Italian Job: Fiat Powertrain Technology’s ‘MultiAir’ Rolls Out Worldwide

‘Best of what’s new for 2010′: this is what Popular Science, the influential American magazine, called MultiAir technology, adding that its innovative features raise the bar in terms of fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness.

What’s it all about? FPT, a.k.a. Fiat Powertrain Technologies, invented and marketed a revolutionary new electro-hydraulic intake valve management system, calling it ‘MultiAir’.

The system gives cylinder-by-cylinder, stroke-by-stroke direct air intake control, without a throttle valve. This kind of fuel management magic cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10%, while obtaining 10% more power and 15% more torque. This careful combustion control also reduces polluting emissions and the versatile technology can easily be applied to all petrol engines. Interesting potential developments are in store for diesel engines too. Small wonder the system has already gathered many awards in Europe and is achieving accolades elswhere as it goes.

In the United States, MultiAir technology will soon be available for the commercial launch of the Fiat 500, which will be equipped with a four-cylinder 1.4 litre FPT engine.

Earlier, in June this year, the FPT 1.4 Turbo, the first engine to implement MultiAir technology, won the prestigious European “Engine of the Year” award in the new best engine of the year category, assigned by an international panel of 65 specialist journalists from 32 countries.

Today, the MultiAir system is available on the Abarth Punto Evo 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 165 HP, the Alfa Romeo MiTos 1.4 MultiAir 105 HP and 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 135 HP and 170 HP, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 Multiair Turbo 170 HP, the Lancia Delta 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 140 HP, the Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 85 HP, the Fiat Bravo 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 140 HP and the Fiat Puntos Evo 1.4 MultiAir 105 HP and 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 135 HP.

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