New Fiat Panda 4×4 and ‘Giusy’ Miss Italia 2012 Hit the Paris Auto Show Catwalk [w/Videos]

The big news for Fiat at the 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile was the world premiere of three new additions to the Panda range, namely the 4×4, Trekking and Natural Power models.

And they weren’t along as the cars were joined at the presentation by Miss Italia 2012, 19-year old Giusy Buscemi from Sicily. In case you wondering why, Fiat happens to be one of the official sponsors of the Miss Italia pageant with the latest generation of the Panda being the official car of the event.

The charming Giusy Buscemi made her entrance to the Parisian catwalk set up at the center of the Fiat stand aboard the new Panda 4×4, which the Italian company says is “the only four-wheel drive model in the A-segment”.

The differences over the regular Panda include the adoption of a permanent all-wheel drive system with two differentials and electronically controlled coupling along with the addition of a standard ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system with ELD (Electronic Locking Differential).

Fiat’s engineers also modified the suspension with the AWD variant sporting a higher travel ride along with an independent MacPherson arrangement up front and an interconnected wheel with torsion beam layout at the rear, specifically developed for this model.

A modest styling package that includes protective plates under the bumpers, plastic surrounds and new wheels on the outside, and a green frame around the dashboard and unique upholstery on the inside complete the visual updates.

Engine choices for the all-wheel drive Panda include an 84hp (85PS) 0.9-liter TwinAir Turbo petrol and a 74hp (75PS) 1.3-liter MultiJet II diesel.

The other two new additions to the Panda range that debuted in Paris are the Trekking, which borrows the looks and taller ride height of the 4×4 but keeps the regular model’s FWD layout, and the Natural Power fitted with a dual fuel (methane and petrol) 79hp (80PS) 0.9-liter two-cylinder TwinAir Turbo engine.

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