Technical How steep a slope will the 4x4 climb?

[Herts Hillhopper]

Various refs around the web to a 50% gradient (which would be 1 in 2, which seems unlikely), and in other places to a 50 degree slope... but that could mean more than 45 degrees up (which is 1 in 2)...

Either way, the slope in this video posted on YouTube yesterday looks pretty challenging...


Pete

 

[doctorchris]

Most of the data given refers to a maximum climbable gradient of 50%.
It is almost certain that this refers to a vehicle on a tarmac surface and nowhere does it state whether a run-up to the slope is required.
Therefore, a standing start on a slippery surface, well the maximum is purely speculative.

 

[doctorchris]

I like the video.
Personally, although a bit trickier, I would have had a bit of a run-up on the tarmac then turned onto the slope and maybe would have driven on the vegetation rather than the dry sand.
The descent worried me more as, at the end, he was beginning to go sideways and at risk of rolling over.
Still, a lot of fun!

 

[hmallett]

...but that could mean more than 45 degrees up (which is 1 in 2)...

No it's not. A 45 degree slope is 1 in 1 (for every unit of distance you go horizontally, you go one unit vertically). A 1 in 2 slope is at 27 degrees.
The steepest public road I've ever seen is 1 in 3, which felt very steep!

 

[ivantate]

Just like the old Pandas, plenty of revs and clutch slip but good progress. It sounded like a multijet at the end although I thought it was a petrol to start with. The petrol may have been a better bet as it would have a far smoother power delivery for on the dust, as soon as the turbo kicked in it would spin the wheels.
Didnt seem to be a climbing spec as I think they all have the electronic limited slip diff on the back, but saying that if the whole weight of the car was on it may not lock the wheel up fully.

Generally if something looks even half steep on camera it has a good gradient, the camera tends to make things look far less impressive.

Also, anyone want to bet it was a hire car? almost new, 4000km and basically being driven like a hire car?

 

[Hellcat]

The data should be in the manual - anyone got one, or an electonic copy?

My car can attack something like a 42% gradient in reverse. Wouldn't want to try it though.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

No it's not. A 45 degree slope is 1 in 1 (for every unit of distance you go horizontally, you go one unit vertically). A 1 in 2 slope is at 27 degrees.
The steepest public road I've ever seen is 1 in 3, which felt very steep!

Sorry - you are quite right. What I had meant to write was that some places refer to a 50% gradient, which is 1 in 2, and others refer to 50 degrees which is more than 1 in 1 (which is, as you say, 45 degrees). Somehow I doubt either number is correct!

The manual doesn't say anything, but Fiat's own website says "..the Panda 4x4 is also capable of tackling gradients up to 50 degrees." (mind you, the same website explains how little petrol the Panda Cross uses -- a diesel-only car as we all know...)

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Didnt seem to be a climbing spec as I think they all have the electronic limited slip diff on the back

Climbings (in the UK at least) don't get the ELD, not even as an option (unless its a very recent addition to the options list). In rest of Europe, the ELD can be added to the Climbing for around €200. Cross has ELD as standard.

 

[doctorchris]

Just like the old Pandas, plenty of revs and clutch slip but good progress. It sounded like a multijet at the end although I thought it was a petrol to start with. The petrol may have been a better bet as it would have a far smoother power delivery for on the dust, as soon as the turbo kicked in it would spin the wheels.
Didnt seem to be a climbing spec as I think they all have the electronic limited slip diff on the back, but saying that if the whole weight of the car was on it may not lock the wheel up fully.

Generally if something looks even half steep on camera it has a good gradient, the camera tends to make things look far less impressive.

Also, anyone want to bet it was a hire car? almost new, 4000km and basically being driven like a hire car?

The car in the video has the alloys, wide side rubbing strips and black front and rear bumper protectors of the Climbing. The engine is almost certainly the petrol engine.
I would prefer to climb that hill in a diesel, either bog-standard or Cross. Narrower tyres than on the Climbing would cut through the surface dust for better traction. The better torque of the diesel would be more useful and the turbo does not really kick in with ferocity, so care with the accelerator would keep things nice and easy.
I doubt whether Climbing versions of the 4x4 are hired out abroad. I suspect the chap in the picture was proudly demonstrating his own car. He actually treated it with a lot of care.
For what its worth, I would guess that the hill was 25-30%, hills always look steeper than they really are, especially on film.
By the way, what did you all make of the light show on the dash after the engine was started?

 

[ivantate]

There are alot of multijets is standard trim over here, I am sure I heard the turbo as he accelerates to the camera at the end.
Also the spec of the standard 4x4 has steel wheels in Italy, it is only the UK where everything gets alloys.

Alot of people in the mountains seem to choose the petrols as they are smoother to drive on the normal road gradients (steep) rather than keep going on and off the turbo with each gear change.
I find this in our MJ too, you can pootle of the flat easily enough or you are going at 85% speed.
He was definately doing some full bore standing starts halfway up the hill but as you say it was all done fairly sympathetically.

The lights on the dash flicker due to the refresh rates of the LEDs and camera. (I think) Similar to when you see a TV screen on the TV.

 

[silverbarchetta]

Tacho goes to 7000 so presumably it's petrol?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Just like the old Pandas, plenty of revs and clutch slip but good progress.

Got my Classic Panda 4x4 up some very steep sopes when off roading.

Would need to keep momentum though and be very good with clutch control and keeping he rev's up.

Used to run up in 1st revving the tits off and she'd make it to the top even with wheels spinning.

She's put some defenders (or their drivers should I say) so shame

 

[Geminifm]

Tacho goes to 7000 so presumably it's petrol?

Petrol and Diesel pandas have the same tacho

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Petrol and Diesel pandas have the same tacho

Never knew that.

Learn something every day. lol.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Petrol or diesel... no sign of glow plug light showing on the dash... (see image below

And yes, I agree with ivantate that the flickering lights effect is because LEDs are not permanently on -- the flash too fast for us to detect but a camera can capture the moments when they are off.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

And yes, I agree with ivantate that the flickering lights effect is because LEDs are not permanently on -- the flash too fast for us to detect but a camera can capture the moments when they are off.

Funny enough, I can sort of detect it. When I glance across looking at an LED they seem to flicker. Happens with LED traffic lights and rear light units on the new Passat's etc.