Magneti Marelli’s
technologies have taken centre stage at the Frankfurt
Motor Show in international previews including the Fiat
Panda, Mercedes Benz B-Class, Citroën DS5, as well as
supercars such as the Ferrari 458 Spider and the Porsche
911. Lighting technologies, electronics, powertrain,
exhaust system and suspensions: all of the Magneti
Marelli technological areas are featured.
There is a special
focus on the Fiat Panda, one of the most awaited cars.
The third generation of this model features Magneti
Marelli technology: from headlamps to rear lights, from
electronics to exhaust systems, from powertrain
components to suspensions. The headlamps are the halogen
type with DRL (Daytime Running Light) function, and they
definitely contribute to the styling of the front of the
car. On the dashboard, odometer and engine rpm counter
are displayed in an instrument cluster with analogue and
digital technology in which the service lights are
arranged.
As far as engines are
concerned, Magneti Marelli manufactures the intake
manifolds and ECUs for the 1.3 SDE (Small Diesel Engine)
with 75HP, for the petrol-powered 1.2 8V and for the 900
Twin Air turbo running on petrol with 85HP, which also
fits electronics to manage the recovery of energy used
by the Stop& Start system. Magneti Marelli also supplies
the exhaust systems (hot and cold end) for these
engines. All the new Panda versions fit suspensions and
shock absorbers designed and made by Magneti Marelli.
As for Fiat, three
world previews by Abarth has been presented in
Frankfurt. The 500 Cabrio Italia will be produced in a
limited series of 150 cars to celebrate the 150th
anniversary of Italy’s unification and, just like the
new Punto SuperSport and the 965 Competizione, based on
the 500 Assetto Corsa, it will fit the Abarth Blue&Me
MAP navigator with Telemetry function developed with
Magneti Marelli and the Abarth Competizione gearbox, an
electro-driven mechanical transmission with steering
wheel controls offering quick gear changes. Moreover,
the instrument cluster with an a sporty look of the 965
Competizione will bear the Jaeger name, one of Magneti
Marelli legendary brands.
For the Alfa Romeo
MiTo, the new version of the Quadrifoglio Verde 1.4
Multiair 170 HP is certainly worthy of mention. This
version is equipped with Dynamic Suspension, the shock
absorber electronic control system developed with
Magneti Marelli that interacts with the DNA system. The
MiTo Twin Air is also in Frankfurt with its 900cc turbo
gasoline-powered 85 Hp engine, for which Magneti Marelli
supplies the engine electronic control unit.
In Frankfurt, Magneti
Marelli is also present with its instrument clusters
fitted to the new Porsche 911. The new cluster debuting on the seventh-generation 911, featuring
the traditional design with five circular elements that
combines all information useful for the driver: rev
counter, speedometer, water and oil temperature, oil
pressure, and fuel level indicator. One of the dials in
particular consists of a latest-generation
reconfigurable 4.6” TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display
that shows navigation-related information and
infotainment functions, and has a built-in amplified
speaker.
The Ferrari 458 Spider
sports Magneti Marelli’s technologies, such as the
instrument cluster with rev counter and display for the
selected gear in the centre, while the TFT screen on the
right hand side, which can take on different colours,
displays the info-telematic node with navigation,
infotainment and telephone functions, the digital
speedometer and the parking camera. To the left of the
instrument cluster, on the other hand, we find the
screen dedicated to Vehicle Dynamic Assistance
management. Magneti Marelli also supplies the rear
lights with LED technology, featuring an outer crown of
24 red LEDs for parking and brake lights, and an inner
crown of 16 yellow LEDs (red for the US version) for the
indicator lights. The 458 Spider is also equipped with
the Superlift system, supplied by Magneti Marelli, that
helps the car overcome obstacles in the road. Through a
system of hydraulic actuators, a pump operated by an
electrical motor and an ECU, Superlift actually lifts
the car on the front axle.
For the new Citroën
DS5, Magneti Marelli supplies the rear LED lights and
the new navigation system called eMyWay, which uses
Bluetooth technology for hands-free telephone
communication, and for the Media Player with USB port
that plays music in multimedia format. Thanks to
Bluetooth connectivity, you can play audio files stored
on other devices in the car in wireless mode. eMyWay is
both radio and satellite navigator, with Traffic
information (TMC) and a high-definition, high-luminosity
7” screen that stores all European maps on an internal
SD, for navigation even with no GPS signal. eMyWay also
features a built-in rear camera whose images are
displayed on the screen. Another important piece of
equipment fitted on the Citroën DS5 is the e-touch
system. For this device, Magneti Marelli supplies a
“telematic box”, in other words the control unit that
authorizes use of in-vehicle services, such as emergency
calls and road assistance requests. The DS5 2.0L HDi
also fits the Magneti Marelli Freechoice AMT (Automated
Manual Transmission), managed by an electronic control
system that ensures the highest comfort with significant
savings in fuel consumption and the consequent reduction
in polluting emissions.
The
new Volkswagen UP! GDI 1.0 three-cylinder is fitted with
an instrument cluster by Magneti Marelli. The Volkswagen
Beetle, on the other hand, is equipped with an
instrument cluster with single-colour TFT (Thin Film
Transistor) display. The Magneti Marelli instrument
clusters are also assembled on the Audi A5.
Automotive Lighting
technologies are widely used on the new Mercedes Benz
B-Class, with halogen, bi-xenon and AFX (Adaptive
Frontlighting System with adaptive high beam function).
Bi-Xenon and AFX versions are equipped with LED turn
indicator and position function in LED –lightguide
technology. Also, lighting technologies on the Audi A5
restyling (halogen, bi-xenon and bi-xenon with AFS
headlamps and LED rear lights), Honda Civic (halogen,
bi-xenon headlamps and LED rear lights), BMW 6 Series
(bi-xenon and bi-xenon AFS headlamps), Mercedes Benz
M-Class (halogen, Xenon AFX-modul with adaptive high
beam and optional LED infrared high beam for night view
systems, cornering, turn indicator and position light
with LED light sources) and on the Mini Coupè (xenon
headlamps with AFS).
Still speaking of
lighting applications, the full-LED solutions used by
Mercedes Benz on the CLS, Audi R8 and Audi A7 Sportback
are also on display in Frankfurt. The use of LEDs and
Xenon solutions has led to a technological evolution
that has paved new roads on the topic of safety, reduced
fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, at the same time
allowing designers greater freedom.