A memorable event was organised, once
again in Turin, on 4 July 2007 to introduce the new Fiat 500,
exactly 50 years after the Fiat 500. Since then, the second
generation of the model that epitomised the history of Italian cars
was quick to conquer everyone's hearts. For the many enthusiasts and
customers worldwide, Fiat decided to celebrate each birthday of the
little 500 with special events and by introducing highly interesting
innovations. In 2008, picnics were organised in the main European
capitals and the powerful 500 Abarth was introduced. The same
happened in 2009 for the international presentation of the Fiat
500C, the original cabriolet version, which pays homage to the style
of the 1957 open top, which received over 32,000 orders in only a
few months. And today, to celebrate the model's third birthday, Fiat
is introducing an innovative TwinAir two-cylinder 85 HP (900 cc),
which will be marketed starting from next September on the 500
(saloon and cabrio alike).
The first of a new family of
two-cylinder engines made by FPT - Fiat Powertrain Technologies, it
implements the revolutionary MultiAir system combined with specific
fluid dynamics optimised for maximum fuel efficiency. Furthermore,
by taking the concept of downsizing to the extreme and masterfully
tuning the basic mechanics, the new family - delivering from 65 to
105 HP - emits 30% less CO2 than an engine of equal performance.
Significantly the new TwinAir 85 HP
two-cylinder engine will complement the many technological solutions
already adopted by the Fiat 500 to contain consumption and emissions
as demonstrated by the recent expansion of the engine range, now
featuring a second-generation 1.3 MultiJet delivering power of up to
95 HP. With 8 injections per cycle, the 1.3 MultiJet II improves low
rpm torque delivery by up to 38% and cuts CO2 emissions by 6%. Again
with a focus on environmental protection, the Fiat 500 (saloon and
cabrio) is available with Start&Stop, the system which temporarily
stops the engine and starts it again when the car is stationary with
the engine idling: this reduces urban cycle average consumption by
up to 12%. The principles of the Fiat 500 range are also implemented
in eco:Drive, innovative software for analysing driving behaviour
and helping motorists optimise consumptions and emissions by using
the USB port of the Blue&Me system.
In short, the Fiat 500 perfectly
expresses the commitment of Fiat in the field of environmental
protection and encourages users to adopt a more responsible,
eco-friendly use of the car. It is no coincidence that, for the
third year in a row, Fiat is the most environmentally-friendly of
the top-selling 10 car brands in Europe, with an average CO2
emission level of 127.8 g/km, compared to the market average of
145.8 g/km (analyses carried out by the independent institution Jato
Dynamics). A fundamental boost to obtaining this result was
certainly given by the extraordinary growth of methane, the most
eco-friendly and cost-effective fuel available on the market today.
A forward-thinking direction chosen over ten years ago, that has
made Fiat the undisputed European leader in factory-fitted methane
systems (OEM), as demonstrated by nearly 400,000 units sold to date
in the Natural Power range, which includes 14 bi-fuel
(methane/petrol) models - cars and commercial vehicles - for
responding to all mobility needs.
