Fiat has unveiled its new 500 TwinAir version at the Paris motor show.
Fiat is planning to expand the use of its new 900cc turbocharged two-cylinder motor, offering the TwinAir powerplant in three states of tune and, potentially, rolling it out into bigger models than the 500.
The first TwinAir version, in the show car, is rated at 84bhp. It will be priced alongside the 99bhp, 1.4-litre petrol four-pot whose performance it matches, while undercutting its economy by 30 per cent.
The other planned TwinAir outputs are 64bhp, which coincides with the basic 1.2’s output, and 105bhp, which slightly exceeds that of the current 1.4-litre petrol.
Fiat says the units will appear in other marques, most likely Lancia. Insiders say they are unlikely to power Alfa Romeo, Abarth or Chrysler group models.
Read Autocar's first drive of the Fiat 500 TwinAir
In a Fiat 500 powered by the 84bhp TwinAir, driving through the Dual Logic automated manual gearbox, the CO2 emissions are 92g/km (43 per cent less than those of a conventional engine of equal performance) and the combined fuel consumption is 69mpg.
The TwinAir engine is made in Poland and will ramp up rapidly to a production rate of 400,000 units a year.
It will go in the economy versions of all Fiat’s small cars. Insiders say it may be offered in the Focus-sized Bravo if customers can accept such a small engine in a big car.
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Re: Fiat to expand TwinAir range
Goodwin's law in action?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
Re: Fiat to expand TwinAir range
Goodwin's law in action?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
Re: Fiat to expand TwinAir range
It's all very well talking about the wonderfull power and amazing economy of this motor , but in the original driving impressions of the "500" with this engine Autocar stressed the good torque at 1900 RPM. Now at 1900 rpm in a twin pot you have as many firing pulses as a four-pot at 950 rpm , and I would expect to damage the transmission if I had loads of torque at this engine speed because of the vibrations through the drive train.The only solution is a heavy flywheel to damp the vibrations , which makes the engine feel lethargic.I suspect Fiat are either using a heavy flywheel , or a fancy dual-mass flywheel , neither of which are desirable.