The Fiat 0.9L TwinAir CNG engine took top honors at this year's Engine of the Year awards. The motor won the Green Engine Of The Year 2013 title.
The twin cylinder 8-valve engine lays emphasis on reduction of weight, frictional and thermal losses. It is to be noted that the petrol version of the engine won the Engine Of The Year in 2011.
In petrol guise, the motor is available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged configurations, in different states of tunes. The maximum power output stands at 104bhp. The CNG version develops 80bhp and 140Nm of torque.
The TwinAir CNG was first put to work in the Fiat Panda last year. It manages a fuel consumption of 3.1 kg per 100km (around 32.2 km/kg) and emits only 86 g/km of CO2. That's hugely impressive!
The motor is equipped with Fiat's MultiAir electro hydraulic valve management system which reduces weight and increases the accuracy of the combustion.
The TwinAir CNG is expected to be employed by more and more cars in the years to come. The second car to get the motor would be the Lancia Ypsilon followed by the Fiat 500L.
The global trend of downsizing has resulted in technologically advanced small motors which can match the conventional motors of much higher displacement in terms of performance while being more fuel efficient and cleaner than them.
No wonder that the Fiat 0.9L TwinAir and the Ford 1.0L EcoBoost came home with trophies!
[Source: Autoedizione.nl]
