After debuting in Brazil
earlier this month in the Fiat Punto, and a week later
in the Fiat Doblò, the new E.TorQ 1.6 16V and 1.8 16V
engines developed by FPT Powertrain Technologies (FPT)
now arrives across all models of the Palio family in the
Latin American country.
E.TorQ is a new family of
1.6- and 1.8- litres engines that are based around the
powerplants from a former BMW/Chrysler joint venture in
Brazil that was bought by Fiat Powertrain Technologies
(FTP) two years ago. That family originally comprised of
1.4- and 1.6-litre engines with FPT in the meantime
boring the 1.6-litre unit out to gain a new 1.8-litre
engine which replaces the GM-sourced powerplants
currently used by Fiat in Brazil.
The E.torQ 1.6 16V and
E.torQ 1.8 16V engines have been developed and
produced by FPT in the highly-modern plant from the former
joint venture in Campo Largo in the south of the
country. This plant is 40,000 square meters in size and
located in an area of 1.27 million square meters. The Tritec
joint venture was originally set up in the late 1990s to
provide BMW with engines for its MINI range and for
Chrysler, however the engine was poorly regarded and
soon ditched by BMW who then exited the joint venture
while Chrysler's owners at-the-time, Daimler, were also
disinterested in Tritec and, having acquired BMW's
stake, sold the entire project to FPT.
These redeveloped
engines Fiat Brazil says offer good performance, with
excellent torque at low rotations, along with useful
fuel economy. The E.TorQ 1.6 16V engine produces 115 hp
of (gasoline) and 117 hp (ethanol) of power. Its maximum
torque, 16.2 kgfm (gasoline) and 16.8 kgfm (ethanol) is
reached at 4,500 rpm. While the 1.8 16V develops 130 hp
of maximum power running on gasoline, and 132 hp on
ethanol. The maximum torque of 18.4 kgfm (gasoline) and
18.9 kgfm (ethanol) is reached at 4,500 rpm.
The models from the
Palio family now get E.TorQ and also obtained new
fabrics for the seats and versions with Automatic
Dualogic gearshift, which gives the driver the option of
choosing between the fully automatic gearshifts or
sequential gearshifts, through touch of the gearstick to
offer more sports-like driving. Eight versions obtain
the new engines in the family: Palio Essence 1.6 16V
four doors, Palio Essence 1.6 16V Dualogic, Siena
Essence 1.6 16V, Siena Essence 1.6 16V Dualogic, Palio
Adventure Locker 1.8 16V, Palio Adventure Locker 1.8 16V
Dualogic, Strada Adventure 1.8 16V Extended Cabin and
Strada Adventure 1.8 16V Double Cabin.
The Essence versions,
equipped with 1.6 16V engine, arrive in the market
highly equipped featuring items popular with consumers,
such as power steering, front power windows, electric
locks, onboard computer and steering with height
adjustment. While the Adventure versions, which bring
the 1.8 16V engine under the bonnet, include, in
addition to the items above, their own characteristics,
giving the cars a more robust look, with plastic body
mouldings and exclusive bumpers, mixed-use tyres,
reinforced suspension and the Locker system, a
differential blocking system to allow the version to
overcome adverse road conditions with greater ease.
With plenty of equipment and cost-benefit ratio, all
models of the Palio family with the E.TorQ engines hit
the market with competitive prices: Palio Essence 1.6
16V Flex – R$ 37,990; Palio Essence 1.6 16V Flex
Dualogic – R$ 40,330; Siena Essence 1.6 16V Flex – R$
41,820; Siena Essence 1.6 16V Flex Dualogic – R$ 44,160;
Palio Adventure Locker 1.8 16V Flex – R$ 57,330; Palio
Adventure Locker 1.8 16V Flex Dualogic – R$ 59,300;
Strada Adventure Locker 1.8 16V Flex Extended Cabin – R$
47,670; and Strada Adventure 1.8 16V Flex Double Cabin –
R$ 49,870.
