 The
revolutionary Fiat Multipla MPV has undergone its mid-life facelift offering
a mildy re-worked interior, new fatures and italso now comes with a new
low environmental impact engine (with dual fuel system, petrol and LPG)
which joins the two methane engines currently available. The interiors
of the new versions due to go on sale at the end of May have been changed:
new design cloth for SX versions, a new velvet-like trim for ELX versions
and the option of a PVC facia instead of a cloth facia on both.
The Multipla now offers 13
colour shades, of which five are new: Indy Green, Pareo Yellow, Artemis
Green, Antarctic Blue and Canary Blue. The suspension has been improved
on all versions and one-touch electric windows have been adopted on the
driver's window. Higher specification versions (ELX) now come with a new
lumbar adjustment control, a tailgate with electric lock release and darkened
rear windows. Body-coloured bumpers and number plate holders now come as
standard.
The new Fiat Multipla offers
enhanced safety. All versions come with rear disc brakes. Latest-generation
sensors modulate airbag intervention according to passenger weight and
mass while optional window bags drop down over the windows to safeguard
occupants' heads in case of side impact. These offer even more protection
than that afforded by the sidebags.
The seats offer something
new too. The rear seats come with head-restraints that allow a better view
during parking manoeuvres. The backrests also ensure better containment.
The Fiat Multipla is fitted with ISOFIX attachments so that child seats
can be attached easily and safely.
A wide range of options
means customers can equip their Multipla to suit their own requirements.
Apart from the items already mentioned, options include a footboard for
easy access to the rear seats, a new phone aerial, anti-obstruction electric
windows, new design alloy wheels and leather-trimmed gear knob and steering
wheel. The steering wheel may be fitted with controls for the radio, now
available also with a single CD player.
.
The Multipla offers a range
of telematic options: It can be fitted as an option with three levels of
CONNECT, an infotelematic tool that acts as an on-board assistant and puts
you in contact with the world of services offered by Targasys.
Three product levels are
available:
- the basic level provides:
radio, dual band GSM phone, emergency call key and - as an option - an
external CD player;
- the second level offers
a radio and pictogram satellite navigation system;
- the third, most comprehensive
system offers: radio, pictogram navigation system, dual band GSM phone,
GPS satellite location and, as an option, an external CD player.
 The
Fiat Multipla is available in two specification levels, SX and ELX, and
can be equipped with four engines: two conventional, the 76 kW (103 bhp)
1.6 Torque 16v and the 85 kW (115 bhp) 1.9 JTD that ensure low fuel consumption,
outstanding performance and a balanced, flexible and satisfying drive.
Plus two low environmental impact engines, the 'blupower' (methane only)
and 'bipower' (with dual methane and petrol fuel system), that are proving
to be a big hit with the public.
These last two are now joined
by another new clean engine: the Gpower, a petrol and LPG engine. Until
recently, vehicles could be converted to run on gas (LPG) only as an aftersales
option. Fiat Multipla LPG is, however, manufactured directly in the factory
at Arese and marketed through the normal sales network. It is therefore
a reliable, certified and guaranteed version.
The choice of LPG does not
affect the Fiat Mulitpla's load space: the tank (one or two cylinders,
as you prefer) is positioned under the floor outside the passenger compartment.
This solution allows you to benefit from a much higher fuel capacity than
offered by other cars on the market. The range increases accordingly to
350 km on a single tank and an impressive 620 with the double tank.
The system's strength is
its fuel system. The gas is not vaporised but injected into the engine
in its liquid state. As with the Bipower engine, the four injectors are
specially designed for this fuel and the petrol and LPG fuel systems (both
Multipoint) are separate.
These features bring great
benefits in terms of handling and performance. Liquid injection allows
the amount of LPG injected into the intake duct to be monitored more carefully
so that the requisite air-fuel ratio can be obtained more accurately. This
also assures greater driving comfort at the transient speeds most common
during town driving, i.e. acceleration, braking and stop-go driving. The
performances obtained using liquid LPG are on a par with those delivered
by a petrol fuel system.
Like methane, LPG (liquid
petroleum gas) is a clean fuel and thus meets Fiat's now customary low
environmental impact requirements.
The fuel also burns without
leaving any of the carbon wastes that sometimes arise when a car runs on
petrol. These wastes are responsible for premature wear on the piston rings
and power unit wear in general.
The car offers environmental
as well as financial benefits. For example, LPG - with methane - is the
most economical fuel on the market in Italy: it costs about half as much
as petrol. It is not burdened by excess taxation either, because gas conversions
are not liable to tax.
The widespread preconception
that LPG systems are dangerous is also a myth. The laws governing tank,
pipe, valve and device construction are actually very strict. The Fiat
Multipla is also protected by a Fire Prevention System (FPS) that protects
the LPG system as well as the petrol system. One of its main components
is an inertia switch that instantly cuts off the LPG flow in the case of
an accident by closing the three solenoids on the tank and in the engine
bay. The strength of the tank has also been tried by very severe crash
tests. And there is more. The LPG system on the Multipla is equipped with
the same diagnostic system present on all Group vehicles and can thus be
serviced in any official Fiat service outlet. Because they are produced
on a normal assembly line, LPG Multiplas are also subject to all standard
production process checks.
The main specifications of
the dual petrol and LPG fuel system are as follows:
cylinder capacity: 1596 cc
16 valves Euro 3
maximum power (petrol/LPG):
76 kW at 5750 rpm
maximum torque (petrol/LPG):
145 Nm at 4000 rpm
operation with separate
injections inter-connected by a high-speed CAN line
refuelling capacity: petrol
= 38 litres, LPG (single cylinder) = 48 litres, LPG (double cylinder) =
86 litres
LPG consumption: town route
= 14.2 litres/100 km, out-of-town route = 9.3 litres/100 km, combined route
= 11.1 litres/100 km
range (calculated over a
mixed + motorway route with a top speed of 130 km/h): with single cylinder
= 350 km, with double cylinder = 620 km
exhaust CO2 emissions: 179
g/km |
