Fiat aims for green leadership
Fiat has vowed to become the greenest car company - and has become the first car maker to offer Euro 5-compliant engines. One of Fiat's prime targets under chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne has been to claim the 'green' high ground. The new...
Fiat has vowed to become the greenest car company - and has become the first car maker to offer Euro 5-compliant engines.
One of Fiat's prime targets under chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne has been to claim the 'green' high ground. The new 500 has won plaudits for its chic, retro style, but just as significant is the fact that some of its engines are already Euro 5-compliant - well ahead of the European Union's 2009 deadline.
Currently Fiat's average CO2 emissions stand at an impressive 144g, according to figures published by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (EFTE). And that is destined to fall as new engines are introduced.
Now Fiat added the Euro 5-compliant 1.6-litre MultiJet turbodiesel engines to its new Bravo C-segment compact hatchback, together with an 'eco' version with emissions of just 119g of CO2 from a 105bhp engine. This has revised engine ECU settings, as well as other modifications including optimised aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres and 'taller' gear ratios, resulting in fuel consumption of 62.7mpg in the combined cycle, some 5mpg better than the standard 105bhp 1.6 MultiJet.
Fiat Auto chief executive officer Lorenzo Sistino said the MultiJet diesels were "the centre of gravity of the Fiat engine range". He added: "They meet all targets for emissions, and are fundamental for the success of the Fiat Bravo."
And indeed, Bravo is a success story for Fiat. Developed in double-quick time in partnership with MagnaSteyr, 97,000 were sold last year against a target of 70,000 - and with a high proportion of high-spec versions. The target for this year has been upped to 120,000 units, and Fiat hopes to sell 60 per cent of Bravos outside Italy, including Malta, as in 2007.
The Euro 5 versions of the Multijet engines are pretty clean - 129g of CO2 for both the 105bhp and 120bhp models.
Petrol-engined Bravos, launched last year, have small-capacity 1.4-litre T-Jet engines, but with power ranging up to 150bhp, giving driveability and performance comparable to a 2-litre car.
The 1.6 MultiJet turbodiesel also comes in 120bhp guise. Despite its relatively smaller capacity, it has the same power as bigger 1.9 engines, and torque is improved by almost 25 per cent at 1,500rpm. Fuel consumption is reduced by eight per cent. CO2 emissions for this model are 129g - the same as the non-eco 105bhp version of the same engine.
For more information about the Fiat Range, visit the showroom in Psaila Street, Birkirkara, or www.fiat.com.mt or call 2382 3100.
One of Fiat's prime targets under chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne has been to claim the 'green' high ground. The new 500 has won plaudits for its chic, retro style, but just as significant is the fact that some of its engines are already Euro 5-compliant - well ahead of the European Union's 2009 deadline.
Currently Fiat's average CO2 emissions stand at an impressive 144g, according to figures published by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (EFTE). And that is destined to fall as new engines are introduced.
Now Fiat added the Euro 5-compliant 1.6-litre MultiJet turbodiesel engines to its new Bravo C-segment compact hatchback, together with an 'eco' version with emissions of just 119g of CO2 from a 105bhp engine. This has revised engine ECU settings, as well as other modifications including optimised aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres and 'taller' gear ratios, resulting in fuel consumption of 62.7mpg in the combined cycle, some 5mpg better than the standard 105bhp 1.6 MultiJet.
Fiat Auto chief executive officer Lorenzo Sistino said the MultiJet diesels were "the centre of gravity of the Fiat engine range". He added: "They meet all targets for emissions, and are fundamental for the success of the Fiat Bravo."
And indeed, Bravo is a success story for Fiat. Developed in double-quick time in partnership with MagnaSteyr, 97,000 were sold last year against a target of 70,000 - and with a high proportion of high-spec versions. The target for this year has been upped to 120,000 units, and Fiat hopes to sell 60 per cent of Bravos outside Italy, including Malta, as in 2007.
The Euro 5 versions of the Multijet engines are pretty clean - 129g of CO2 for both the 105bhp and 120bhp models.
Petrol-engined Bravos, launched last year, have small-capacity 1.4-litre T-Jet engines, but with power ranging up to 150bhp, giving driveability and performance comparable to a 2-litre car.
The 1.6 MultiJet turbodiesel also comes in 120bhp guise. Despite its relatively smaller capacity, it has the same power as bigger 1.9 engines, and torque is improved by almost 25 per cent at 1,500rpm. Fuel consumption is reduced by eight per cent. CO2 emissions for this model are 129g - the same as the non-eco 105bhp version of the same engine.
For more information about the Fiat Range, visit the showroom in Psaila Street, Birkirkara, or www.fiat.com.mt or call 2382 3100.