Fiat 500 TwinAir - savings at your fingertips

The little Fiat straight from Tychy is no longer a new model, but now it has appeared in a new, very interesting version of the engine, also from Poland. The new TwinAir two-cylinder engine debuted here.

Since 2003, Fiat has been manufacturing small engines in Bielsko-Biala - 1,2-liter turbodiesels with a capacity of 75 hp, 58 hp. and 95 hp In the middle of last year, a production line for a new gasoline engine was opened at the Fiat Powertrain Technologies plant in Bielsko. This is an innovative design - a two-cylinder engine has a capacity of 0,875 l, can be produced in several power options. Small power and the use of turbocharging had to combine satisfactory performance and economy. It's normal practice to downsize, but usually even small engines have four or at least three cylinders. Two-cylinder units are just the next step, it is still available from other companies mainly in the form of prototypes.

The first version to be introduced to the market was the 85 hp version, which was placed under the hood of the Fiat 500. Soon this car will also be available on our market. The promise of economy and small capacity meant that I didn't expect much from this version of dynamic driving. Meanwhile, when you press the accelerator pedal, the car moves forward quite briskly, willingly accelerating. Even if we are driving at higher speeds, depressing the pedal causes noticeable acceleration. That's just fuel consumption then averages 6 liters. And where are the 4 l / 100 km promised by Fiat in the technical data? Well, at your fingertips. To be precise, you just need to press the button with the word Eco on the center console. Then the torque is reduced from 147 Nm to 100 Nm. The car is clearly losing momentum, but fuel consumption is really falling. The economy of the small car is also improved by using the Start&Stop system, which stops the engine during stops as soon as the driver shifts into neutral, and automatically engages it as soon as the driver first depresses the clutch. shift to first gear. In addition, there is also a system that tells you when to shift gears with arrows on the steering wheel.

In fact, what remains after pressing the Eco button for everyday driving, or rather, slow driving through crowded and therefore leisurely city streets, is definitely enough. When you need more dynamics, for example for overtaking, simply deactivate the Eco button for a moment. This dual nature of the little Fiat allows it to combine fuel consumption close to Fiat's promised 4,1 l/100 km with a 100-11 mph time of 173 seconds. The maximum speed of the car is XNUMX km/h.

What annoyed me the most about the small Fiat engine was the sound. Apparently, it was specially placed so that it resembled sports cars. However, I must admit that this does not convince me. I would have preferred the car to be more discreet in this regard. The loud noise was especially annoying when the engine was cold.

Apart from the new engine, the Fiat 500 offered what I already know very well - an attractive retro design, in a very thoughtful and refined manner. The body of the car was two-tone: white and red. The body in national colors, of course, was supposed to emphasize the very Polish character of the car, on the other hand, it emphasized the style of the body of the 50s. The color and style are preserved in the cabin, but instead of white, the upper part of the upholstery is beige.

A simple dashboard with a body-colored sheet metal strip and compact radio and air conditioning panels located in place of the center console are another element of retro style. There is also a dashboard, but it is clearly seen here that this is a modernist stylization. The scoreboard is made in the form of a solid round dial, but on its periphery there are double circles of numbers - an external speedometer, and an internal one gives tachometer readings. Analog arrows move in a circle, but only their tips are visible, because in the center there is a round display that digitally shows the fuel level and engine temperature, as well as an on-board computer and system arrows that suggest the best time to shift gears.

The Fiat 500 is a city car - it guarantees just the right amount of space for front seat passengers. There are four seats, but they can be used by people up to 165 cm tall, maybe 170 cm, or two adults and two small children. The suspension is quite comfortable, but thanks to the protruding wheels to the corners of the tapered body, the car is quite stable during dynamic driving.

To be honest, I like such modern applications of automotive classics much more than their originals. In our market, the Fiat 500 is clearly inferior to its technologically related Panda, which, although not so pretty, has a much more functional, five-door body, and is much cheaper. However, the “XNUMX” has such a load of style and character, combined with modern equipment, that those who want to stand out on the street should take a look at it.

Pros

Lots of dynamics

Possibility of more economical driving

Interesting design

Cons

Engine running too loud