The Fiat Panda takes on the VW Up

Paul Horrell When I first saw the Up, I thought it wasn't as good as the show car. That looked like a proper piece of design - all rigorous and disciplined.

James May Yes. And it was supposed to be rear-engined and powered by antimatter. But it turned out to be just a small hatchback.

PH People say the Panda is a great car because it's got the TwinAir. But that's an extra 12 hundred quid, for the 85bhp one with a turbocharger...

{There will be a non-turbo TwinAir, but that's a way off.}

PH (continuing) ...so the engine everyone talks about is too expensive for any normal human being. You'd be spending too much money on the engine alone. It's not like the people who buy Fiat 500s. They have lots of money and buy a 500 because they want one, so they might as well buy the fancy one. Those sorts of people are not the type to buy a Panda. Apart from you...