Fiat Panda 100HP (2006) CAR review

What’s this, surely not a hot Panda?

Well it’s been a while since 100bhp constituted ‘hot’ but that’s essentially what you’re looking at. It’s been a while coming: when the upright Seicento replacement was first unveiled in October 2003 it was pulled along by fairly tame 1.1 and 1.2 petrol engines. Later, the torquier 1.3JTD arrived but even then, the Panda was hardly a performer. But it’s been working out and turned into this, the Panda 100HP.

So what’s under the bonnet?

Nothing special, judging by the cheap-looking plastic air box. But this is an engine that really deserves to be dressed smartly. A 1386cc twin cam developed from the Starjet unit in the Grande Punto it squeaks out 99bhp and 97lb ft, sending both to the front wheels through six closely-stacked forward gears.