That Fiat was planning to expand the range of its latest Panda city car with an all-wheel drive, crossover version is something we not only knew from the moment the Italian automaker presented the regular model at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but had also spied this past winter.
And while the scoop photos of the camouflaged prototype gave us a rough look at the next Panda 4×4, we now got our hands on some revealing patent drawings that provide a meticulous view of the styling changes.
The images show that the Panda 4×4 will stand taller than the regular model thanks to an increased suspension travel.
There are also plastic mouldings running around the wheel arches and the lower parts of the body, plus newly designed front and rear bumpers that house silver-colored skid plates, and new front fog lamp housings.
Like its predecessor, the new Panda 4×4 will use an all-wheel drive system with a hydraulic actuated multi-plate clutch ahead of its rear differential.
Fiat will likely offer both petrol and diesel engines including the 74hp (75PS) 1.3-litre MultiJet 2 turbodiesel.
The new Panda 4×4 could make its world premiere as early as this fall at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and go on sale towards the end of the year or in early 2013.
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