Fiat stops funky 500!
February 9th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
FIAT has introduced a start-stop feature on the 500 city car, which improves mpg and reduces CO2 emissions.
The Fiat 500 Start&Stop is based on the best-selling 1.2 Lounge version, and automatically stops the engine when the car comes to a halt.
It restarts itself when it detects the driver wants to pull away again.
Costing £9500, it becomes the most fuel efficient Fiat 500 on sale. Fuel economy in city centres improves by 12 per cent, and CO2 emissions fall to 113g/km.
START&STOP 1.2 vs 1.2 Lounge
• Urban cycle economy
49.6mpg vs 44.1mpg
• Combined cycle economy
58.9moh vs 55.4mpg
• CO2 Emissions
113g/km vs 119g/km
As the 500 Stop&Start also has Fiat’s Blue&Me Bluetooth phone system, it also includes eco:Drive. This allows customers to monitor and improve on their CO2 emissions and fuel consumption figures.
‘We have been promising new ideas and features on our award-winning Fiat 500 since it was launched last year, and here is yet another example,’ said Fiat UK MD Andrew Humberstone.
‘This is an important development for the 500, as it will help to make what is already a fuel-efficient, value-for-money car an even greater consideration for town and city drivers.’
Dealers will have to learn the intricacies of the system, though. It will not work, for example, if:
• Engine still cold
• A speed of 6mph has not been reached after pulling away
• Clutch not pressed
• Battery in low charge state
• Heated rear window active
• Front wiper at maximum speed
• Reverse gear engaged
The model is on sale now, to further Fiat’s growing reputation for producing low CO2 models.
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