The Fiat Powertrain Technologies Research and Technology is the newly established part of the Fiat Group, who are currently one of the most significant players in the automobile industry worldwide, producing an annual output of around 3.1 million engines and 2.5 million gear boxes and axels.
Their innovative twin-cylinder engine is the outcome of a philosophy that focuses on reducing fuel consumption and as a consequence, CO2 emissions, with respect of future Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standards, whilst maintaining the same performance as a larger engine.
Francesca Mamo, managing director at UCIM states that “Powertrain Technologies Research and Technology’s main objective is developing and applying an innovative technology that improves the engine’s performance and drastically reduces emissions and fuel consumption. This is one of the main reasons why we are extremely proud to represent Fiat locally.”
The concept behind this new engine is the downsizing from a conventional 4-cylinder engine to a 2-cylinder turbocharged engine that incorporates the innovative Multiair electronic inlet valve control system. Francesca Mamo also confirms that “in addition to advantages in terms of the engine’s consumption, the twin-cylinder results in a 20 per cent reduction in weight and 25 per cent in volume inside the engine bay, as compared to a 4-cylinder who has equivalent power output.”
The maximum output achievable by the new twin-cylinder engine, in the Mono Fuel petrol version, is 105 bhp (a 65 bhp aspirated version, also equipped with the Multiair system, is also under development). The SGE engine family adopts a crankshaft balancing system that significantly reduces vibration and noise levels compared to other 2- and 3-cylinder engines.
The innovative Multiair system controls the air in controlled-ignition petrol engines without the usual throttle valve, and therefore with a greater degree of flexibility than mechanical timing systems. This electrohydraulic valve activation technology is based on the insertion, between the camshaft and the engine inlet valve, of an amount of oil (high pressure chamber) that can be varied by a valve, which in turn is controlled by a specific electronic control unit.
This allows the opening profile of the valve to be modified in response to the request for air from the engine and to the running speed. Different strategies can be employed (Early Inlet Valve Closing – EIVC, Late Inlet Valve Opening – LIVO, or Multi-Lift) to optimise combustion efficiency, with considerable benefits in terms of power output, torque, consumption and emissions. Ms Mamo also highlights the fact that “another advantage to this system is that the air pressure upstream of the valves is always constant and therefore allows the torque response of the engine to be increased without any delay, on both an aspirated and a turbocharged engine thus increasing the fun to drive factor.”
On the Panda Aria the new twin-cylinder engine is combined with a dual fuel management system, with petrol and a mixture of methane (70 per cent) and hydrogen (30 per cent); this solution also helps to reduce polluting emissions by guaranteeing more efficient, complete combustion. It also makes it possible to increase the engine’s thermodynamic efficiency and to achieve combustion stability values that are better than those possible with methane alone, in certain operating conditions. This means that methane-hydrogen vehicles represent a step forward for an existing technology that is open to further refinement and new applications.
Francesca Mamo concludes that “Fiat Powertrain Technologies value product innovation and effort in improving their customers’ satisfaction. Fiat Auto Spa respects the environment and provides its customers with vehicles that help contribute towards a greener and cleaner environment for their children, and the future.”