With a host of extras designed to appeal to young mothers, the Panda Mamy has a very specific market in mind. Buyers should like the extra practicality it offers but it's likely that the low pricing will be the bigger factor in securing sales.

Parents, have you ever thought that car manufacturers aren't doing enough to cater for the needs of you and your growing family? Have you ever found a car's design to be less than in tune with your specific set of requirements? If your answer is yes, then help could be at hand because being family-unfriendly is one charge that could never be levelled at the Fiat Panda Mamy special edition.

The Fiat marketing department has put its heads together and come up with a novel take on the special edition theme. We're all familiar with limited run versions of all kinds of cars that slap on some go-faster spoilers and super-sized alloys to entice the sporty set or shove in some extra equipment and play the value for money card but how many can you remember that targeted a group as specific as the Panda Mamy's 'young mothers'? If this is a sign of things to come, we could soon be faced with special edition cars specially designed for pensioners with dogs or middle-aged divorcees. Ultimately, short-sighted physiotherapists and ginger-haired dustmen might even get a look in. These truly are exciting times.

The Panda Mamy gets a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine which doesn't sound like much but it's a fair old size in a city car sector where protagonists often favour even dinkier 3-cylinder units. There's 60bhp on tap and the 0-62mph sprint can be covered in a respectable 14s. It feels lively enough on the road and the Panda's compact dimensions mean that it thrives in urban situations. Crucially, the car can also manage longer trips without too much drama. Some city cars struggle in the cut and thrust of the motorway network but with a 96mph top speed and a decent amount of torque from its engine, the Panda has little problem keeping pace. It's a relatively refined companion too.

"The Panda Mamy incorporates a number of features designed to make the life of young mothers (and fathers) that little bit easier.."

The car will pull from low speeds cleanly and the gearshift is probably the best in the citycar class. The clutch feels like a well-engineered item as well, being progressive in its action, making stop/go progress easy to manage. The 'City' button on the dashboard takes all the weight out of the steering system and makes three point turns an exercise in effortless wheel twirling.

The Panda Mamy incorporates a number of features designed to make the life of young mothers (and fathers) that little bit easier. There's a second internal rear view mirror for starters which allows you to keep a check on little ones in the back while you're at the wheel. Bag hooks are included in the boot along with a special high grip mat to help keep luggage in check and special seat covers with pockets at the back feature in the cabin itself. The upholstery on these seat covers is also completely washable because as any parent knows, accidents do happen. The colour scheme is suitably lively with orange air-vent surrounds and special mats for the foot wells.

In general, the cabin is very well finished with a good deal of space but headroom isn't particularly generous. Space in the back of the Panda is a mixed bag, the car being wider and taller than many rivals but without a great deal of legroom. Still, it will be fine for kids and Fiat can only do so much with a car that measures just 3.54m from nose to tail. Luggage space is surprisingly good. The hatchback is both wide and tall and there's no intrusion from the rear light clusters, although the rear wheel arches limit ultimate carrying capacity somewhat.

The Panda Mamy is based on the 1.2-litre Dynamic model from the standard Panda range and comes with a good base specification in addition to its family-focused extras. There's Bluetooth phone compatibility, a 50/50 split sliding rear seat with ISOFIX attachments to increase practicality, a height adjustable driver's seat, a CD stereo, remote central locking, two front airbags and ABS brakes. The exterior colours include aubergine and orange in addition to the more mundane grey and black and these, along with special interior trim materials, help to create a "softer, more emotional impact", according to Fiat.

The pricing of this Fiat looks competitive with the model (at £8,200) coming in at £5 less than the Panda 1.2 Dynamic Aircon model, despite having over £1,000 or so-worth of extra equipment. Families on a budget could well be persuaded by those figures alone.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine in the Panda Mamy keeps running costs low. The car will return an average of 50.4mpg, that figure rising to 58.9mpg on a longer run and sinking to 39.8mpg around town. Emissions are a relatively saintly too with 133g/km helping keep you cash out of the taxman's clutches.

Insurance for all models is relatively cheap, with even the racy 100HP only drawing a group 5 rating. Residual values have proven to be strong by Fiat standards, the Panda proving a popular used proposition.

This car's focus on meeting the needs of young mothers does limit its market somewhat but you'd have to say that it fulfils its preordained role well. Whether this is the start of things to come with special versions of other cars targeted at specific demographic groups remains to be seen but you can bet that if the Panda Mamy flies out of the showrooms, other manufacturers will be quick to follow suit.

This Fiat is an interesting marketing concept and a decent car that does what it sets out to do in catering for young families. The changes aren't major but they could make a difference and the basic Panda package is at or near the top of the city car class anyway.