Review of Fiat 500 Twin Air by Jeremy Clarkson (top gear)

[fredfrey]

"The 500 is a great little car. And now you can have it with what is almost certainly the best engine...in the world."  

http://www.arbury.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/fiat-500-twin-air.aspx

[RacerRon]

Great article, thanks for posting it.

[Mike S]

That's great!

[einy]

Indeed, thanks for posting!  I saw that write-up on the Sunday Times website last week, but I'm too financially prudent (er, cheap) to cough up their $1 fee to download the article!

[Alvon Elrod]

Clarkson is referring to an engine that is not available in the USA.  I wish it was available!  It's touted as having different versions from 65 - 105 hp, and with mpg numbers up in the mid 60's (miles per USA gallon), CO2 emissions the lowest in the world.  I would love to have that engine in my Fiat 500, and don't quite understand why Fiat didn't push to offer that engine in the USA.  I know that there is a fair sector of us that want power, and lots of it, and wouldn't like the little twin air engine for that reason.  But that's not me.  If Fiat had offered this engine, and the fuel economy that it provides, they could easilly be the most sought after small car in North America.  

[ciddyguy]

fredfrey wrote

"The 500 is a great little car. And now you can have it with what is almost certainly the best engine...in the world."  

http://www.arbury.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/fiat-500-twin-air.aspx

I want that engine myself and yes, I totally agree with Clarkson on this one, and if you find the Fifth Gear ep on this very motor, it's roughly the size (if not a bit smaller than) 2 large Colt 45 beer cans worth of displacement, which are LESS than the 875cc's of this motor and it can produce tons of fun with 85 horse, now THAT'S something.

Now imagine what the 105HP version would produce...

The 65 horse version is normally aspirated, the 85-105 horse versions are both turbo'd and produce something like 107Ft# of torque at 1700RPM, which makes it even more fun than the 1.4L!

But alas, it's not available here, yet.

Oh well, the 1.4L MultiAir impresses me non the less so I'll be happy with that, for now.

[FiatGal]

Ah yes.. the TwinAir... After wrangling over whether or not I should keep the PE (gave it up), I sometimes toy with the idea of buying a used car that will get me through the next couple of years until they (keeping fingers crossed) bring the TwinAir here. (Why Sergio, why did you not bring it here???)

Or I just buy the 500, and trade it in in a few years. More expensive, but way more fun NOW! gah.

Yeah... I'm buying the 500 now!