RENAULT'S Twingo city car has prompted Fiat to revive a name from the past for a new model due on sale next year.

The new Fiat Panda was originally called the Gingo and had appeared at motor shows in 2003 using the name, but the company decided to switch to Panda because of 'concerns expressed by a competitor regarding a similarity between the name of one of its cars already on the market and Gingo'.

The Renault Twingo has never been officially imported to the UK but had long been on sale in mainland Europe. Fiat's decision to revert to the Panda name means it uses one familiar to many customers. Launched in 1980, the original Fiat Panda was sold in the UK until 1995 and also formed the basis for the SEAT Marbella in 1988.

However, production of the Panda continued and it will now cease on September 5 to make way for the new model.