The Fiat Bravo goes on
sale on the Italian market this week with two important
engine upgrades; it receives the new MultiAir technology
and Start&Stop, courtesy of the Euro 5 compliant 1.4
turbo unit with 140 CV, while the 120 CV T-Jet version
is also upgraded to Euro 5 specification and it too
offers reduced emissions.
MultiAir is the new jewel
in the engineering crown for Fiat Group and already
features in a range of key selling models such as Fiat's
Punto EVO, Alfa Romeo's MiTo and new Giulietta, as well
as Abarth's own high performance interpretation of the
Punto EVO. MultiAir is now incorporated into the Bravo
range through the 1.4 litre turbocharged engine with 140
CV, which is Euro 5 compliant. The technology,
through an innovative electro-hydraulic operation of the
valves, offers fuel savings of around 10 percent,
a torque increase of 15 percent and power increase of 10
percent as well as a 10 percent reduction in CO2
emissions.
The fuel-saving
"Start&Stop" technology also arrives in the Bravo via
this engine new option. This 1.4 Turbo MultiAir engine
is one of the most efficient powerplants in the world in
terms of emissions and power, emitting 132 g/km on the
combined cycle and is the "best in class" in terms of
torque and fuel consumption: 230 Nm of torque at 1,750
rpm and using just 5.7 litres per 100 km (combined
cycle).
On the Italian market
the Bravo fitted with the MultiAir engine and Start&Stop
is available in three specification levels: "Dynamic",
"Emotion" and "Sport" with the first one priced at
20,700 euro on-the-road and the latter two both at
21,700 euro. In addition customers can specify the "Blue
Pack" at a cost of 800 euro and this includes the
Blue&Me infotelematic system with Bluetooth
connectivity, USB ports and a hands free phone kit with
voice commands. The Bravo 1.4 MultiAir 140 CV also comes
with a new more efficient 6-speed gearbox and the Sport
version retains the special "Sport" button fitted on the
dashboard that featured on the outgoing version and
which allows for enhanced performance.
Coinciding with the arrival of the MultiAir option, the
base 120 CV T-Jet petrol engine is upgraded to Euro 5
specification, which results in a decrease in emissions
from 149 to 146 g/km. Available in "Dynamic" and
"Emotion" specification levels the Euro 5 T-Jet models
are priced on-the-road at 19,700 euro and 20,700 euro
respectively. It means that all the Bravo's petrol
engines are now Euro 5 compliant, with the exception of
the 1.4 T-Jet 120 CV Dualogic. The Fiat brand will be
hoping that the arrival of the new engines, which offer
all comprehensive round efficiency improvements, will
kick start sales of the Bravo which have tailed away in
Italy in recent months leaving the 5-door hatchback far
behind the C-segment leaders: VW's Golf and Ford's
Focus. The Bravo isn't scheduled to benefit from any
mid- or late-life restyling before the end of its
lifecycle in two years time so these new engine options
may well be the last major upgrade the model receives.
