Fiat Panda test drive since 2003 hatchback

Do not touch

The gearbox in the new modification of Fiat Panda is controlled by the robot, releasing the driver's right hand. What Maxim Sachkov took advantage of, writing this article. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov.
 
It’s good when it is not necessary to switch the programs, ”thought, wandering through the capital's traffic jams. Although the sensation is strange - as if you are communicating not with an automatic machine, but with an ordinary manual box, you don’t pull a lever. Perhaps this is due to small jerks when moving to the next step. In five minutes, you stop paying attention to them.
Who claimed that Panda is a clumsy animal? On the contrary, very nimble and yurkoy! In the spaciousness, it briskly leaves the chase, despite the fact that under the hood is only 1.2 liters of working volume. Only now jerks when switching are much more sensitive.
But the reaction of the robot is no worse than that of expensive hydromechanical boxes - it spore responds to the actions of the pedal, without causing irritation sitting behind the wheel. If necessary, the unit is ready to jump up as quickly and two steps down. As it is started in modern boxes, electronic brains closely monitor the accelerator pedal. If a you press slightly, the tachometer arrow does not rise above 2500-3000 revolutions. And it came from the heart, and the engine is spinning in each gear almost to the limiter. By the way, after dynamic acceleration, the robot is in no hurry to switch to increased speed, logically waiting for continuation. But it is worth it, letting go, press the pedal again, as it calms down, stepping on one or even two steps up.
Wait! Where did you go? Well, the photographer is far away, and not looming (as often happens) right behind the trunk. And it was necessary to rise a couple of meters in the hill. Out of habit, I transferred the selector to the riding position, transferred my leg from the brake to gas and panda rolled down. Alas, the methods of driving with the hydromechanical box do not pass here - you won’t wait for the characteristic support for a touch from the robot, because the programs are turned on only when you press the accelerator. I remembered the most correct way that was taught in a driving school, and took advantage of the parking brake. Rightless, but not very convenient. By the way, the robot does not have a parking mode, and it is somehow unusual to leave the car in the winter on the handbrake. Therefore, by pressing the brake, drown out the engine, pull the ignition key from the lock, and only then transfer the lever to the neutral - until the next start, the car will remain in the first gear.
The manufacturer claims that robotic panda eats by about 0.3 l/ 100 km (according to factory measurements of 5.6 l/ 100 km in a mixed cycle) less gasoline than a car with a manual box. It is not without reason that a button is located next to the selector, including an economical mode. It does not radically change the character of the robot, but switching becomes more often. And with them and jerks - as if Panda began to hiccup. But this mode should really reduce your appetite - if you are in no hurry, already 60 km/h the box sticks the fifth. If you need to accelerate, the unit is in no hurry to switch to increased.
It's time to tame the ramp - I tilt the selector to me, and the inscription Auto disappears from the central display on the dashboard. Now I can control the robot. Perhaps this is self -hypnosis, but it seems that switching has become more quickly. Panda turned directly into a racing bear - jumps from step to the step, even honestly holds the transmission when the engine is already resting against the revolutionary limiter. At least now on the track! Only for this they buy a small city car?
By the way, the price of a robotic panda is 30 thousand rubles higher than that of a machine with mechanics in a similar configuration. An automation margin in comparison with competitors is small, however, in the end, a small car will cost 385 thousand rubles. Expensive for a compact machine? Perhaps at the current price level - no longer ...
With the disadvantages of the Italian robot, it is quite possible to put up. But in the city crowd, he is undoubtedly more convenient than mechanics.
 


 

 

Source: The magazine "Driving"