| First Drive | Turin, Italy | 2011 Fiat 500 TwinAir |
Though Fiat's 500 trades on its styling and image, nobody would ever accuse it of being unkind to the environment. It already comes with a choice of 1.2- and 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, the smaller of these emitting just 113g/km. But Fiat has decided to push the environmental envelope even further. This is a company that is very proud of its green credentials, boasting that it is the most environmentally-friendly brand in Europe, with average CO2 emissions of 127.8g/km across its range, which is significantly less than the industry average of 145.8g/km.
Fiat isn't resting on its laurels. Following on from the introduction of its clever MultiAir valve control system is a new turbocharged two-cylinder engine, called the TwinAir. This 900cc unit puts out 84bhp and an impressive 107lb.ft of torque produced at just 1,900rpm. Performance is brisk too: 0-62mph takes just 11 seconds and the top speed of 107mph makes it much faster than the existing four-cylinder 1.2 8v engine in the 500 - or in the new Punto Evo for that matter.
In the Metal
It has been three whole years since the Fiat 500 was unveiled in a blaze of fanfare and flag-waving glory and by now the shape and design is commonplace, if still adored. The TwinAir engine is available in the 500C convertible as well as in the regular three-door hatch. There have been some new colours added, with the launch colour an attractive pale blue shade. Apart from that it is pretty standard Fiat 500 inside and out.
What you get for your Money
Detailed pricing is not yet available; though don't imagine that less cylinders means a lower price. In the Italian market the 500 TwinAir is priced mid-range and the 84bhp version is expected to cost in the region of £12,000 in the UK. It has power that matches the 1.4-litre four-cylinder 16v engine, but is 30 percent more fuel efficient and in a lower tax band, so it's arguably worth the premium.
Driving it
First things first, this isn't a quiet car by any stretch of the imagination. With just two cylinders, it is quite vocal and while it is not irritating it might start to grate a little on the motorway. Around town it is more of a rumble and when you do push it hard the turbo whistles a little. It isn't the most refined engine (though a balancer shaft maintains smoothness), but the performance is impressive with the sort of low-down torque you would expect from a diesel - and it is perky enough to cope with the vague madness of busy Turin traffic.
The Eco mode automatically engages the City button, making the steering super light, while the stop-start functionality works seamlessly. The 500 is already a fun car to drive in town, and this engine really suits it.
Worth Noting
This TwinAir engine will also be available with a 'Dualogic' semi-automatic transmission, which emits less CO2 emissions than the manual and returns fractionally better fuel economy. The 500 TwinAir arrives in Britain in September and other versions of the engine will follow including one with a dual clutch gearbox in about a year's time.
Summary
This is a brave engineering step from Fiat and one that the buying public might need some convincing of, but apart from a slightly throaty soundtrack, the performance and economy from this tiny engine have to be commended.
