Fiat’s New Fuel System
Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press wrote an article about Fiat and their new fuel system called Multiair. This new fuel system developed by Fiat was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show last week. The Multiair is said to be able to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 25%. The Multiair will be available in all of Fiat’s current and future partners, hopefully including Chrysler, if that works out.
The first Multiair engine will be in the Alfa Romeo MiTo sporty compact car that will be sold in Europe this year. Alfa Romeo hopes to sell the MiTo in the United States sometime soon.
Here’s how Fiat’s Multiair engine works. The system uses “electronic controls and hydraulics to vary an egine’s valve timing over a wider range than the mechanical systems automakers use today” according to Phelan. Many automakers have been turning to variable-valve timing in recent years to improve fuel economy. The Multiair reduces an engine’s fuel consumption by 10%, but it has a lot of power, so automakers will be able to replace big engine with smaller ones that could lead to 25% less fuel consumption. The exhaust emissions are also reduced by 40-60% according to Fiat. The Multiair system can be used on both gasoline and diesel engines.
It’s only a matter of time before more and more companies will be producing engines that reduce fuel consumption and are environmentally better. It’s a must in the world today, and companies like Fiat know it.