The new Fiat Punto Evo is turning into a success on the local Italian market, with more than 35,000 sales since it first came on the scene on October 10th. While some Italians have reservations about the style of the Punto Evo, it is a winner in terms of its technology and performance, at competitive prices.

The Punto Evo shows off some great Fiat Powertrain technology at low prices. Prices for the Punto Evo start at 11,800 euros, ranging to 17,200 euros for the Multijet II 1.3-litre with 95 hp. The original 1.3-litre Multijet with 75 hp sits in the middle at 13,650 euros.

While the Fiat Punto Evo might not glow on other markets, its importance to the Italian market looks assured, particularly with these competitive prices. The new 1.4-litre aspirated Multiair engine, and the turbo T-Jet model, will both debut in the course of 2010.

Source | Autoblog.it

Continue reading: Fiat Punto Evo sales success so far

The successful Alfa Mito now includes the next generation Fiat Multijet 1.3-litre engine. It has start&stop system and complies with the Euro 5 anti-pollution norms. The small diesel engine from Fiat Powertrain has 95 hp and fuel consumption of an average of 4.3-litres per 100 km, with CO2 emissions of 112 g/1 km.

The engine debuted on the Fiat 500 and the Fiat Punto Evo, and you can check out all the details on the new Fiat Multijet engine website. It has multiple injection technology and other features that reduce noise and pollution, in light of new Euro 6 norms. Equipped with the new Multijet, the Alfa MiTo takes 11.6 seconds to reach 100 km/hr and has a top speed of 180 km/hr.

On the local market in Italy, the new MiTo 1.3 Multijet II has a starting price of 17,600 euros for the Progression version, ranging to 19,200 euros for the Distinctive version. The latter can have Sport or Premium options with an additional 900 euros to the price.

Source | Autoblog.it

Continue reading: New Alfa MiTo 1.3 Multijet engine

If you forget the dorky looking guy playing the drums, the new Fiat Powertrain Multijet II website is an interesting trip through history. It starts with a look at the first common rail diesel engine, before passing to the first Multijet common rail engine with multiple injection technology.

If you’re into what drives the cars we ourselves drive, the new Multijet site will give you plenty to read about. The final section of the website, “Developers Stories” shows two video interviews with Fiat engineers, who explain Fiat Powertrain technology. For the petrol heads among you.

Continue reading: Fiat new Multijet site

The Fiat-Chrysler joint venture is gaining momentum, and in more news regarding the company, Bertone will now produce two vehicles for the group. Reports say that Bertone will create a top-line vehicle and a speciality vehicle adapted to various body kits. The models would be based on a Chrysler platform, using Fiat engines and technology.

The news comes from Alfredo Altavilla, general manager of Fiat PowerTrain, during a meeting at the Turin Industrial Union. Bertone is set to produce these vehicles from 2011, but no further details are available. In the future, the Bertone facilities at Grugliasco in Turin will be able to produce 50,000 cars a year, with worker contracts passing to Fiat this November 19.

Source | Rai News via Autoblog.it

Continue reading: Bertone to produce models for Fiat-Chrysler

After leaked pics of the Alfa Milano from the factory, the new 149 turned up in this amusing situation, when the mule was stopped by German police during test driving in the precinct of the Nurburgring. Nothing controversial seems to have happened in these pics, and we wonder if the police officer was an Alfa fan who wanted a closer look.

The Alfa Milano should debut next year with new technologies from Fiat Powertrain, including the adoption of direct injection and turbocharged units. New engines that could appear will be the 1.4 T-Jet of about 150 hp and the 1.8 JTB with about 265 hp. More powerful versions will have rear wheel drive, called Q2, and transmission should be a six-speed manual, with automatic option as well.

Alfa fans are hoping for a Milano GTA model as well, equipped with the 1.8-litre engine of 240 hp which will soon appear on the MiTo GTA (maybe with a few extra horse power, too!). Diesel options include the 1.9 M-Jet, and possibly a larger version of 2.0-litres. The line-up is enticing, and regardless of whether the Milano will be going to the US or not, it’s set for success in the Europe.

Source | InfoMotori

Continue reading: Alfa Milano more engine details and test mule stopped by police

Alfa Romeo has scaled down work at its Style Centre in Arese, with employees going on extended leave for seven weeks. However, it’s unclear whether this is a temporary hiccup or a permanent closure.

Fiat has not officially confirmed reports, but Alfa’s design centre may be incorporated into a new Fiat Group centre in Turin. The centre was build two years ago and the move would be part of company strategy.

Arese is a symbolic location for Alfa, being the last place that physically links the brand to its roots, although it was built only in 1990. It was the home where prototypes such as the Proteo and the Nuvola were created, but especially more iconic models such as the 156 and the 147. The last models born in the centre will be the MiTo and the Milano.

Continue reading: Alfa Romeo to close Milan style centre and lay off workers

2009 could be the year for fiat Powertrain with features emerging such as the two-cylinder turbo, turbo-charged 1.8L, dry twin-clutch, automatic transmission and last but definitely not least, the Multijet II. Alfredo Altavilla, managing director of Fiat Powertrain, has much to be positive about.

He explains how they have developed an engine such as the SGE that still complies with Euro 5 anf Euro 6 anti-pollution legislation, which will come into effect in 2014. In the aspirated, turbo and natural gas Fiats, all the 900cc engines will have CO2 emissions of less than 100 grams per kilometre.

Multiair technology is the apple of Fiat’s eye, which, with its valve control, takes power to levels comparable to the Multijet. A power range of between 65 and 105 hp will be on offer. 2009 will see the second generation Multijet for Fiat, making this an exiciting year for Fiat’s powerhouse.

Source | Corriere (Thanks to Richard Burns for the tip)

Continue reading: Fiat Powertrain, managing director Altavilla on twin cylinder and Multiair for 2009

After news of the first testing to be carried out on the new Lancia Ypsilon, initial spy shots are emerging prior to the debut of this little piece of luxury in 2011. This is later than Lancia originally planned, according to auto, motor und sport, so we may as well enjoy the spy shot for the moment.

The size should remain similar to that of the current model, with a big change in style being the main factor. The new Ypsilon will follow the more eccentric lines of the Delta and should distinguish itself further from the competition.

In terms of more technical changes, the focus is on reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency, and so we could be seeing the introduction of a hybrid engine, anticipated by Fiat Powertrain and planned for 2011.

Continue reading: Lancia Ypsilon: next generation new spy shots and testing

It’s official: the agreement between Fiat Autombiles and BMW AG does not regard however, as first thought, the Mini and Fiat brands, but rather Mini and Alfa Romeo. A letter of intent (precluding the official contract), has been signed by Friedrich Eichner, member of BMW board of directors and brand development manager, and Alfredo Altavilla, head of business development at Fiat Automobiles and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

The agreement includes engines and transmission as these are the principal technologies of the Powertrain division. The two sides have said “the possibilities of reaching a common use of components and systems on Alfa Romeo and Mini vehicles is being examined to create economies of scale and cost reduction”. If these initial contacts turn out well, Fiat and BMW should sign the definitive undertaking by the end of the year.

Via | Quattroruote

Continue reading: Fiat and BMW officially confirm agreement

The agreement seemed ready, such to transform Sergio Marchionne’s denial into a real cold shower: the large relaunch plan for the Sicilian plant of Termini Imerese will not take place.

The managing director of the Fiat group then calmed everyone, underlining that 500 million euro will, however, be invested to acquire the assembly chain required for a new car, substituting the current Lancia Ypsilon with a relative hiring plan of 500 employees. Moreover the colossal 1.1 million euro renewal plan (opening of a second line of production which will increase manufacturing levels to 200,000 cars annually) would have been abandoned in the face of conditions judged “unfavourable”, such as to not reach an agreement on the 430 million euro of public assistance.

With thanks to bibo

Via | ccfa

Continue reading: Fiat: no mega-plan for Termini Imerese

A few hours ago with the words “Fiat reconfirms its objectives for 2008″, the Torino based company announced that it will resume production of its 1.3 M-jet diesel engine, only three days after they announced the production halt due to anomalies in a few externally sourced components.

The Polish plant at Bielsko Biala will return to normal service, with Fiat Powertrain claiming to have fully resolved the quality problems and confirming that it will resume production of the cars that have the unit fitted by February the 26th.

The 1.3 Multijet engine is used in all the mainstays of the Fiat Group: the Panda, Punto, Grande Punto, Ciquecento, Idea, Doblo, Lancia Y, Lancia Musa. Moreover, that unit is also used on the Opel Agila and the Opel Corsa.

Continue reading: Fiat to resume production of the 1.3 Multijet engine

Little motor, big problems: Fiat Powertrain has stopped production of the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine while looking into a number of anomalies regarding an externally supplied component.

At a rough estimate, this sudden suspension will result in the loss in production of around 1,000
engines a day. According to a statement from Fiat, it has been necessary to halt production of the engines and of the relevant cars that contain them in order to carry out relevant tests. This necessity has included the suspension of production activity at the Bielsko Biala plant in Poland
(where the Multijets are assembled) as well as at a few production lines of the Mirafiori, Termini Imerese, Melfi, Tychy and Bursa plants.

The problems with the engine (that is currently offered in the Fiat Panda, Punto, Grande Punto, Cinquecento, Idea, Doblo, Lancia Y, Lancia Musa, Opel Agila and Opel Corsa) will not affect the models that have been already sold and no recall has been suggested.

Continue reading: Fiat has suspended production of the 1.3 Multijet engine