2014 Fiat Panda Cross to make its Geneva debut

First pictures of the 2014 Fiat Panda Cross has been revealed ahead of the car's official unveiling at the Geneva motor show.

The Panda Cross is based on the Panda 4X4, and comes with all-wheel drive, off-roading technology and body protection.

This body protection is the most notable element of the new Panda Cross. It features a new plastic-cladded front and rear bumper, metal skid plates front and rear, LED daytime running lights, and redesigned foglights. The wheel arches and side sills also get plastic cladding and it also gets roof bars.

Inside there's bespoke fabric and leather upholstery, a copper-colored dashboard, Bluetooth, automatic climate control and Fiat's city braking system.

All-wheel drive comes as standard, and is paired with a torque-on-demand transmission system that sends power to the appropriate wheels when necessary. To further boost the car's off-road ability, hill-descent control also comes as standard, as does a set of oversized all-season tyres.

The suspension has also been tuned to cope with harsher surfaces, as well as improve on-road comfort. It has been raised by 15cm if you choose the petrol model, or 16cm if you go for the diesel.

There is a choice of two engines – the 89bhp 0.9-litre Twinair petrol, and the 79bhp 1.3-litre diesel engine. The diesel is the more economical of the two, with an average fuel economy of 60.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 125g/km. The petrol emits 114g/km and averages 57.6mpg.

Final pricing and UK specification will be announced closer to the Panda Cross's arrival in the autumn.