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The Fiat stand in Paris will feature the
original "500 Thousandth" (bottom), a show
car developed to celebrate the 500,000 units
of the Fiat 500 produced in just 31 months,
and the new 500 Blackjack (top) special
series, a limited edition distinguished by
an exclusive black body shade with opaque
treatment. |
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The new
900cc 500 TwinAir
will make its world public debut, although it was
introduced to the media some months ago, on Fiat's
stand in Paris just as it goes on sale, but it will
carry the brand as nothing else new will be displayed at
a motor show that Fiat traditionally doesn't use for
major reveals.
The
exhibition area once again will develop the recent motor
show theme of "the world I would like" seen through the
eyes of children. Because a brand with its sights set on
the future must listen to a younger generation who will
be making the world big one day. They shaped this stand
themselves by giving free rein to their imaginations and
desire for a more eco-friendly future. The result is a
place where houses stand on clouds and a rainbow
welcomes visitors, guiding them into the world of Fiat.
The houses and clouds of a city dreamed up by children
showcase cars that represent another step towards
sustainable mobility.
Pride
of place on the stand goes to a gem of engineering
developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies: the 85 HP
(900 cc) twin cylinder TwinAir engine that visitors can
admire on coloured windmills - to emphasise the
exhilarating lightness of this compact, hi-tech,
high-performing engine - and also installed in 4
versions of the Fiat 500 on show in Paris, all equipped
with the Start&Stop system as standard.
The
cars parading along the French catwalk include one clad
in the new Azzurro Volare shade, and a 500 by Diesel,
the result of a joint venture by the Fiat creative team
and the world-renowned Italian label that is exhibited
with bodywork in Midnight Indigo Blue (a shade
reminiscent of denim) combined with an ivory hood.
The
area also features the original “500 Thousandth”, a show
car developed to celebrate the 500,000 units produced in
just 31 months and the new Blackjack special series, a
Limited Edition distinguished by an exclusive black body
shade with opaque treatment. The stand also features a
500 configurator, like some sort of high-tech toy, where
visitors can customise their own car with buckets of
paint and needle and thread.
The
forerunner of a new family of two-cylinder engines by
FPT - Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the twin cylinder
TwinAir power unit deploys the revolutionary MultiAir
system combined with specific fluid dynamics optimised
for maximum combustion efficiency. By taking the concept
of downsizing to the extreme and masterfully tuning the
basic mechanical, the new family – delivering from 65 to
105 HP – also emits 30% less CO2 than an engine of equal
performance. This is a brand-new concept on the
worldwide motoring scene and confirms the leadership of
the Fiat Group in this field.
Still
with a view to technological innovation at the service
of eco-friendliness, other major new products are
exhibited at the Paris Show, beginning with a Panda LPG
equipped with a 69 HP 1.2 dual fuel (petrol and LPG)
engine, representing the evergreen Fiat vehicle that
turned 30 years of age last March and has so far sold
more than 6 million units throughout the world. From the
end of the year, an LPG range with no fewer than 6
models will also go on sale throughout France and
Europe, to confirm the Fiat brand's constant focus on
environmental topics by researching and developing
specific solutions that are available today (LPG is a
clean and economical fuel and also a widely available
energy source).
Visitors can
also take a virtual video tour to appreciate the
potential and advantages of Fiat eco-technologies such
as the Start&Stop system and eco:Drive software. The
former device temporarily turns off the engine and
restarts it to ensure reduced fuel consumption and noise
in the passenger compartment when the Start&Stop is in
operation. eco:Drive is an innovative software package
developed by Fiat that collects trip data through the
car's Blue&Me interface and analyses them to provide
the user with practical personalised tips for reducing
travelling costs and personal environmental impact.
Based as it is on a simple, efficient and accessible
idea (the software is free of charge), eco:Drive has
been an immediate hit, as borne out by the 100,000
copies of the system which have been downloaded to date
since its launch (Paris Motor Show 2008). Every day,
more than 42,000 drivers use it and at least 9 million
journeys have been logged and analysed on the Fiat
database. Taking into account the contribution of all
the drivers who have joined eco:Ville, the online
community of all Fiat eco-drivers, it is possible to
calculate an overall saving of approximately 3000 tonnes
of CO2.
The
Fiat stand at the Paris show underscores Fiat's
commitment in the field of environmental protection and
its role in making users aware that they should use
their cars in a more responsible, eco-friendly manner.
It is no coincidence that, for the third year in a row,
Fiat is the most eco-friendly of the 10 top-selling car
brands in Europe, with an average CO2 emission level of
127.8 g/km, compared to the market average of 145.8 g/km
(analyses carried out by the independent institution Jato Dynamics). A fundamental boost to obtaining
this record has come from the extraordinary growth of
methane, the most eco-friendly and cost-effective fuel
available on the market today. A forward-thinking
choice, made over ten years ago, has made Fiat
undisputed European leader in factory-fitted methane
systems (OEM), as demonstrated by the nearly 400,000
units sold to date in the Natural Power range, a
comprehensive range of dual fuel (methane/petrol) cars
and commercial vehicles able to meet any mobility need.
The
Motor Show also offers an ideal opportunity to take a
close look at a 90 HP Doblò Emotion 1.6 (Euro 5) with
Dualogic gearbox and Start&Stop as standard. This
represents the latest addition to a model that last July
achieved a target of one million units produced,
including both the commercial vehicle versions and the
multi-space car. At the Paris show, Fiat will also be
presenting the most recent results of its ongoing
commitment to keeping up with motorists’ needs. This
commitment is exhibited in the multi-faceted nature of
the product range, in new models and also in updates to
the existing range. All this vitality is evident in the
current production cars present on the stand: including
the new Qubo MY 2011 – the car on show is a 95 HP
Trekking 1.3 MultiJet II (Start&Stop as standard) – and
a Punto EVO equipped with an 85 HP 1.3 MultiJet II in
ECO configuration with Start&Stop as standard that
produces just 95 g/km of CO2.
The spotlights will also
be on the Bravo: the version at the show is fitted with
a 140 HP 1.4 MultiAir and Start&Stop system as standard.
This is one of the best petrol engines in the world as
far as its emission/power ratio is concerned (just 132
g/km) and is also top of its class in terms of fuel
consumption and torque availability within its power
band: 5.7 l/100 km over a combined cycle and a maximum
torque of 230 Nm at 1750 rpm. The new power unit
therefore guarantees maximum respect for the environment
(it is type-approved to Euro5 standards) without
detracting from performance and driving satisfaction.
That's not all. For an even more dynamic driving
experience, the Sport function can be selected by
pressing a button, which changes throttle response and
steering settings.
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