2011 Fiat 500: I GEMILLI SONO PIU- TWINS ARE MORE
 |
By Robert S Erskine
Senior Editor
London Bureau
The Auto Channel
Small highly engineered cars have an allure, a character, which makes them emotionally engaging. They are light, responsive, agile, and fun, like riding your first bicycle. There is none of the heavy stodgy lumbering mass of a larger car. You fit into a small car not onto it. In the right hands a small car can easily outpace cars of much greater power and scale. In Europe especially, such vehicles have historically been designed out of economic necessity, the result of world events. Perhaps the seed for the small car came about when the British industrialist and genius, Sir Herbert Austin, created the famous Austin Seven, giving freedom to the masses in a small economical to run car. It was produced under license internationally in large numbers in the UK, France as the Rosengart, In Japan as the Datsun, in the USA as the Bantam, and in Germany by BMW as the Dixi. With the end of two world wars the European industrial base was largely decimated and when hostilities ended the urge for people to become mobile again took off. They needed to return to work and personal transport was essential.
Due to a shortage of resources and materials, mass production of cars was not possible, so efforts were concentrated to manufacture motorised two wheelers that were affordable and quick to produce in large numbers. Thus the ‘Moped’ or single cylinder two-stroke engine powered bicycle with a capacity of 49.9cc took off. Later the Italian Lambretta, also a two-stroke single cylinder motor scooter of 125cc capacity now a great industrial design icon, became much sought after.
In Germany the BMW and Messerschmitt Co’s produced what are commonly known as 3 Wheeler Bubble Cars, also powered by motorcycle engines. These were highly successful and surviving examples highly valuable. BMW today is developing a 21st Century BMW Bubble Car, which will be released in the near future as a result of the current demand in economical low emission city vehicles.
Motor vehicle production from 1945 to the late 50’s was influenced greatly by the motor cycle/motor scooter in terms of engine capacity. In France, Citroen had began designing as a result of the 1930’s economic crash a low taxable, cheap to produce and run, reliable and advanced engineered car the Deux Chevaux, or Two Horse Tax Power car. Production was delayed at the onset of WW2. The engine was an innovative 4-stroke flat twin (twin horizontally opposed cylinders) air-cooled unit of some 375cc driving the front wheels on a fully independent adjustable hydraulic long travel suspension system. The gear- shift came straight out of the dashboard and was a delightful push/pull and twist system, designed to make for more passenger space. In the UK many small three wheeler cars employing motorcycle engines were produced. The three wheelers had a lower taxation rate. The British Motor Company manufactured a range of small economy cars the greatest being, the Morris Minor, from 1948 to 1971. It offered outstanding space, handling and ride, and decent fuel economy and was great fun to drive. The Minor was the foundation for the iconic Mini using the same 4-cylinder engine, but with the gearbox placed inside the engine sump to save space. The car was front wheel drive again setting the benchmark for most of today’s small vehicles.
In Italy the famous Fiat 500 Topolino or mouse, designed by Dante Giocosa, and first produced in 1937, set another standard at the time in terms of engineering and packaging. It was this formula that Fiat excelled at, providing beautiful design and affordable reliable engineering ahead of most manufacturers at the time. The 1959 Fiat 500 Nuova Cinquecento also designed by Giocosa, drew on the Topolino, but instead was even smaller and had a 2 cylinder vertical in line 479cc air-cooled engine at the back driving the rear wheels. Giocosa created the 500 as a true city vehicle but capable at a push to run on Italy’s new Auto Strada’s. The design of the 500 has since become an icon. Its cute scale, aesthetics and charm together with the driving experience and engineering, provides an irresistible emotional response. However Initial sales were poor, as the car was deemed too basic on closer inspection. With post war Europe just beginning to climb out of austerity, the mass market demanded better levels of luxury, and to Fiat’s credit they quickly improved the specification of the 500. It could be said that they invented the high quality economy city car niche. With the revisions sales took off and success was assured.
With today’s increasing congestion in European cities, and legislation from the EEC Government pushing for tough lower emissions, coupled with the demand for increased fuel economy, Europe’s automotive manufacturers are again looking at small highly engineered city economy cars.
Mercedes Benz pioneered in 1989, an extraordinary innovative approach at the way small/micro city cars are designed, engineered, and, manufactured with poor safety issues inherent in such vehicles resolved. When approached by the industrialist and founder of The Swiss Watch Company (SWATCH), Nicholas Hayek, after his ideas were rejected by the VW Group, he pushed for the notion that these vehicles could become high quality style icons almost fashion items. His take was that the look of the car could be changed, as the owner’s mood, demanded. The internal and external body panels and details could be clipped on and off in an endless variety of colour combinations. After all, his SWATCH system of watches did just this and were a phenomenal success. The Smart Car was born utilizing a completely different manufacturing system, and the external body panels produced from injection moulded recycled coloured plastic, ideal for town and cities where minor impacts etc are simply shrugged off. Completely damage one and it is easily, quickly and inexpensively replaced, unlike steel panels on other cars. With a drastic reduction in overall body weight as well, the rear mounted 3 cylinder in line 700cc turbo charged engines provided good performance with economy, and safety engineering, bought the car up to euro saloon levels. The current second generation Smart car provides even greater agility, fuel economy, and performance with greater internal space and comfort. In their segment nothing comes close to their design or driving experience.
The Smart like the Mini set a precedent in the economy small car segment and as a result many if not most euro car producers attempted to follow suit. Fiat has responded with the new 500 series. Initially this car had a 4 cylinder in line 1.2 litre front wheel drive engine. At launch this proved successful. With an almost endless specification list and choice of either diesel or petrol power, the 500 is competitively priced. Now that emissions are a priority, Fiat has introduced a sophisticated minimalist engine design to achieve superb power, low co2 outputs and excellent fuel economy.
Returning to the original 2 cylinder in line format Fiat looked at ways of improving the valve train, and efficiency of such a compact power unit of only 875cc, whilst resolving the inherent physical properties of 2 reciprocating pistons, that of vibration. A balancer counter shaft, smoothes out the high and low frequency roughness associated with such engines. Fiat has applied a development of their innovative award winning MultiAir Technology, an electro-hydraulic valve control system. This controls direct air and combustion one cylinder at a time, one stroke at a time. Without using the throttle body, intake valves control the volume of air resulting in a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and a lowering of emissions. The 500 TwinAir has the lowest emissions, of any petrol-powered engine at just 92g/km. This system also results in sharper engine response. Combining a turbocharger helps optimize performance especially at low engine speeds where the maximum 145Nm of torque comes in at 1900rpm. With a weight of only 85kg this ground breaking innovative power unit provides a fun packed highly responsive experience. Add in the delicious front mounted 2 cylinder muted smooth thrum and the 500TwinAir becomes as characterful as the original.
When comparing power output figures of the TwinAir and Fiat’s existing best-selling 1.2 4 cylinder engine, the TwinAir delivers some 23% more power but with less emissions and fuel consumption.
Fiat invited me to appraise for AutoLab Broadcast the TwinAir Cabriolet a truly peach of a car, like a good Vivaldi choral work, fluid, responsive, entertaining, exciting, relaxed on the freeway, with low levels of mechanical noise, and a smoothness mixed with a connectivity from the delightful sounding engine. The fabric roof is beautifully constructed and will retract at road speeds up to 30MPH. This is the one to go for even in the current severe winter temperatures here in jolly Britain, the cabin space is comfortable and snug with the roof down. All the controls are precise and the high quality interior materials beautifully designed and finished with Italian colour flair and gusto. Detailing of the speedometer and bold scale control switches, and hip height gearshift, set a benchmark. With a one-piece injection moulded HDPE coloured dash fascia, a 1950’s feel is created. The fuel consumption is outrageously good; I managed a consistent average of just over 60 miles per UK gallon at motorway cruising speeds, over a four hundred mile journey. The handling is well balanced, with a supple ride, and the car has an agility that makes for great fun when driving briskly on non-freeway out of town routes. It covers distance easily and comfortably. And overall the 500 feels solid. Build quality is superb and Fiat has really upped the levels here in preparation for US sales. Fiat offer a comprehensive warranty against paint and corrosion issues across their entire range. The specification list is endless with colour combinations, mixes of specs etc seemingly overwhelming, extending even to colour variations for the ignition key. Indeed Fiat quote that with their personalisation programme, up to half-a-million possible trim, colour and accessory combination options are available, qualta gentile!
The entry Euro POP spec comes with MP3 and BlueMe connectivity a great quality audio CD system as standard, drivers seat height and steering wheel adjustment, excellent heating and ventilation system, switchable start stop system to aid fuel economy and emissions reduction, and an ECO dash button that cuts the power by 45NM when in town or city environments, to further improve fuel consumption. This function also alters the steering weight characteristics. Included in this specification is the speed sensitive Dualdrive electric power steering, and a 5 speed manual gearbox. There is the option for Fiat’s Dualogic MTA Semi-Automatic gear change, which gives even better fuel economy over the manual system. ESP-Electronic Stability Control the most important safety aid available is an option fit only, and should be a standard. I expect this to be the case for all US specified Fiat 500’s. The TwinAir achieves the highest Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating and a good rating for low speed pedestrian impact injury.
This is a city car whilst larger than the original is still compact without it being micro, and will carry 4 passengers without trouble. It is a great engineering development of a superb design some 53 years old. Importantly this innovation of TwinAir is an example of mechanical engineering advancement proving that fossil fuel power is not quite finished. It is perhaps the quest for full electric power in its current format using lithium-ion battery technology, which is more limited in practical terms, than we are led to believe. Simply the paradox is that there is a complexity in real life use of battery-powered vehicles, and, in their manufacture. Until hydrogen fuel cell technology fully becomes available, for this really is the future for our grandchildren, we will be using the piston engine, powered either by petrol or hydrogen gas, for some time yet.
Fiat’s TwinAir is an example of petrol engine advancement, at a time when we are being bombarded by politicians that fossil fuel power is truly finished and battery power is the panacea for all the worlds emissions issues.
The TwinAir has this month been awarded the best European engine of the year, which proves ‘Twins Are More’.
Robert S Erskine 2010
IMPA (International Motor Press Association) IAM(Observer Institute of
Advanced Motorists) UK
Senior European Correspondent, AutoLab Broadcast USA