The car that helped Fiat get back on its feet at the turn of the century, the nuova Panda, will soon give its place to an all-new model that was snagged by Carscoop’s photographers during hot weather testing in Europe.
It’s hard to picture the styling details with the heavy cladding and camouflage on the prototype, but it’s evident that new model will retain the shape of the tall-bodied, second generation Panda.
Under the sheetmetal, the 2012 Panda rides on the same platform architecture as the latest Lancia Ypsilon, while the two cars will also share a similar engine lineup including Fiat’s 0.9-liter turbocharged two-cylinder gasoline and 1.3-liter MultiJet II turbo diesel units.
Unless Fiat has a change of heart, which isn’t entirely impossible with the Italian automaker, we should see the new generation of the Panda making its world premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Last we heard from a Fiat official on the matter was back in March, 2011, when a top company executive told the press that production of the new Panda will take place in November with sales to follow in the beginning of 2012.
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