Fiat to unveil new Panda Cross and Freemont Cross in Geneva

Italian carmaker Fiat has announced its lineup for the upcoming 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The company will present the world debut of the Panda Cross and Freemont Cross at the show.

New Panda Cross

The new Fiat Panda Cross is the agile SUV that's easy to handle in city traffic. However, the vehicle also has off-roading capabilities, thanks to the 'Torque on demand' transmission system and the ESC with ELD. The Torque on demand transmission system activates automatically as required, while the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system with ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) function provides additional assistance while driving and setting off on slippery terrain.

The Panda Cross also offers some AWD features for off-roaders. Its 'Terrain Control' has three different driving modes- AUTO, LOCK and HILL DESCENT.

AUTO - Automatic distribution of drive between the two axles in accordance with the grip of the road surface
LOCK - The four-wheel drive is always active for optimal off-road use, with distribution of torque among the four wheels, braking the wheels that are losing grip (or slip more than the others), and thus transferring the drive to those with the most grip.
HILL DESCENT - For optimum handling of particularly steep hill descents or when going down extremely bumpy routes.

The front fascia of the Panda Cross features a new bumper, which boasts a generous skid plate in a satin titanium colour with a design of holes which reinterprets the Panda's characteristic "squircle" motif. Tow hooks with an immediately recognisable new design in a brilliant red place emphasis on its off-road character. It gets new headlights and new fog lights integrated with the logo holder bonnet trim, and new DRLs with LED technology, built into the skid plate. The 15" alloy wheels sport a 5-spoke V design and a burnished metal finish.

Two engine versions are available, both with Start&Stop standard and boasting higher performance than the versions on the Panda 4x4: the 80 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel and 90 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo petrol, the latter with specific 6-speed transmission with shortened first gear.

New Freemont Cross

The Swiss show will also be graced by the new Freemont Cross, the top-of-the-range crossover targeted at a diverse, wide-ranging public with an eye on new developments and looking for the best balance between functionality and design. The Freemont Cross is characterised by a tough, distinctive appearance thanks to the brand-new front and rear bumpers with Platinum Chrome details, the front glossy black grille, five-spoke 19" Hyper Black wheels and Platinum Chrome-coloured side skirts. The black frames of the front and rear light clusters give the Freemont Cross an even more audacious personality, stating a readiness to tackle any road.

The new top-of-the-range version is available with the 140 HP 2.0 MultiJet II engine, with 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, and the 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet II, both in a 4×2 version with manual gearbox and an active AWD version teamed exclusively with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

In detail, the active AWD (All-Wheel Drive) is 'on demand' type, with an electronic control unit that uses sensors to measure the grip of the four wheels and decides when to transfer drive to the rear. The electronic system modulates torque transfer through the use of the ECC (Electronically Controlled Coupling) and, operating only when necessary, contributes to limiting fuel consumption.