Fiat CEO: Our most realistic way to go green to reduce size
If you didn't know, Sergio Marchionne is Fiat's CEO. In a recent interview in the French-speaking Swiss media outlet L'Hebdo, he spoke about the bank crisis, Switzerland's politics and his life in Switzerland. But he also talked about the car of the future, that is, the car of the near future.Mr. Marchionne is a firm believer that the most realistic and available solution to reduce car pollution is reducing engine size. This agrees with Fiat's new policy on smaller turbo-charged engines, called T-Jet, and also the latest iteration of the common-rail JTD diesels. Speaking about other green car technologies, he acknowledges the benefit possible from hybrid powertrains, but believes that they're complex and expensive, and therefore more suitable for expensive cars. Regarding hydrogen, he stated that it isn't expected to be ready until 2020, but he finds it will be a real revolution once the technology is viable.
[Source: L'Hebdo (thanks to Jeroen for the tip)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
A&W 8:31PM (6/13/2008)
Automakers could move thier products down to the next smallest platforms. For instance. The Chevy Malibu could move down to the upcoming Cobalt platform. The Cobalt could move down to the Aveo and the Aveo could move down to the upcoming Beat.
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Dad 9:25PM (6/13/2008)
" hybrid powertrains, but believes that they're complex and expensive,"
He is soo right.
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Richard 10:54PM (6/13/2008)
How about start/stop technology, that's not too complex to include. BEV aren't complex either.
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Mik_Cal 1:41AM (6/14/2008)
Serial hybrids are not really that complex and enable plugging in and a flex fuel set up (electricity or liquid fuel).
Managing a turbo-charger or fuel injection used to be considered "complex" but not anymore.
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nagmashot 7:09AM (6/16/2008)
he is right... and to prove it FIAT is currently the car comapny in Europe with the cleanest fleet emissions and by far the lowest C02 .. they reach the numbers Toyota only claims but never reach in real... Toyota Germany CO2 fleet average north of 190gr/km ..Fiat under 140gr/km
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