Cars designed and built specifically for automobile racing, both for mass races and for setting speed records. Unlike production sports cars for the road, racing cars have a maximally lightweight body, which lacks many important control and safety components. These cars are generally not allowed on public roads.
Two modified Fiat Panda 4×4 vehicles were used in an off-road expedition across Iceland in August 2014, led by explorer Volker Lapp. For the expedition, both cars were modified in cooperation with off-road specialist Taubenreuther, including raised suspension, underbody protection, off-road tires, and extended air intake snorkels to allow deep water crossings. Interiors were partially stripped to tolerate occasional flooding. The expedition took place in August 2014 with a three-member team. After traveling from Germany to Denmark, the cars were transported by ferry to Iceland, where they covered several thousand kilometers across the island’s highland routes, including river crossings, volcanic terrain, and sand fields. The vehicles completed the journey with only minor issues and minimal external assistance, demonstrating the model’s durability and off-road capability despite its compact size.
WheelsAge.org '2005–pr.