New Fiat 1.3 Multijet II (Euro5) Engine Making First Appearance on the Fiat 500 and 500C
26 November 2009
The new 1.3 Multijet II (Euro5) diesel engine, with Start&Stop fitted as standard, is making its first appearance on the Fiat 500 and 500C models. It has a maximum power output of 95 hp (71 kW) at 4000 rpm and delivers a torque of 200 N·m (148 lb-ft) at 1,500 rpm.
Available on all trim levels, with an on-the-road list price that starts at €13,900 (US$21,000) the new power unit delivers a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds with low consumption and CO2 emissions: 3.9 L/100 km (60.3 mpg US) and 104 g/km (mixed cycle), respectively.
Developed and produced by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), the 1.3 Multijet II 95 HP engine belongs to the second generation of Multijet power units.
The original Multijet injector, capable of managing up to 5 consecutive injections in the same combustion cycle, was based on a hydraulic servovalve with an unbalanced shutter that required small sealing diameters and, consequently, longer strokes.Fiat Powertrain has a clever animation on its site demonstrating the progress in number of injections with the evolution of Multijet. Go to the animation, or click to enlarge. |
The new Multijet II injector uses a balanced hydraulic servo valve, allowing a larger sealing diameter with reduced shutter strokes. The new servovalve enables finer control of the fuel quantities injected into the combustion chamber, and can support up to 8 consecutive injections with very accurate metering.
In particular the shutter stroke is reduced to 20µm allows reducing dramatically the minimum time interval between two consecutives injection, until zero hydraulic dwell time. With these two consecutive injections it is possible to modulate the injection rate in order to achieve a better combustion process control. This new injection mode, called “Injection Rate Shaping”, results in significant benefits in terms of noise, fuel consumption and emissions reduction.
The new 95 HP engine on the Fiat 500 and 500C is equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger that ensures optimum turbocharging throughout the entire operating range. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 8% in the urban cycle thanks also to the Start&Stop system that switches the engine off temporarily and then restarts it.
With Euro 5 type-approval, the new 1.3 liter engine has its particulate filter (DPF) integrated in the engine compartment, improving its efficiency even more, especially in the first few moments after cold starting.
The Multijet II engines use increasingly advanced strategies to improve combustion: for example, the use of injection rate shaping (two consecutive injections with no hydraulic interval) reduces noise, fuel consumption and, in view of Euro 6, harmful emissions (a potential 30% reduction of nitrogen oxides).
The new rear torsion beam (semi-independent) suspension with an anti-roll bar is also making its debut on the Fiat 500 range. It is derived from the Abarth 500 model and has already made an appearance on the 500C. It gives better handling and a more comfortable ride.
At 104 g/km (mixed cycle) the fiat 500 is still doing worse than the Prius with 89g/km in CO2 emissions and the vehicles cost about the same in the basic model USD 21k.
An EV version of the Fiat 500 would be interesting. Micro-vett (Fiat’s EV partner) did develop an EV Fiat 500 but now the references to this development are removed from Micro-vett’s website.
Pure speculation: The development of the Fiat 500 EV is now being transferred to Chrysler and this is the reason it is not mentioned anymore at Micro-vett’s website. It could also explain why Chrysler has stopped their EnVI program and the Fiat 500 is known to be one of Fiat’s vehicles that might be produced by Chrysler.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prius#CO2_emission
http://www.micro-vett.it/veicoli_en.php?C=7
Posted by: Account Deleted | 26 November 2009 at 04:30 AM
Over here in Europe its still quite attractive I believe it will cost around $21k for the 500 diesel and $29.3k for the base Prius. I think the 500 will actually get better fuel consumption in the real world as well.
Posted by: Alex Woodrow | 26 November 2009 at 06:47 AM
Henrik,
European car prices are "on-the-road" prices, meaning that they include tax, freight, PDI, "documentation fees" and all those other extras.
The 500 is also a very different car from the Prius. It's handsome, manoeuvrable and fun to drive, so it doesn't appeal to the same customer base.
Posted by: Bernard | 26 November 2009 at 08:06 AM
I admit the price comparison was unfair as US and European prices are not comparable. However, I think the CO2 comparison is valid. Another small call that gets a really pour MPG rating versus the Prius is the Smart that go 36 mpg versus 50 mpg for the Prius. I have tried to find just one vehicle that get 50 mpg or better using the US EPA cycle and have not been successful. Maybe if VW introduced their new blue motion Polo and Golf on the US market they could beat the 50 mpg US rating.
I am just surprised that the best small cars with diesel appear not to do better than the hybrid gasoline Prius.
References
Smart MPG http://www.hybridcars.com/best-mpg-small-cars
EPA ratings http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/FEG2010.pdf
Posted by: Account Deleted | 26 November 2009 at 08:38 AM
Isn't it a bit unfair to compare the Fiat 500 micro-car with the mid-size Prius III? They are not in the same category. One may also compare a Honda CRV with a Hummer I....
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 November 2009 at 08:50 AM
I had a VW Golf years ago that only got about 20 MPG (city) with a 115 HP regular 4 cylinder engine.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/volkswagen/golf/100358893/specs.html If these get 60 hwy and can get 50 city...that's a huge improvement for an engine with about 100 HP.
Posted by: ejj | 26 November 2009 at 10:55 AM
The Fiat 500 is not exactly a micro car. It's a lot bigger than it looks on pictures. I bet it's taller than the Prius (too lazy to look up the figures) and looks as big as my Golf V in real life.
The Fiat 500 was clearly designed to please women and design-oriented people and not for efficiency as the Prius. So in that respect, it's not fair to compare the Fiat 500 with the Prius since it was never intended as a super-fuel-saver car. Fiat is simply showing how much gas mileage then can achieve with this engine in a car with relatively poor aerodynamics.
I wonder how good gas mileage this and other small-diesel cars get at 80-90 mph, which is quite relevant on most European motor ways. Quite often the small diesels run at too high rpms at these speeds and the fuel economy suffers disproportionally. If you regularly break the 75 mph barrier, larger engines with higher gear ratios usually get better mileage. Example, BMW 320d and Mercedes C 220 CDi get remarkable gas mileage at 100 mph. (saw that in a German Auto news paper a couple of years ago)
Posted by: Thomas Pedersen | 26 November 2009 at 03:38 PM
TP:
The Prius III is a much bigger car than the mini-Fiat-500. The only details which almost compare is the price, both at $23,000 and the height, both about 58 inches (as many other cars, big or samll)
Weight: Prius = 3042 lbs
Fiat = 2282 lbs.
Wheelbase: Prius = 106.3
Fiat = 90.6 in.
Lenght: Prius = 175.6 in.
Fiat = 139.8
Width: Prius = 68.7
Fiat = 65.0 in.
I don't have the interior volumes but the Prius may be as much as 30% to 40% more.
The Fiat 500 compares more with the Toyota Echo/Aris than with the Prius.
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 November 2009 at 05:30 PM
Harvey,
I never meant to imply that the Fiat 500 is as big as the Prius. In fact, I distinctly said that is should NOT be compared to the Prius because it was never intended to compete with it. The two cars are not meant for the same customer base.
I simply said that it is not a *micro car*.
Posted by: Thomas Pedersen | 27 November 2009 at 06:07 PM
TP:
Yes, I should have used the term minicar and not microcar to describe the Fiat-500. It is not in the same league as the Prius III.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 November 2009 at 08:21 AM
Bernard said;
"The 500 is also a very different car from the Prius. It's handsome, manoeuvrable and fun to drive, so it doesn't appeal to the same customer base."
Bernard, you are referring to very subjective criteria. I find the Prius to be "handsome, manoeuvrable and fun to drive", so I believe the comparison to be valid. From first impressions, it appears the Prius will equal or exceed the fuel economy of the 500.
Posted by: Will S | 30 November 2009 at 07:20 AM