NF500 / 2008 / February

Fiat has halted production of the 1.3 Multijet Diesel engine, as fitted to the Fiat 500, as a result of ‘anomalies’ in an externally supplied component. This means further delays for those waiting to get hold of their Diesel Fiat 500s.

Full press release from Fiat follows:

As a result of the constant quality controls carried out on all the components of Fiat Group Automobiles cars, a number of anomalies have emerged with
regard to an externally-supplied component for the 1.3 Multijet engine.

In order to verify that this supply of components meets the quality standardsrequested by Fiat, the Company has decided to suspend production of the
engines and cars on which they are mounted.

This decision has led to the suspension of production in the Bielsko Biala plant, where these engines are manufactured, as well as at certain production lines of the Mirafiori, Melfi, Termini Imerese, Tychy and Bursa plants, where models equipped with 1.3 Multijet engines are produced.

The Company is making every possible effort to speed up controls and adaptations that could become necessary, so as to reduce delays in delivery to
customers to the minimum.

Although Fiat is aware that this suspension of production will have repercussions on its delivery volumes for the month of February, it has
nonetheless decided to adopt an uncompromising and rigorous approach so as
to guarantee the highest levels of product quality to its customers.

Geneva hosts the global premiere by Fiat Automobiles of the Concept car 500 Aria which Fiat claim furthers the exploration of new “ecological” frontiers in the automotive sector.

Manufactured on the base of the Fiat 500 – the first model in its sector with the entire range of Euro5 Ready motors – the Concept car 500 Aria adopts all the latest generation, and indeed future technology, resulting in a significant reduction of consumption and emissions. The Fiat 500 Aria has extremely low CO2 emissions, a record value of 98 g/km.

The prototype vehicle is equipped with a Diesel 1.3 16v Multijet Euro 5 powerunit (with anti-particulate DPF filter) combined with robotic Dualogic shift (distinguished by a transmission and control box with the best containment of consumption).

In addition, the 500 Aria includes a Stop&Start system, allowing the temporary switch-off of the engine and it’s subsequent ignition, typical of urban journeys. In particular, uniting the Stop&Start system and the Dualogic shift, around a 10% (urban cycle) reduction of the consumption is obtained. Fiat predict the technology used here will make it into mainstream production during 2008. So if you’re considering a diesel Fiat 500 for its eco credentials, you may be inclined to hold of a little while before pulling the trigger on your new purchase.

The prototype’s interior foresees the use of recycled materials, for example, the recycled rubber used for the floor is composed by rubber granules deriving from used tyres, bound together with polyurethane binders. The seats have been upholstered with recycled and woven leather (called “mataleather, and supplied by the Matamata company) whilst the fabrics - guaranteed by the Ecolabel brand – are in polyester and in a design similar to the raffia palm with natural whirls (supplied by the Apollo company).

“Mataleather” is born out of the re-use of leather amalgamated with natural lattice and subsequently worked in sheets like real leather. The “DNA” Braided leather (the material used on the 500 Aria) is worked on until it forms a textile of real ecological leather, composed only by natural re-used fibres.

In regards to the textiles, Ecolabel is the European eco-quality brand that rewards the best products from an ecological point of view – the whole life-cycle is taken into account – whilst maintaining at the same time high performance standards.

Lastly, some important interior components – from the samplers to climate control and the control shield, down to the panel fittings – are made in materials composed by thermoplastics and natural fibres.

One day, all mainstream cars could be made like this.

As ever, YouTube seems to come up trumps when seeking out some decent video footage yesterday’s Fiat 500 Abarth unveiling in Turin.

Good to see the hot new Abarth 500 in moving pictures.

We probably wont bore you with any more links to sites showing Abarth eye candy in the NF500 news section, but being a long standing source of great Fiat news and concept images we thought it only right to mention that InfoMotori have their own gallery of photos of the 500 Abarth available to browse on their website.

The full gallery can be found on the InfoMotori site, link after the thumbnail image…

Here’s your link to the full gallery… Enjoy!

While we sit here in freezing cold old Blighty, the folk over at AutoBlog.it have been enjoying themselves at the launch of Abarth’s new Turin headquarters.

No surprise that the event was combined with the unveiling of the new 500 Abarth model, and AutoBlog.it have a tonne of good photos on their website, link after the thumbnail image..

See the full set at AutoBlog.it.

From racing to our everyday roads, but always with a sporty approach. This is the goal behind the debut of the long-awaited ‘500 Abarth’, announced for the coming Geneva International Motor Show. The new car was developed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth of the 1960s, and will be marketed from July through the exclusive Abarth network.

With a strong sporty personality, the new car will be powered by a Fire 1.4 16v petrol Turbo engine, which delivers a maximum of 135 bhp (99 kW) at 5,500 rpm and peak torque of 206 Nm at 3,000 rpm in ‘Sport’ mode (in ‘Normal’ mode, torque is reduced to 180 Nm at 2,500 rpm). This brilliant, smooth new engine is also a friend of the environment: like the regular Fiat model it is derived from, the new Abarth will respect future Euro 5 legislation.

Another interesting feature of the 500 Abarth is the fact that it adopts the new TTC (Torque Transfer Control) system, which improves the transfer of drive torque to the wheels, but, above all, ensures that the car behaves impeccably on bends, making it safer and more entertaining even with a sporty driving style. In other words, it is faithful to the phrase coined for the Abarths of the 1960s ‘small but wicked’.

NF500 also brings you all available images of the new Abarth 500 in high resolution, including a cut-away of the interior which reveals some exclusive styling enhancements for the Fiat 500, including front bucket seats. One thing seems for sure, if the Abarth 500 has handling and performance to match its looks, Fiat are into a winner!

The images of the 500 Abarth shown here are available at full, very high, resolution at our Flickr page for the Abarth 500.

Abarth, one of the world’s most exciting motorsport brands, today officially opens its new premises at the Fiat Group’s Mirafiori complex in Turin.

The motorsport, design and manufacturing company, which is also home to Fiat’s revered Abarth Racing Team, has just moved into a purpose-built 23,000m2 building, which took a mere eight months to construct – living up to the brand’s enviable reputation for high performance. It will house more than 100 employees.

Located in the former Mirafiori engineering plant – known as Officine 83 – the Abarth building is perfectly placed to interact directly with the Fiat Group’s Style Centre (Centro Stile), experimental construction centre and the Engineering and Design departments.

Inside, the new HQ has been divided into several different areas: competition cars, prototype development, cars derived from standard production, and the Racing Department. Technical and design offices are located right next to the workshops, while marketing, sales, finance and other units are housed on the floor above.

The new workshop, which is equipped with eight vehicle lifts, features an area set aside as a future assembly line for specialist cars in small production runs.

The building’s entrance hall houses the company’s characteristic ‘Wall of Fame’ showing famous Abarth victories, while next to the entrance is a 560m2 showroom displaying models and artefacts from Abarth’s rich history.

The opening ceremony, performed by Abarth CEO Luca De Meo, also presented an opportunity to disclose Abarth Racing Team’s 2008 plans, starting with the Intercontinental Rally Challenge using two factory prepared and entered Grande Punto Abarth S2000 cars. The team will also contest the Italian Rally Championship.