised affordability, with the hybrid version starting under £19 000 (R450 000) and the electric variant priced below £25 000 (R600 000). Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Fiat Debuts 4×4 Concept as Coolest Iteration of New Panda Yet appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust
The vehicle went bust nearly two decades ago CAR BLIMEY First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust A LONG-forgotten car brand has returned after decades away with an 80s-inspired supermini. Zastava Yugo, most commonly marketed as Yugo, was originally designed as a shortened version of the Fiat 128. 2 The Zastava Yugo is making a comeback with an 80s-inspired supermini Credit: Instagram 2 The company hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027 Credit: Instagram Its production began in the 1980s and ceased in 2008. The fresh vehicle - revealed as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, has drawn inspiration from the Fiat's model. Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian professor, has enlisted compatriot designer Darko Marčeta, who has lifted the lid on what the future Yugo will look like. The latter's eye-catching design will give the Yugo a modern aesthetic - complete with slim LED lights front and rear, bulky alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles. As more brands announce plans to introduce cheap entry-level EVs to encourage motorists to make the switch away from petrol and diesel cars, the revival of Yugo couldn't be more timely. For those not ready to make the switch just yet, the upcoming Yugo will be available in either a petrol or electric powertrain. The owner hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027, but plans to introduce the car to the UK remain unknown. In the meantime, the company plans to raise publicity for the model by using a fleet of classic Yugos to drive from Kragujevac, Serbia to Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip is a recreation of one originally made by the company in 1975. ENGINE RESTART It comes after a huge car brand looks set to be brought back after 14 years with an "entirely new vehicle" that will rival one major off-roader. Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode The sparkling set of wheels is catching the attention of off-roaders now the Chinese-funded motor is back on the scene. Spanish 4x4 manufacturer Santana has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese firm Zhengzhou Nissan. Together they have produced a brand spanking new model which offers a choice of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The motor is "designed for -if-road enthusiasts" and is said to contend with the iconic Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster - a rugged, trusty pick-up truck. Information about Santana's new vehicle has been kept very hush-hush with images simply showing a cloaked car. The sultry silhouette of the motor teases its chunky shape, but that's about it. Santana promised fans it would reveal the entire model range at the end of 2-25. The motors are being produced in the former Santana plant in Linares, Spain. Santana was originally founded in 1956 as Metalúrgica de Santa Ana S.A and began manufacturing Land Rovers under licence in Spain a couple of years later.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust
A LONG-forgotten car brand has returned after decades away with an 80s-inspired supermini. Zastava Yugo, most commonly marketed as Yugo, was originally designed as a shortened version of the Fiat 128. 2 The Zastava Yugo is making a comeback with an 80s-inspired supermini Credit: Instagram 2 The company hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027 Credit: Instagram Its production began in the 1980s and ceased in 2008. The fresh vehicle - revealed as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, has drawn inspiration from the Fiat's model. Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian professor, has enlisted compatriot designer Darko Marčeta, who has lifted the lid on what the future Yugo will look like. The latter's eye-catching design will give the Yugo a modern aesthetic - complete with slim LED lights front and rear, bulky alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles . read more in motors As more brands announce plans to introduce cheap entry-level EVs to encourage motorists to make the switch away from petrol and diesel cars, the revival of Yugo couldn't be more timely. For those not ready to make the switch just yet, the upcoming Yugo will be available in either a petrol or The owner hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027, but plans to introduce the car to the UK remain unknown. In the meantime, the company plans to raise publicity for the model by using a fleet of classic Yugos to drive from Kragujevac, Most read in Motors The trip is a recreation of one originally made by the company in 1975. ENGINE RESTART It comes after a huge car brand looks Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode The sparkling set of wheels is catching the attention of off-roaders now the Chinese-funded motor is back on the scene. Spanish 4x4 manufacturer Santana has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese firm Zhengzhou Nissan. Together they have produced a brand spanking new model which offers a choice of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The motor is "designed for -if-road enthusiasts" and is said to contend with the iconic Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster - a rugged, trusty pick-up truck. Information about Santana's new vehicle has been kept very hush-hush with images simply showing a cloaked car. The sultry silhouette of the motor teases its chunky shape, but that's about it. Santana promised fans it would reveal the entire model range at the end of 2-25. The motors are being produced in the former Santana plant in Linares, Spain. Santana was originally founded in 1956 as Metalúrgica de Santa Ana S.A and began manufacturing Land Rovers under licence in Spain a couple of years later.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
At $2,500, Is This 2005 Audi Allroad 4.2 A Broken Bargain?
The seller of today's Nice Price or No Dice Audi warns that it is rife with problems, calling it a "mechanic's special" and setting a price that they think acknowledges those issues. Let's see if that price makes it worth rolling our sleeves up and diving in. Amateur auto racing is generally considered to be a rich person's hobby, although, at $3,500, yesterday's 1975 Fiat 128 coupe proved that even us poors could get the chance to turn a wheel in anger every now and then. Well-kitted for the track and accompanied by what was promised were boxes of extra parts, that little racer proved pretty endearing. So, too, did its easy-going price tag, which earned it a solid 62 percent Nice Price win. Hey, are you a mechanic? Or do you just play one on TV? If the former, then today's 2005 Audi Allroad 4.2 is right up your alley. And that's probably where it should stay until some wrenches are thrown at it since it sounds like it has a butt-load of niggling problems. Read more: IndyCar's $1 Million Exhibition Race At A Club Track Was A Ridiculous Attempt To Recreate The Worst Parts Of Formula 1 Some of the problems the seller lists are common wear items on these cars, and some are things I tackled on the old A6 2.8 Avant I used to keep. Among the easier repairs needed are a front suspension rebuild, brake pad and rotor replacement, a torn CV boot, bad motor mounts and a windshield washer pump re-fit. The more egregious, difficult and expensive problems the car suffers include what the seller says is a crapped-out A/C compressor, a coolant leak at the rear of the engine (which is likely the plastic crossover pipe between the heads and a pain in the butt to replace), and what is said to be a bad fuel pump but, based on the symptom described, is more likely an issue with the EVAP system. All of this has proven too much for the current owner's skill set and wallet, and, hence, they are putting the car up for grabs. Is it worth saving at any price? Well, the rest of the car seems pretty solid. It shows no signs of road rot, upstairs or downstairs, and both paint and trim seem to be in good shape, except for the missing wheel caps all around. These also remain really good-looking cars, especially these later models that tone down all the boring black plastic trim. In the cabin, things look good, although in need of a deep cleaning. Audi sure does know how to make a solid and tasteful interior, and the wood trim and two-tone leather in this one liven things up a good bit. According to the seller, all the features work, right down to the heated steering wheel. Other plusses include the finicky air suspension having been replaced with set-it-and-forget-it coil-overs and a clean title. Then there's the sweet 4.2 under the hood. That all-alloy 32-valve V8 brings 296 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque to the table. The rest of the drivetrain is comprised of a five-speed automatic and Audi's venerable Quattro AWD. That drivetrain has pushed the Allroad to 122,250 miles in total, and the seller says that, with all the repairs completed, "it's probably good for 250K miles without worry." We might not all concur with that contention, but I think we all can agree with the seller's assertion that this Audi is worth saving. It is, after all, in pretty good shape aside from the mechanical malfeasance, which mostly seems to be stuff that any decent shade tree mechanic could handle. Even the big stuff like the coolant leak and A/C compressor replacement is pretty standard stuff for a repair shop. The question is, then, would any of you pay $2,500 to take it all on? That's the asking price for this compromised Quattro, and we'll now need to weigh in and see if we think that's a fair price—or even if it's worth saving at all. What's your opinion? Is $2,500 a deal even if you have to get your hands a little dirty? Or does the tsunami of issues mean this Audi should rightfully go to the scrapper? You decide! POLL: Nice Price or No Dice: 2005 Audi Allroad 4.2 for $2,500. Charlotte, North Carolina, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears. Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at robemslie@ and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
At $3,500, Would You Race To Buy This 1975 Fiat 128?
While it has a salvage title, today's Nice Price or No Dice Fiat has been stripped down and fitted exclusively for track duty. Let's determine if its price tag earns it the checkered flag or a DNF. The seller of this Alitalia-liveried 1975 Fiat 128 two-door, states that, but for the lack of a driver, it would already be out on the track. With that in mind, let's see a show of hands; who among us is ready to grab our Nomex, don a balaclava and helmet, and be that driver? Fiat's 1970s econobox is probably mostly forgotten by most who lived during the era, and is perhaps utterly unknown to those too young to have experienced disco firsthand. That's an unfortunate legacy as the 128 really is a watershed car, notable for introducing the now-ubiquitous transverse, end-on gearbox FWD drivetrain to the mass market. While it was initially only offered in two- and four-door form, the 128's tight suspension and quick steering also laid the groundwork for all hot hatches to come. That all makes it a solid choice for a racer, the specific purpose this car has already been tarted out to fulfill. It may be too expensive for LeMons, but this is a perfect candidate for VARA, SCCA, or local Gymkhana events. The changes are thorough, including a stripped interior, full roll cage, secured windscreen and rear window, and a single racing bucket and five-point harness for the lucky pilot. Read more: Feds Can Film Your Front Porch For 68 Days Without A Warrant, Says Court On the outside, the car looks the part of a boy (or girl) racer, festooned with era-appropriate decals and sporting aero aids on the roof and boot lid. Other updates include a fuel cell and fire suppression system. Completing the picture, it wears vintage alloy wheels fitted with Hoosier Racing meats. Under the hood, it gets a 1500 cc SOHC four and five-speed stick from a later X1/9, made possible by the ingenious versatility of the 128's drivetrain that it can be used in FWD or mid-engine RWD configurations with few modifications. The engine is monitored through a quartet of aftermarket gauges mounted to a cross member of the roll cage and limited to fuel, oil pressure, water temperature, and engine revs. Based on the shot of the driver's office, some cleanup of the car's wiring will likely be necessary. Based on the replaced engine, racing kit, and salvage title, it's safe to say that this little Fiat's days of dicing it up in commuter traffic are long in the past. Its focus is now solely on the track, and the seller says it will come with a tow bar, making getting to that track a lot easier, should a suitable tow vehicle be available. It also will come with what the seller says is a "well stocked tool box and a good assortment of track gear," so adding the aforementioned driver might make this a turn-key endeavor. This is a rare and somewhat unique opportunity to pick up a fun if admittedly, one-trick pony racing car. With a $3,500 asking price (including all the extra stuff), that makes it a cheap-seats option to do so as well. But is it cheap enough? Adding to the intrigue, the present owner states in the ad that, in lieu of cash, they are willing to entertain a trade for either a Chrysler Sebring or BMW 325 convertible, two very different classes of car and typically very rachet at this price point. Lacking either of those, even in our hypothetical decision-making, we'll stick to the potential of making it rain at the seller's set price point of $3,500. What's your take on this Fiat racer at that asking? Does that feel like a deal to get some track time in without breaking the bank? Or does that price already have this 128 starting from the back of the pack? You decide! Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears. Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at robemslie@gmail and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
