FIAT's ever aging Punto clings onto life with another special edition, the Jet Black 2.

• New limited-edition FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 features distinctive looks, 17-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension
• Interior refinements include climate control, cruise control and Blue&Me™ connectivity as standard
• Powered by a 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is priced from just £12,000 O.T.R.

The new, limited-edition FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 has gone on sale in the UK featuring distinctive looks and a high level of standard specification at a very affordable price of £12,000 OTR.

Available as a three-door only, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is finished in Crossover Black metallic paint and is equipped with dark tinted rear privacy glass and smoked, 12-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. Body-coloured side skirts and a matching rear spoiler; sports suspension; front fog lights; special side stripes and a tailgate logo complete the bespoke look.

The interior also benefits from additional features including a leather steering wheel and gear knob; automatic climate control and cruise control, while standard safety features include rear parking sensors; adaptive cornering fog lights; five airbags and voice-controlled, Blue&Me™ Bluetooth multimedia connectivity.  

Powered by a 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine fitted with Start&Stop as standard, the Punto Jet Black 2 combines ample performance with low running costs and to make it even more tempting, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is also available with a variety of finance packages, including a zero-percent APR, £99 per month (over 37 months) PCP offer with a deposit or trade-in of £4,499 or with a deposit of just £187 and 48 payments of £187. In the case of both offers, exclusions, terms and conditions apply and there is an optional final repayment.

The FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is in dealers now. Visit www.fiat.co.uk for more details.

Geneva to host Brand new FIAT Panda Cross

• Based on the successful and hugely capable FIAT Panda 4X4, the new FIAT Panda Cross offers even more capability and attitude
• ‘Torque-on-Demand' all-wheel drive, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Locking Differential and Hill Descent all standard
• New Terrain Control selector offers the driver the choice of three driving modes depending on conditions
• Available with uprated versions of the 1.3 MultiJet II and 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, now with 80hp and 90hp respectively – TwinAir engine gets specific 6-speed transmission with shortened first gear
• Compared to the Panda 4x4, the Panda Cross offers oversized tyres, improved approach and departure angles and increased ground clearance

The all-new FIAT Panda Cross is set to make its world début at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4th, 2014.  Building on the successful formula of the FIAT Panda 4X4, a car that’s as happy in city traffic as it is taking on the toughest off-road conditions, the new Panda Cross offers even more all-terrain capability thanks to a host of new features, better performance and improved ground clearance.

Key to the additional off-road ability of the FIAT Panda Cross is its standard ‘Torque-on-Demand’ transmission system, which utilises the vehicle’s ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) and advanced ESC (Electronic Stability Control) systems to manage the engine’s torque delivery in difficult driving conditions. The advantages of this system are that it is both fully automatic and requires zero maintenance and it is controlled by the new Terrain Control selector, which offers the driver three driving modes depending on the driving situation:

• AUTO – Automatic distribution of drive between the front and rear axles in accordance with the available grip
• LOCK – 4WD is optimised for off-road use at speeds of up to 30mph, with distribution of torque controlled by braking slipping wheels and thus transferring the drive to those with the most grip
• HILL DESCENT - For optimum handling of particularly steep hill descents or when driving down extremely bumpy laneways

In addition, the FIAT Panda Cross is also fitted with oversized all-season 185/65R15 tyres, larger than those fitted to the standard Panda 4x4, which were developed specifically to combine drivability and traction in low-traction situations with positive on-road handling on both wet and dry surfaces.

The suspension of the FIAT Panda Cross has been developed to combine on-road comfort, handling, road-holding and safety with improved off-road characteristics. An independent MacPherson suspension is employed at the front while a torsion beam layout has been developed for the rear to accommodate the all-wheel drive mechanicals, thereby saving weight and providing better ride and acoustic characteristics than the semi-trailing arm arrangement of the previous generation Panda Cross.

In addition to its generous ground clearance – 16cm for the MultiJet II version and 15cm for the TwinAir Turbo version – the FIAT Panda Cross also benefits from improved approach and departure angles: Its 24° approach angle represents a three degree improvement over the previous model, while its 33° departure angle represents an improvement of one degree. The new FIAT Panda Cross also boasts a break-over angle of 20° and a 31.5° (70%) climbable gradient.

Two engines will be offered in the new FIAT Panda Cross, both with Start&Stop as standard and both offering a five horsepower boost compared to the standard FIAT Panda 4X4.  The new 0.9 TwinAir Turbo engine now produces 90hp at 5,500 rpm and 145Nm (107 lb ft) of torque between 1,900rpm and 3,000rpm, or 100Nm (74 lb ft) at 2,000 rpm in ‘Eco’ mode. This engine, on the combined cycle, offers an impressive fuel consumption figure of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km, and comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission with a unique first-gear ratio that was specifically engineered with off-road driving in mind.

The 1.3 MultiJet II turbo-diesel delivers a maximum power output of 80hp at 4,000rpm and generous 190Nm (140 lb ft) of torque at just 1,500 rpm but thanks to its low weight of just 140kg there are no ride or handling compromises, on or off road. On the combined cycle, the 1.3 MultiJet II engine returns 60.1mpg and its CO2 emissions are just 125g/km.

Styling-wise, every detail of the Panda Cross has been designed to make it immediately recognisable and distinctive: The front end features new light clusters, a new bumper and new fog lights integrated into front facia. New LED DRLs are also built into the skid plate, which is finished in a satin titanium colour with perforations that recall the Panda’s signature “squircle” motif.

From the side, wheel arch extensions, side mouldings with the ‘Cross’ logo and new roof bars with a satin titanium finish set the FIAT Panda Cross apart from its siblings, while its new 15-inch alloy wheels sport a five-spoke V design and a burnished metal finish. The rear end is also revised with a new bumper with under-body protection, echoing the design of the front skid plate, a new rear light cluster and a chrome tail pipe.  Finally, new tow hooks finished in brilliant red emphasise the off-road character and complete the look of the new Panda Cross.

Inside, the new Panda Cross features unique fabric/eco-leather upholstery and a new dashboard finish with a distinctive copper fascia, while standard equipment includes a leather-trimmed steering wheel with remote controls; a leather-trimmed gear knob; automatic climate control; Blue&Me™ connectivity; electric door mirrors; a height-adjustable driver's seat and, of course, the new Terrain Control selector. City Brake Control, which has won FIAT recognition in the 'Euro NCAP Advanced 2013’ awards, is available as an option. The innovative system recognises the presence of other vehicles or obstacles in front of the car, braking automatically if the driver fails to intervene directly to avoid a collision or mitigate its consequences at speeds of up to 18.6mph.

The new Panda Cross joins the Panda Trekking and Panda 4X4 to offer customers a unique range of extremely capable and characterful mini-SUVs. Having invented the segment in 1983, the Panda 4X4 range has amassed 500,000 sales since it was first introduced and since the Panda Trekking and Panda 4X4 were introduced, just over a year ago, around 26,300 units have been registered, underscoring the enduring popularity of these distinctive vehicles. Approximately 30,000 examples of the previous-generation FIAT Panda Cross, which was first launched in 2004, were registered and it is expected that the new model will not only build on this success but also consolidate the success of the wider FIAT Panda range, which is the second-best seller in its segment in Europe, after the FIAT 500. Together with the FIAT 500, the Panda has led FIAT to a position of undisputed leadership in the A segment in 2013 with a market share of more than 27% in Europe.

The new FIAT Panda Cross is due to go on sale in the autumn with pricing, final UK equipment specifications and technical details to be announced closer to its launch.

Latest FIAT 500 special edition the GQ, looks sharp, and expensive.

• New special series announced in collaboration with GQ, the world-famous men's magazine
• Striking orange details and an elegant sporty look for those who like to stand out
• Exclusive two-tone metallic grey/ black livery  

Fiat has announced UK details of the new special series Fiat 500 GQ, which made its world debut earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show.

The stylish and sophisticated Fiat 500 GQ is the result of a collaboration with GQ, the premier men's magazine, owned by Condé Nast, which sets style and culture trends across the world.

Aimed at a predominately male audience, the new Fiat 500 GQ is dedicated to those customers who love the metropolitan lifestyle and are fans of sophisticated aesthetics and uncompromising style.

The Fiat 500 GQ blends the urban feeling of the Fiat 500 with the trendsetting spirit of GQ Magazine and comes with exclusive two-tone paintwork (Groove Metal Grey and Crossover Black), additional specification and unique styling features.

Based on the 500S, the Fiat 500 GQ is available with the same engines (1.2 Petrol 69 hp, the award-winning 0.9 TwinAir 85 hp and the 1.3 MultiJet diesel 95 hp) and with both hatchback and convertible body types.

The exterior features exclusive standard two-tone paintwork (metallic grey/black), a grey aesthetic liner, black mirror covers, GQ logo on the B- pillar and 16-inch Sport alloy wheels coupled with a contrasting orange 500 logo on the wheel trims.

The Fiat 500 GQ’s interior features, as standard, a sports leather steering wheel with infotainment controls, Blue&Me system with Bluetooth technology, voice recognition, soft Frau Black leather seats with orange stitching and orange 500 logo fitted on the dashboard.

The car’s new upholstery was designed to offer the best possible ergonomics, for comfort and elegance. The internal look of the Fiat 500 GQ is completed by the brushed aluminium sports pedal unit and leather gear knob.

Prices start at just £13,110 OTR for the 1.2 69 hp 500 GQ hatchback version and £15,930 OTR for the 1.2 69 hp 500 GQ convertible version – prices that are £1,700 and £1,520 respectively more than the 500S versions but includeadditional specification and a number of unique styling features as standard.

“We are delighted to announce the addition of the Fiat 500 GQ special series in the UK, which joins the highly successful 500 range,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

“Everyone knows the Fiat 500 can be enhanced with thousands of combinations of equipment and styling options, and this sophisticated yet sporty 500 GQ model further illustrates that. It will appeal to trendsetters who will appreciate its sophisticated style and dynamism.”

On-the-road pricing for Fiat 500 GQ versions is as follows: