Fiat releases new 1.6 diesel engine
Until now, Fiat had only two diesel engine sizes for diesel cars: 1.3 and 1.9-liter. In order to "fill the gap" between the two, the automaker has released a new 1.6-liter engine that can be ordered in 105 and 120 HP versions. Fiat's Lorenzo Sistino states, "This new generation of diesel engines is suitable for the newest CO2-based tax schemes which are being implemented around Europe".
The engine has the same horsepower as the 1.9-liter units, yet they deliver the same performance with less consumption. Fiat claims an eight percent drop. The 105 HP version is capable of using just 4.9 liters every 100 km (which is 48 mpg), which is even improved in the "eco" versions to 4.5 l/100 km (52 mpg) and 119 g of CO2 per km. Although at launch the engine will only be fitted with a 6-gear stick, Fiat is getting double-clutch transmissions in May, called Dual Logic. A DPF (diesel particulate filter) is standard for the 120 HP version and optional for the 105 HP one.
Fiat also claims that service intervals are extended up to 35,000 km. Prices for the Bravo are very interesting as well (check the full list at Autoblog en Español here).
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[Source: Autoblog en Español]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 9:57PM (1/27/2008)
The eco version, with the 119 g CO2/km mentioned, will allow users in Spain to avoid the car registration tax completely.
The Fiat diesels come in 1.3, 1.9 and 2.4 (e.g. Fiat Croma 2.4 Multijet). With the 1.9 size there is the Multijet, as well as the Multijet Twin-Stage Turbo (180hp version on the SAAB 9-3 and 190hp version to be released shortly on the Lancia Delta).
It looks as though Fiat are aiming to phase out some of the 1.9 production with this engine.
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rgseidl 8:02AM (1/28/2008)
@ Karl-Uwe -
the regular 1.9L may indeed be put out to pasture before long, but the dual turbo version could eliminate the 2.4L from the line-up. Downsizing - i.e. reducing displacement while maintaining rated power - is the name of the game right now in European engine development.
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D. See 9:18AM (1/28/2008)
Ho-Hum....yet ANOTHER great Euro-diesel engine that equals or betters our lame hybrids and will never see the light of day here in the states. Instead, we get relatively big diesels that are stuck into pickups and SUV's and that dont get much better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts.
Small car + efficient, small diesel = Great economy.
Thank you B2/T5! Thank you lame politicians! Europe is making us look foolish.
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Consumer 6:33PM (1/28/2008)
Any chance they could squeeze one of these in a 500 and sell it here in the states?
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 11:42AM (1/28/2008)
I'd very much like to see the 2.4l line substituted by the TST 1.9l Multijet, and the 1.9 by this 1.6.
I think engine downsizing is the name of the game right now but I believe that only the French and Italians can do this right now. According to T&E German averages have actually gotten worse in recent years, while the French and Italians have improved. I suspect one really ought to learn to walk before trying to run:
http://www.transportenvironment.org/docs/Publications/2007/2007-11_car_company_co2_report.pd
Furthermore all the interesting new car developments seem to be coming from France and Italy. I am thinking of biofuel cars and record-breaking car batteries (Batscap-Bollore) from France, and tst multijets, camless petrol engines and CNG cars from Italy. These are all real-world developments, not prototypes for car shows (which the Germans seem to be pretty good at).
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Throwback 2:23PM (1/28/2008)
Does Italy and France tax by engine displacement? If so that would be a huge incentive to develop small displacement engines. VW seems to be more intent on developing their TSI engines such as the 1.4L with the supercharger and turbo combination. At least GM got some good diesel tech out of their disastrous and costly Fiat marriage/divorce. Hopefully we will see some of that in the US, probably in Saabs.
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mike 7:55PM (1/28/2008)
What's the Price Premium on these Diesel Engines? Is it $4000-$5000 like Bob Lutz says?
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 10:46PM (1/28/2008)
I too suspect that it's only through SAABs that the TST diesels will be seen in the US. I've no idea if they'll put this engine on the 500 but have heard that a 900cc camless engine (which I'm more interested in) should be available in 2008 for the 500. Fiat have, and by a long shot, the highest production of CNG vehicles. What I would really like to see is CNG (currently dubbed NaturalPower on at least 5 models I can think of - excluding IVECO) offered on ALL models. I would also like to see a greater effort in electric vehicles. I've been hoping for joint Franco-Italian efforts in electric vehicles and this has recently come about with the Bollore-Pininfarina EV announced. Renault also have very big and short-term plans for an EV project in Israel. Still, I think a lot more could be done on EVs.
Italy and France used to tax by engine displacement or by hps. Today all countries in Europe, with the exception of Germany (for obvious reasons), tax based on the CO2 (and not on CO2/kg or CO2/power as the Germans are pushing for in Bruxelles). Car sales tax, registration tax, city car entrance taxes, etc have all contributed to engine downsizing in my opinion. For example, you can see above that the eco version was aimed at completely avoiding taxes in Spain and in the UK, thus making the car more attractive to consumers.
The main incentives for the French and Italian manufacturers came from strong consumer demand for efficient vehicles and, to a lesser extent, the ACEA agreement signed in 1998 to reduce emissions. In the European A, B and C car segments in Europe, consumers have been consistently choosing the more efficient engines. In the panzer-SUV or executive class vehicles consumers seemed to not care less about efficiency, just as the Germans couldn't care less about the ACEA agreement they signed. Local and national governments, however, have been increasing taxes on these vehicles (and the way this is done varies from country to country) and banning them from city centres.
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eddy 9:34AM (2/02/2008)
@Karl-Uwe
Well I guess we germans are still pretty good at motor technology. Many of the new fancy diesel motors from Fiat, Peugeot and Renault use a lot Bosch parts and some of them were developed by Bosch. The other thing is the overall quality of a car. How are the driving dynamics? How reliable is a car? What about comfort and design?
Fiat and Peugeot still have a really great problem with reliability.
Another big problem why we germans can't sell green cars is the nearly socialist german tax and working laws. Of course you can build something highly efficient with Bosch, Contintal and ZF parts but it allways ends up to expensive, because work costs too much in germany. The Audi A2 f.e. was extremly high-tech with an ultrlight alluminum body, downsized motors with very modern bosch injection, new types of transmission systems and still a lot of luxury stuff. It had very good C02 figures and was quite sporty, but who could afford one.
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