- A heavily modified Fiat Panda came up for sale online, featuring an Abarth engine swap.
- The significantly more powerful powerplant is combined with larger brakes and a new rear axle.
- The build also features an Abarth 595 dashboard.
Despite sharing its underpinnings with the Fiat 500, the Panda never got the full Abarth treatment. However, when a carmaker fails to deliver, an idea for a cool project car is born. This is the case with this specific Panda, which received a full engine transplant and many other components from an Abarth 595.
The project started with a second-gen Fiat Panda 100 HP. This was the sportiest version of the urban dweller, featuring a more aggressive bodykit, a significantly stiffer suspension setup, beefier brakes, a Punto-sourced 1.4-liter engine with 99 hp (74 kW / 100 PS), and a six-speed manual transmission.
More: Limited Abarth 695 75° Anniversario Marks End Of ICE Era
The conversion was completed last year, and included swapping the naturally aspirated powertrain for a significantly more potent 1.4-liter T-Jet sourced from the Abarth 595 / 695 series. Notably, this is the most powerful version of the mill producing an impressive 178 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) with the help of a Garrett turbocharger. The engine currently requires a remap, meaning the horsepower figure could be increased even further.
The Abarth-powered Panda was also fitted with larger Brembo brake rotors and got the entire rear axle from the Abarth 595. This setup effectively converts the city car into a sleeper hot hatch, justifying the Scorpion emblems.
Besides the turbocharged engine under the hood, there is another surprise inside the cabin. The builder retrofitted the entire dashboard from the Abarth 595, taking advantage of the similar dimensions. The retro-themed dash is complete with the infotainment, switchgear, as well as the Abarth steering wheel and gear knob featuring carbon fiber accents. The cabin also got a new pair of bucket seats upholstered in red leather.
Exterior modifications are limited to a new set of white Sparco alloy wheels, a pair of aftermarket LED headlights, and quad tailpipes from the Abarth. The rest of the bodykit is carried over from the Panda 100 Hp, although a portion of the fender extension adjacent to the front bumper is missing.
According to the seller, the vehicle is worth more in parts, but it is “far too good to break”. The unofficial Abarth Panda is located in the UK and is offered on eBay for a price of £6,495 ($8,304). This makes it one of the most expensive second-gen Pandas out there, although it’s also one of the most special out there.
