If you're a big block fan or believe that there is no replacement for displacement, stop reading now... The future of the automobile will not please you. I'm warning you, stop now...
Oh well, to bad for you. You may have heard that Chrysler is in the midst of demoting the HEMI. The name will still be used but only in limited, very specific situations. Instead, the small block 345 cubic inch motor will simply be known as the 5.7L V8.
Here's the real piece of news. Fiat S.p.A., the new owners of Chrysler, have just announced that they will be fitting a 2-cylinder engine to their cute and loveable 500. That's right, a 2-pot! This will make the 500 the only two-cylinder car in Europe and if ever it makes its way over to this side of the pond, in North America as well. According to Automotive News, the only other mass-production car to sport a 2-cylinder engine is the Tata Nano.
The 875cc 85 hp unit, called TwinAir by the maker, will help Fiat keep the title of the car company with the lowest average CO2 emissions from its European car fleet. If, once again, Chrysler-Fiat decide to bring it over, it will certainly be the cleanest and most efficient car on the market. Two other levels of tune will be offered; a 65 hp and a promising peppy 115 hp turbocharged version.
According to Fiat, a 500 with this powerplant and an automated manual gearbox will have CO2 emission levels of only 92 grams per kilometre and consume 4.1 litres per 100km. With a five-speed manual 'box, CO2 emissions climb (not by much) to 95 g/km and fuel consumption, to 4.2 l/100km.
The future may even hold a mild hybrid of the TwinAir with a new dual clutch transmission. Emissions for this one could be lower than 80g/km.
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| Photo: Fiat |
Oh well, to bad for you. You may have heard that Chrysler is in the midst of demoting the HEMI. The name will still be used but only in limited, very specific situations. Instead, the small block 345 cubic inch motor will simply be known as the 5.7L V8.
Here's the real piece of news. Fiat S.p.A., the new owners of Chrysler, have just announced that they will be fitting a 2-cylinder engine to their cute and loveable 500. That's right, a 2-pot! This will make the 500 the only two-cylinder car in Europe and if ever it makes its way over to this side of the pond, in North America as well. According to Automotive News, the only other mass-production car to sport a 2-cylinder engine is the Tata Nano.
The 875cc 85 hp unit, called TwinAir by the maker, will help Fiat keep the title of the car company with the lowest average CO2 emissions from its European car fleet. If, once again, Chrysler-Fiat decide to bring it over, it will certainly be the cleanest and most efficient car on the market. Two other levels of tune will be offered; a 65 hp and a promising peppy 115 hp turbocharged version.
According to Fiat, a 500 with this powerplant and an automated manual gearbox will have CO2 emission levels of only 92 grams per kilometre and consume 4.1 litres per 100km. With a five-speed manual 'box, CO2 emissions climb (not by much) to 95 g/km and fuel consumption, to 4.2 l/100km.
The future may even hold a mild hybrid of the TwinAir with a new dual clutch transmission. Emissions for this one could be lower than 80g/km.
 |
| Photo: Fiat |
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