New 500 MultiJet With More Power and Lower Fuel Consumption;Start&Stop Technology
10 February 2010
Fiat has added a new 1.3-liter 16-valve MultiJet diesel engine to its 500 lineup. The range’s out-going 75 bhp MultiJet unit is being replaced with the 95 bhp MultiJet II version, which offers improved fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures, and also incorporates Fiat’s Start&Stop technology.
The engine will become the most powerful diesel unit available in the A segment, according to Fiat.
The new unit introduces an innovative variable geometry turbocharger that enables it to deliver 95 bhp (71 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 200 N·m (148 lb-ft) of torque at 1,500 rpm. This output significantly improves the car’s performance, taking its top speed to 112 mph (from 103mph) (180 km/h) and reducing the 0-62 mph acceleration time from 12.5 to 10.7 seconds.
Fuel consumption is improved from 4.2 L/100k to 3.9 L/100km (56.0 mpg US to 60.3 mpg US) in the combined cycle, while emissions drop to 104 g/km of CO2 (from 110 g/km). Together with Start&Stop, the engine also includes a DPF particulate filter for improved emissions efficiency and effectiveness from a cold start.
Very cool - I wonder what it will cost ?
It is also a pity it is not available with 3 seat belts (instead of 2) in the back seat.
You could easily fit 3 small kids in the back (not 3 big ones without greasing them a bit).
[ I know this, because I looked at one (the 1.2 petrol) ]
Posted by: mahonj | 10 February 2010 at 04:58 AM
Is this 500 sold in the US or has the government screwed that up?
Posted by: kelly | 10 February 2010 at 05:49 AM
I do not know.
It is rather small for America.
It is designed to people who knew the "old" 500 in their youth and attempt to capture some of the "old days" (the good bits.
So I am not sure if the requisite nostalgia market exists in the US (it does in most of Europe).
It is available in petrol as well as Diesel, so there aught to be no issues.
Here is an autoblog article on it.
http://green.autoblog.com/tag/fiat+500+usa/
Posted by: mahonj | 10 February 2010 at 07:03 AM