Fiat going hybrid with home-grown system within the next 3 years
Italian automaker Fiat is already huge in the diesel segment with almost 80 percent of the cars sold in the boot peninsula already running without spark plugs. Now, Fiat is working on their own home-grown hybrid system that could be on sale by 2011. With the goal of having the lowest CO2 emissions of any European car-maker, Fiat is developing their hybrid powertrain to work with both gasoline and diesel engines. Fiat is working on systems for both small cars and vans with the former being paired with the new 900cc two cylinder and dual clutch transmission that is coming for the 500. That system could yield CO2 emissions under 90g/km which would challenge the Smart ForTwo CDI. For vans, Fiat has a system that will be used with a 2.3L diesel and automated manual gearbox.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. required]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 6:22PM (4/14/2008)
A two-cylinder engine for a car? Really?
Reply
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 6:18PM (4/14/2008)
any news as to when this 900cc should be out?
Reply
Das Boese 11:25AM (4/15/2008)
@2
There have been many cars powered by sub-liter two cylinder engines. Most of them in the 50s and 60s when people wanted affordable transportation that wasn't a motorcycle, something that happens again right now in developing countries like India, see Tata Nano. In Europe, high gas prices and environmental concerns make a move to small, efficient engines desirable too.
And if you think that a 900cc motor would be too weak... some 600cc motorcycle engines make over 100HP. Granted, these are four cyclinders, but IMO getting 75+ HP out of a 900cc twin isn't unrealistic, and that's plenty of power for a small, lightweight car.
Reply
Kevin Nugent 7:39PM (4/15/2008)
Small light weight fuel efficent what else is ther e not to like. But i would not buy one . I dont really like bugs
Reply