‘Panda to Sochi’ officially set off today from Mirafiori Motor Village in Turin. Taking centre stage in this project is the Panda 4×4 Antartica, the Limited Edition model that celebrates the 30th anniversary of this top-selling 4×4 model, with more than 500,000 cars sold.
The Panda family confirms its position as the undisputed best-seller in Italy for the second year running, with more than 102 thousand vehicles registered and a share of more than 40% in segment A. It also has a firm footing in the EU27+EFTA rankings, with a share of more than 13%, thanks to a range which is the most extensive in the category.
The ‘Panda to Sochi’ project stems from collaboration between the Fiat brand and the multimedia publisher Vice Media, which addresses young metropolitan people who not only love new fashion, sports and music trends, but are also interested in the world of art and culture. The other prestigious brands involved in the project – Nokia, Nitro Snowboards and Beats by Dr. Dre – also unfailingly meet the requirements of this specific target.
Also on hand at the ‘Panda to Sochi’ starting ceremony were Fiat Freestyle Team riders Stefano Munari – star of Italian snowboarding – and Stefan Lantschner, a BMX talent from the Alto Adige area, together with Markus Keller, the famous Nitro team rider who will take turns with Dmitri Sartor during the trip. They were joined by Gersin Livia Paya, the editor of Vice, who completes the team that will travel to the site of Casa Italia in Sochi (Russia).
Using the Nokia 1520 with 6″ super-sensitive full-HD display, Gersin will tell the story of the journey in real time, with images and videos taken using the 20 MP Pureview camera and shared through social media, while the HERE maps will guide the team to their destination.
The team will stop off at 16 different European locations – some of which the general public is unfamiliar with – during its trip to Sochi with the aim of capturing the most peculiar aspects of the local cultures. A team of outstanding photographers and videomakers will also immortalise the crew’s tricks and manoeuvres in a few characteristic locations like Dracula’s castle in Transylvania and the Potëmkin Stairs in the Ukraine, or at other spectacular geographical sites like Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. The young people will have the chance to meet and interview athletes and trendsetters of the towns they go through.
The entire trip can be followed on www.fiatfreestyleteam.com and on the official Fiat, Freestyle Team and Nokia channels for Facebook and YouTube, as well as on www.vice.com/pandatosochi.
The ‘Panda to Sochi’ project is in line with Fiat’s commitment to the world of ‘action sports’ as the Fiat Freestyle Team, above all, demonstrates (more information is available on the official website www.fiatfreestyleteam.comand on the fan page Facebook/FiatFreestyleTeam).
Star of the adventure between Turin and Sochi is the Fiat Panda 4×4 Antartica equipped with the 85 HP TwinAir Turbo 0.9 petrol engine featuring two-tone bodywork – white with black roof – and a few special components that add even more personality to this 4×4 city car: grey diamond-finish 15″ alloy wheels, orange hub caps, fog lights, tinted rear windows and back window, orange mirror fairings and a special badge on the central pillar.
The interior features stylish grey and orange fabric and eco-leather upholstery, with the Panda’s well-loved versatility and passenger compartment comfort once again ensured by the 3-seater rear seat with 60/40 folding backrest and height-adjustable driver’s seat as standard.
The Panda 4×4 Antartica features all of the strengths of the 4×4 model, which was awarded the prestigious title of ‘SUV of the Year 2012’ by the UK’s Top Gear magazine. Starting with the adoption of the “torque on demand” drive system, which is activated automatically when needed, so you can tackle any driving situation in complete cool. The Panda 4×4 also features the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system with ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) function as standard. This system provides additional assistance while driving and setting off on slippery terrain.
The Antartica Limited Edition also offers all the dynamic characteristics and comfort you need to complete long and challenging routes, thanks above all to the revised suspension – MacPherson independent wheel at the front, interconnected wheel with torsion beam at the rear – and the adoption of specific 175/65 R15 84T M+S Winter tyres. It is the only city car to offer the special Snow Flake tyres as standard. They are designed to be used not only on ice and snow, but on roads and dirt tracks as well, increasing the traction capacity on low-grip surfaces by 20%.
