- Gianluca Italia, Head of Brand Fiat EMEA, received the prestigious trophy at the award ceremony held yesterday in Warsaw
- According to the international Autobest panel, the Fiat ‘Methane Programme’ is the simplest and most cost-effective solution, with the lowest environmental impact among fuels available today
- The Fiat Group has been the leading European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for methane-fuelled vehicles for more than 15 years: approximately 600,000 units sold, comprising Natural Power cars and commercial vehicles
- Taking pride of place in the programme is the innovative methane-fuelled 80HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo dual-fuel – named ‘Best Green Engine of the Year 2013’ – which combines the innovation of MultiAir, turbo architecture, TwinAir ‘downsizing’ and specific methane fuel technologies
The award ceremony in which the Fiat ‘Methane Programme’ – represented by Gianluca Italia, Head of Brand Fiat EMEA – received the ʻEcobest 2013′ title took place yesterday evening in Warsaw (Poland).
Inaugurated 12 years ago as the first European award dedicated to green products and technology in the automotive sector, the ʻEcobest’ title is awarded by a panel comprising 15 specialist journalists, representing the same number of European countries with a total population of approximately 300 million: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Hungary.
According to the international Autobest panel, the Fiat ‘Methane Programme’ is the simplest and most cost-effective solution, with the lowest environmental impact among fuels available today. An important recognition that confirms Fiat’s commitment to continuous research into concrete, effective and accessible technological solutions made available to a vast public so that they can exploit the greatest number of environmental and economic benefits.
In the field of alternative fuels, Fiat considers that methane engines are now the most appropriate technological choice for contributing to the reduction of pollution in urban areas and the limitation of CO2 emissions. Methane engines minimise the most harmful emissions, such as particulate (to almost zero), nitrogen oxide and the most reactive hydrocarbons which cause the formation of other pollutants. They also generate 23 per cent less CO2 compared to petrol engines. Therefore, methane is the ‘cleanest’ and cheapest fuel available today and it is also potentially a source of renewable energy in the case of bio-methane.
For over 15 years, the Fiat Group has been the leading European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for methane-fuelled vehicles, the one which offers the widest eco-friendly range with dual-fuel supply (methane/petrol), which accommodates the needs of a broad clientèle, including goods transport professionals: since 1997, the Group has sold approximately 600 thousand Natural Power cars and commercial vehicles.
Taking pride of place in the Fiat ‘Methane’ programme is the innovative methane-fuelled 0.9 TwinAir Turbo dual-fuel named ‘Best Green Engine of the Year 2013’, one of the twelve categories of the prestigious ‘International Engine of the Year Awards’. Already available on the Fiat Panda, Fiat 500L and Fiat 500L models, the new ‘two-cylinder’ combines the innovation of MultiAir, turbocharger architecture, TwinAir ‘downsizing’ and specific methane fuel technologies.
TwinAir Turbo technology secures all the environmental advantages of methane without ever having to give up on driving satisfaction and power. This is demonstrated by its maximum power of 80 HP (59 kW) at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of no fewer than 140 Nm at just 2,500 rpm. All of this with reduced emissions and fuel consumption: for example, the values recorded with Fiat Panda TwinAir Turbo Natural Power are 86 g/km of CO2 and 3.1 kg of methane every 100 km (combined cycle).
Turin, 15 February 2014