Entrer dans l’univers Panda nécessite, d’abord, une démarche d’humilité: anti-esbroufe, à l’opposé de l’autosatisfaction, ce véhicule, attirant sans doute plus la sympathie que la pitié, démontre que son acquéreur a le sens des choses simples. Il s’agit avant tout d’un objet très bon marché, qui se satisfait de peu de taxes et de carburant, facile à conduire, maniable, idéal pour les courses en ville et, qui plus est, un peu plus grand et plus pratique (coffre) que la minuscule Seicentochose. On ne peut plus carrée et cubique, défiant le temps et les modes, la Panda ressemble tout de même à autre chose qu’à une voiturette sans permis et offre un habitacle joyeux, résumé à sa plus simple expression en termes de finition, pas très spacieux, mais recelant de multiples subtilités de rangement. L’espace de chargement, pas tout à fait ridicule, peut s’étendre en rabattant la banquette arrière. C’est à peu près tout ce qu’il est possible de trouver de positif à la Panda, abondamment dépassée dans sa conception. En fait, il y avait longtemps qu’on n’avait plus été installé aussi désaxé par rapport aux pédales et au volant lourd à manier en manœuvres, secoué en passant d’une bosse à l’autre, déstabilisé lors d’un freinage important, assourdi après un trajet aussi court. Pourtant, le modèle conserve ses partisants et il visiblement la peau dure. La Cinquecento n’ayant pas réussi à prendre sa place, c’est maintenant la Seicento qui tente sa chance, avec l’aide de ceux qui ont décidé de supprimer la transmission CVT du tarif Panda.

   In February 1980 FIAT presented a new 'utility' car, designed by Giugiaro and named the Panda. Fitted with either a two cylinder air-cooled 652cc engine (derived from that in the 126) - the Panda 30, or a four cylinder water cooled engine displacing 903cc (from the 127) - the Panda 45, it was conceived and built to be economical to buy and to run, with practicality high on the list of priorities. Designed to fit between the 126 and 127 in terms of product, it featured several innovative items such as the 7-position adjustable rear seat, removable and washable seat covers, door trims and dashboard cover and the fact that all the glass surfaces were flat. The original design of the Panda had most body panels completely flat but FIAT found out this was quite difficult to achieve and subsequently some panels look flat but have a slight convex for strength. All glass in the Panda is completely flat.
   The two original engines were added to in September 1982 when the Panda 34 was revealed, this using an 843cc water-cooled unit derived from that in the 850.
   At the Paris Motorshow later in 1982 the Panda 45 Super was revealed. This had numerous improvements, most significant being the availability of a five speed gearbox as well as trim and minor styling changes. The new black plastic 'corporate' grille (actually the first production use of this grille with the five diagonal silver bars) distinguished it from the earlier models with the 'metal with slots' grilles. A 30 Super was added to the range in February 1983.
   The Austrian company, Steyr-Puch, developed a four wheel drive system for the next addition to the range, the Panda 4x4. Launched in June 1983, it was powered by a 965cc engine with 48bhp derived from that in the Autobianchi A112. Known simply as the Panda 4x4, this model was the first small, transverse-engined production car to have a 4WD system. The system itself was manually selectable, with an ultra-low first gear. Under normal conditions starting was from second, with the fifth having the same ratio as fourth in the normal Panda. Steyr-Puch supplied the entire drivetrain (clutch, gearbox, power take-off, three-piece propshaft, rear axle inc diff and brakes) to the plant at Termini Imerese where it was fitted to the reinforced bodyshell. With a weight of 740kg it completed the standing km in 38.8 seconds and went on to a top speed of 84mph.
   Meeting with great success, the 1,000,000th Panda produced in July 1984, by the end of 1985 1,400,000 Panda (of all versions) had been built.
   Major changes to the Panda arrived in January 1986. The 652cc air-cooled 2-cyl engine was replaced by a 769cc (34bhp) water-cooled 4-cyl unit, and the 903cc by a 999cc (45bhp or 50bhp in the 4x4) item. Both the new engines were from the new FIRE family of 4 cylinder water-cooled powerplants with a single overhead camshaft. Out with the old was the message for the rear suspension too, with the rear leaf springs being replaced by an independent system using a rigid rear axle (known as the 'Omega' axle) with a central mounting and coil springs (the 4x4 continued to use two longitudinal leaf springs). Improvements were also made to the interior and the structure, which was strengthened. The full range became 750L, 750CL, 750S, 1000S and 4x4. These new models were visually identifiable by the lack of front "quarterlight" windows, this version was known as the Mark II, although this designation did not feature on the badging.
   April of that same year saw the introduction of a 1301cc diesel engine with 37bhp (a detuned 127/Uno unit). Fitted as standard with a five speed gearbox it was only available in the basic ‘L’ trim. The van version of the Panda was also introduced in the same month, with both petrol and diesel engines. This had the rear windows blanked off and a small (always black) plastic extension attached to the rear.
   The following year, 1987, saw the arrival of the Panda Young with a 769cc ohv engine which used the old 903cc block and produced the same 34bhp as the FIRE unit. The 999cc FIRE also got single-point fuel injection and a catalytic converter in that year, and the Panda 4x4 Sisley limited edition was released. This model was based on standard 4x4 with metallic paint, inclinometer, sunroof, white painted wheels, roof rack, headlamp washers, bonnet scoop, ‘Sisley’ badging and trim.
   In August 1988 the 2,000,000th Panda came off the production line and in the following year the pushrod 903cc engine was re-introduced for export and some limited editions. The Sisley model became a permanent model due to its popularity.
   The two-seat Panda Elettra, introduced in 1990, was an early player in the environmentally-friendly electric car stakes. The batteries occupied all the space behind the front seats plus some under the bonnet where the 18bhp DC motor was also fitted, driving through the normal clutch and gearbox. The weight increased significantly, to 1150kg, necessitating stiffer suspension and uprated brakes. In 1992 the power went up to 23.8bhp and the weight dropped slightly.
   The next major facelift came in 1991 with a redesign (most visibly a new front grille) and revision of the range. New arrivals included the ‘Selecta’, which had an electronic CVT (electromagnetic clutch plus CVT transmission). This advanced transmission was available either with the normal 999cc FIRE engine, but also an all new 1108cc FIRE unit, fitted with electronic fuel injection and a three-way catalytic converter and producing 51bhp. The new CLX trim also featured a five-speed gearbox as standard. The range now comprised the 750 Young (769cc ohv), 750 and 750 CLX (both 769cc FIRE sohc), 900 Dance (903cc ohv), 1000 Shopping, CLX, CL Selecta and S (all with 999cc sohc, available with or without SPI and catalytic converter), 1100 CL Selecta (1108cc sohc with SPI and cat) and the 4x4 Trekking (999cc available both with and without a cat). The Elettra finished off the offer.
   In the next year, the 1108cc engine, complete with SPI and catalyst, replaced the 999cc unit in the 4x4 (with 50bhp) and also in 1992 an 899cc (with injection and catalyst) became available, in the 'Cafe' special edition. This was a reduced capacity 903cc unit, designed to meet tax requirements in some markets.
   The car's popularity remained strong throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, despite build quality that was seen as poor quality by many buyers. Early cars also suffered from severe bodywork corrosion and rust, as with many contemporary Fiat vehicles of the era.
   From 1996 onwards, the Panda began to be phased out across Europe, due to tightening safety legislation. The car remained in production in Italy until May 2003. About a year later, the new Panda was launched, with total production standing at over 4.5 million units over a 20 year period.