Fiat 500's start&stop technology will be greener than expected
The Fiat 500 Start&Stop (click to enlarge)
When Fiat announced in December that it would start using Bosch's Start&Stop technology in the new 500, they said the micro hybrid system would reduce fuel consumption between five and eight percent. Now that it is actually here and used in the popular 1.2 Lounge version of the Fiat 500, Fiat finds out that Start&Stop will reduce urban fuel consumption by up to 12 percent, from 37 mpg (U.S.) to 41 mpg on the urban cycle. Those numbers make this this model the most efficient 500 currently available. The new version is called, uninterestingly, the Fiat 500 Start&Stop, and starts at £9,500 in the UK. CO2 emissions are just 113 g/km (down from 119). Fiat's driver feedback system, eco:Drive, is available in the Fiat 500 Start&Stop and should let attentive drivers produce better-than-average results. More details after the jump.
[Source: Fiat]
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW 500 START&STOP GETS STARTED
A new option on the Fiat 500, which will give the popular city car even better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures, has just been introduced.
Called Fiat 500 Start&Stop, the new technology is based on the most successful 500 version – the 1.2 Lounge – and benefits from the combined expertise of automotive parts specialist Bosch and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.
The Start&Stop system stops the engine automatically (without the driver turning an ignition key) whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again.
Available at £9,500 OTR, the 500 Start&Stop becomes the most ecological version in the Fiat 500 petrol range. With Start&Stop, CO2 emissions on the 1.2 engine are just 113 g/km, while fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 12 per cent (urban fuel economy figures).
The Fiat 500 Start&Stop fuel consumption figures are:
|
START&STOP |
LOUNGE |
|
| Fuel Consumption | ||
| urban cycle mpg (l/100km) |
49.6 (5.7)
|
44.1 (6.4)
|
| extra-urban cycle mpg (l/100km) |
65.7 (4.3)
|
65.7 (4.3)
|
| combined cycle mpg (l/100km) |
58.9 (4.8)
|
55.4 (5.1)
|
| CO2 Emissions (g/km) |
113
|
119
|
Fiat's Blue&Me hands-free telecommunications and entertainment system is standard on 500 Start&Stop, which means the car also benefits from eco:Drive, the system that allows customers to monitor and improve on their CO2 emissions and fuel consumption figures.
"We have been promising new ideas and features on our award-winning Fiat 500 since it was launched last year, and here is yet another example," says Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. "This is an important development for the 500 as it will help to make what is already a fuel-efficient, value-for-money car an even greater consideration for town and city drivers."
The Fiat 500 range starts at £8,100 for the 1.2 Pop, rising to £10,900 for 1.3 MultiJet or 1.4-litre Lounge or Sport versions.
Note to Editors:
Start&Stop is based on a starting procedure (battery and cranking system) able to perform a fast engine restart and deal with a far higher number of starts than a standard system.
Several sensors and control strategies are employed to manage stop and restart operations, to guarantee safety, driveability and energy balance of the car with a minimum impact on heating and other services in the car.
Engine stop is only allowed once a speed of 6 mph has been achieved after pulling away. To restart the engine the clutch pedal must be depressed. The Start&Stop system can be manually activated or deactivated using a button switch.
Start&Stop will not activate in certain cases, including engine still cold, battery in low charge state, heated rear window active, front wiper at maximum speed or reverse gear engaged (in a parking manoeuvre).
If the engine has been stopped and the clutch pedal has not been depressed for more than three minutes, the engine can only be restarted using the ignition key. Similarly, if the engine has been stopped and the driver's seat belt has been unfastened, or a door has been opened, engine restart will only be achieved with the key.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike 9:53PM (2/06/2009)
I wonder how well these systems work in real world conditions.
Not that I am against them.
I think we should all be using them and will shortly.
But, I have to think the wear and tear on a cold engine is not desirable.
I wonder if the oil is kept pumping in the "off" state....
I wonder if these systems don't even kick in unless the engine is warm.
I think a lot of people in suburban and small-city america are driving just a few miles here and there at a time and may, in fact, never get the engine to a proper temperature for these systems to function well as the engine never really gets up to a good operating temp.
That is assuming they don't begin to function until a certain engine temp is reached.
If they function even cold then that would seem to imply lots of extra wear and some decreased efficiency too, no?
- Mike
Reply
Phil 6:24AM (2/07/2009)
The system doesn't work until the engine is warm.
The main wear and tear issue is the starter and clutch, which is why autostop (Honda speak) was easier to implement on hybrid cars (big motor and no clutch).
Hopefully the oilways in the engine are designed to avoid all the oil draining out too soon!
Chris M 12:26AM (2/08/2009)
Autostart systems like this one, and ones used on hybrids, have a much more powerful and higher torque starter motor that can be permanently engaged and run at full speed, there is no solenoid, and the motor can rev the engine up to running speed before applying the fuel and spark. That makes for incredibly reliable starting.
Old style starters are geared way down and must disengage the solenoid after starting to prevent damage from overspeeding, and can barely spin the engine fast enough to start. Not reliable, and headed for obsolescence.
GoodCheer 6:05PM (2/07/2009)
This thing is a strong contender for my girlfriend's next car... if Chrysler gets it over here soon enough.
And god I hope Chrysler doesn't Chryslerafy the aesthetics too much. I can just see them putting on some big angry-looking grill.
Reply
Rain 10:52PM (2/07/2009)
I'll take a Dodge Cinqua-Cente in black to match my truck,Hmmm,some twenties would look sweet under there.
Reply