Alfa Romeo Giulietta 140 HP / 104 kW 2.0 JTDM-2
The safest compact car ever tested by Euro NCAP is exhibited in Paris with two major new products: the powerful 140 HP / 104 kW 2.0 JTDM engine and the new Alfa TCT gearbox, an automatic transmission with a state-of-the-art dry twin clutch.
The new 140 HP 2.0 JTDM joins the range of diesel engines and is an ideal engine both for fleets that require low fuel consumption and low running costs but also driving comfort for long trips, and also for private customers who seek agility and performance over demanding routes and roominess and comfort on everyday roads.
The 140 HP 2.0 JTDM is equipped with the latest generation of the MultiJet Common Rail system that is already present on the 105 HP / 78 kW 1.6 and the 170 HP / 125 kW 2.0 power units.
This system represents the most technologically advanced solution for controlling high injection pressures (around 1600 bar) independently of the engine rotation speed and quantity of fuel injected. The engine management, capable of introducing small quantities of fuel with the main injection (the amount of fuel injected to provide the performance requested by the driver) guarantees particularly smooth engine operation in all situations.
This technology, combined with an electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger, guarantees excellent torque delivery: 350 Nm at just 1750 rpm (with the D.N.A. selector in Dynamic position) and 320 Nm at 1500 rpm (in Normal).
This new Alfa Romeo Giulietta records reduced CO2 emissions and fuel consumption (119 g/km and 4.5 litres/100 km respectively in the combined cycle), a top speed of 205 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. The engine is designed for all customers who seek an excellent throttle response but are also careful about fuel consumption and running costs.
On the theme of environmental respect, the engine is Euro 5 compliant and is equipped with DPF and Start&Stop as standard. Moreover, advanced exhaust gas treatment technologies have been used, namely a Close Coupled Diesel Particulate Filter and a built-in EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system that improves control of temperature and gas flow, simultaneously guaranteeing lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption.
Lastly, the 2.0 JTDM boasts a particularly long servicing interval, thus minimising work required on the vehicle during its life cycle and cutting its running costs. The fact that the car only needs servicing every 35,000 km is a testament to the high quality levels achieved and the efforts made to improve the durability and efficiency even further, by means of careful work on the individual components.
The new Giulietta will make its South African debut in two months’ time – the engine line-up will initially be restricted to petrol models only.
Alfa’s innovative TCT twin clutch automatic transmission
After its debut on the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the Giulietta is the second Group model to combine an Alfa TCT transmission with the 170 HP / 125 kW 1.4 MultiAir turbo petrol engine, a distillate of technology which blends high performance levels with the lowest emissions and fuel consumption levels in its category for petrol engines of this power rating.
This Alfa Romeo Giulietta returns outstanding performances: 218 km/h of top speed, 5.2 l/100 km over a combined cycle, 121 g/km of CO2 and just 7.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. To complement its range of automatic transmissions Alfa Romeo will also fit the Alfa TCT on its diesel engines.
The Alfa TCT transmission is controlled by a lever with precise and ergonomic movements, which can be combined with shift paddles behind the steering wheel for a sporty and engaging drive.
In detail, the operation of the Alfa TCT transmission is distinguished by maximum interaction with the vehicle’s systems. To allow for the best performance on the road depending on the driving conditions and on the driver’s requests, the transmission interacts with the braking, engine control, Alfa D.N.A. selector, Start&Stop, steering and vehicle stability control systems.
Thanks to the speed with which the parameters are processed, the transmission can, for instance, modify the speed of gear shift, manage the torque delivery, for instance on low grip roads, and it can operate completely automatically or as a manual sequential gearbox and adopt a usage profile which focuses primarily on reducing fuel consumption.
Developed by FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies, in conceptual terms the new Alfa TCT transmission consists of two gearboxes in parallel, each with its own clutch, which allows the selection and engagement of the subsequent gear while the previous one is still engaged.
The gear is therefore changed with a simple gradual switch of the corresponding clutches, guaranteeing continuous torque delivery and therefore traction.
The result is a driving comfort and sporty feeling well above those offered by conventional automatic transmissions (with torque converter), as proven by greater speed of gear shift, the possibility of selecting between manual or automatic mode and a near-zero power loss during the gear change. In addition, the purchasing, servicing and running costs are limited, while fuel consumption is reduced, thanks also to the implementation of the Start&Stop system, by up to 10% less than with a traditional automatic hydraulic transmission with torque converter.
Other notable features of the new Alfa TCT are its flexibility of application, thanks to the compact size of its components, and the fact that it is a dry twin clutch (the type of clutch that guarantees the highest degree of efficiency in terms of fuel consumption among all automatic transmissions).
If we compare dry clutches with oil bath (wet) clutches, we can safely say that the former dissipate energy only during the actual slipping phase of the gear change and on pick-up, whereas wet clutches, which always operate in an oil bath, introduce losses due to viscous friction such as those of conventional automatic transmissions even when they are not in operation.
They also require forced cooling with oil and therefore continuous energy expenditure to drive the dedicated oil pump (absent in the case of dry clutches).
A ‘wet’ automatic transmission also requires approximately 4.8 litres more gearbox oil than the dry version, again for reasons of clutch cooling (in this way, weight is added and losses due to splashing increase).
When all these effects are added together, a dry transmission is found to be approximately 6% more efficient than the corresponding wet one in terms of consumption. Last but not least, the advantages of the dry clutch include the lower cost and the increased ease of installation.
The new TCT gearbox will become available on MiTo and Giulietta models in South Africa in 2011.
- Alfa Romeo 159 MY 2011 and new 136 HP 2.0 JTDM
The advent of the Model Year 2011 renews the interior styling of the Alfa Romeo 159 range, which is reinforced with option packs that guarantee customers a wider range of creature comforts. With a style that oozes sportiness and road performance levels that make it highly competitive in its category.
Attention to detail and high quality materials used for interiors are, today as always, the most developed expression of Italian style. In particular, to make it even more sporty and original, the Alfa Romeo 159 MY 2011 offers a new seat upholstery and a top-quality leather/cloth combination in black or beige from the Distinctive trim level up. Playing on the hues of black, the environment is further enriched with elegant chrome-plated three-layer treatment or brush black aluminium inserts on the dashboard, on the mouldings and on the central tunnel.
Following their successful application on the MiTo and Giulietta models (Europe), Alfa Romeo 159 MY 2011 customers can further personalise their car with four specific Packs (two aiming for driving comfort and two for sportiness).
Those who demand the most in terms of sportiness can opt for the TI Pack with new interior features. In detail, on the outside, this pack may be distinguished by 18″ “turbine” design alloy wheels (a 19″ spoked design is available as an option), low sports ride, side skirts and oversized red brake calipers.
A very lively car, therefore, with strong roadholding. Inside, the TI environment is recognisable from the wraparound seats trimmed in black leather and Alcantara with red profiles, sports pedal unit in aluminium and a kick plate with the TI logo, sports steering wheel in leather with radio controls, gear lever knob and handbrake lever trimmed in leather with red stitching, Blue&Me system and sports instruments. For an innovative, hi-tech look, new carbon fibre inserts on the central console and steering wheel may be ordered as options.
Alfisti can look forward to the arrival of the new-look 159 on South African shores during the first quarter of 2011 – this will also be the debut of the new 200 HP / 149 kW 1750 turbo petrol engine in this model.
Fiat 500 Blackjack special series
Fiat 500 makes headlines once more, as befits an authentic Italian style icon. This time it does so with the Blackjack version, a Limited Edition distinguished by an exclusive black body shade with an opaque treatment, or to spell it out in plain English, matt paint.
The car will go on sale during this month in the major European markets and customers in Great Britain will be able to buy it through an original Internet campaign. In keeping with the style of the 500 and consistent since its launch with the 500wantsyou website, Fiat has yet again decided to use the Internet to unveil this sought-after special series with an intriguing name.
The exclusive opaque black shade is enhanced by certain features in satinised (brushed) chrome (frontal motif, handles, mirror fairings and license plate holders), opaque black 16″ alloys with hubcaps featuring a red central frame and, in the case of the 100 HP / 75 kW 1.4 engine version, red painted brake calipers.
The same attention to detail is evident inside the new special series where the totally black environment is underscored by details in satinised chrome and silver top-stitching on the steering wheel and gear lever.
A choice is also available between seats in red Frau leather (an item of content that the 500 introduces for the first time in the segment) or black seats trimmed in leather and fabric that gives the car a particularly assertive “total black” look when combined with the opaque black dashboard facia.
The new Fiat 500 Blackjack is available with all the petrol engines in the 500 range, which may be combined with a 5-speed Dualogic robotised sequential gearbox: the brand-new 85 HP / 63 kW (900 cc) TwinAir twin-cylinder unit, the 69 HP / 62 kW 1.2 unit and the 100 HP / 75 kW 1.4 unit. For diesel aficionados, the 95 HP / 71 kW 1.3 16v MultiJet II represents the cream of motor engineering in the small turbodiesel field today.
On the outside, the Fiat 500 Blackjack therefore expresses all the appeal of a model that since its launch has proved that it is not merely a super-compact city car, but an authentic platform upon which Fiat Automobiles is building a whole family of cars with technology and attention to detail worthy of a higher category.
It is not by chance that the Fiat 500 has introduced a host of new products and achieved major records in its segment. The new products have also arrived thick and fast: 500 by Diesel (September 2008), 500 Pink (June 2009), 500C (July 2009), 500C by Diesel (June 2010) and 500 TwinAir (July 2010). And now comes the turn of the exclusive Blackjack special series.
From a South African perspective, expect to see some of these Limited Edition models filtering through onto the local market during the course of 2011.
“500 Thousandth”: the Fiat 500 show car born of the people
The “Fiat 500 Thousandth” making its debut in Paris is an original show car that celebrates the record achieved in April this year of 500,000 units produced just 31 months after the launch. The body of the car is entirely covered by 1500 squares displaying the faces of the owners, celebrities or ordinary fans who have contributed in various ways to the car’s extraordinary success.
Those who wanted to reserve a ‘face space’ on this car simply had to log onto the dedicated section of the
website, register and then reserve one of the squares that was still free on an image representing a plan of the car (70% of these were reserved for the owners of a Fiat 500), sending a personal photograph.
It was also possible to attach a short text describing their relationship with the car or a link either to a personal video on YouTube or to their personal Facebook page. Once the reservation stage was over, the showcar was prepared in three weeks and is now ready to take part in international events and motor shows.
The Fiat 500 Thousandth is the first “collective car”, confirming the spirit of the original model with potential customers being involved from the earliest steps of design. Since 3 May 2006 and for the first time in automotive history, scores of 500 enthusiasts worldwide have been directly involved in the “500 wants you” project, an international marketing platform, and given the opportunity of saying what they want from their future car.
The suggestions were picked up by Fiat Automobiles designers and engineers and turned into practical objectives to be reached, with solutions and equipment as close to the expectations of potential customers as possible. In short, the Fiat 500 is truly “a car created by the people, with the people’s ideas”. Today, fiat500.com is a community of 120,000 active users from 206 different countries who are involved in over 30 online activities. The web pages have been browsed nearly 240 million times.
With this new initiative the
platform keeps on surprising, creating original initiatives: recent projects included “C MYSTERY”, the first multimedia story game created to support the launch of a car, and “500 words”, a content, video and image aggregator, on the 500 site and on the web in general as a result of the buzz generated, providing an innovative navigation experience.
Other interesting features include the new look for the platform with even more information on 500 and 500C, a mobile version (m.fiat500.com) and the fun “My 500C” application for configuring a 500C on Facebook, publishing it on a personal profile and virally sharing it on the web with the 500 online community.
For users who enjoy technological innovations and new media, there is Be Open!, an application dedicated to the 500C for iPhone and iPod touch which can be downloaded from the iTunes Store free of charge at bit.ly/oXIhg.
Esseesse Conversion kits for the Abarth Punto Evo and 500C
The Abarth brand tuning story continues: international debut of the esseesse kits for the Abarth Punto Evo and Abarth 500C at the international Paris Motor Show. As always, Abarth tuning is an indissoluble mix of performance and safety: any increase in the former is reflected by at least an equivalent rise in the latter.
For example, the Koni shock absorbers included in both kits guarantee the car the best roadholding in maximum safety, adapting it to a personal driving style. The compression and expansion of the shock absorbers contributes to superior car handling under all road conditions.
At the same time, both kits give the cars an injection of power, significantly improving performance and acceleration yet without affecting the CO2 levels. What’s more, if you select the Sport function, standard on all Abarth cars, the new kits further enhance driving satisfaction.
As is traditional with Abarth, both the esseesse kit for the 500C and the Punto Evo are delivered to customers in a wooden case and are fitted exclusively by official Abarth tuning centres to ensure the highest standards of monitoring and safety.
Esseesse kit for the Abarth Punto Evo:
In detail, the kit allows the 1.4 16v Turbo MultiAir power unit to achieve a maximum power of 180 HP / 132 kW at 5750 rpm and in Sport mode, a maximum torque of 270 Nm at 3000 rpm. The result is truly thrilling performance: top speed is 216 km/h with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds.
Even once the kits have been installed, the CO2 emissions guaranteed by the MultiAir remain unchanged (142 g/km) to ensure that the car maintains its Euro 5 compliance.
Consistent with Abarth’s concept of performance tuning in utmost safety, the esseesse kit includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 305 mm x 28 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 264 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, Abarth esseesse 7″ x 18″ ET39 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 215/40 ZR18 tyres.
The make-up of the conversion kit for the Abarth Punto Evo is completed by a special “powered by BMC” air filter, an Abarth silencer with twin tail pipes, and esseesse badges for the engine cover and tailgate. The esseesse Kit for the Abarth Punto Evo is due to go on sale from December in all European markets.
Esseesse kit for the Abarth 500C:
The kit for the Abarth 500C tunes the 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet power unit to achieve a maximum power of 160 HP / 117 kW at 5750 rpm and in Sport mode, a maximum torque of 230 Nm at 3000 rpm with the performance of an out-and-out sports car: top speed is 209 km/h with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds. As with the Punto Evo, the 500C maintains its Euro 5 compliance even once the kit has been installed, with CO2 emissions equal to 151 g/km.
Safety is always the focus with Abarth tuning, as evidenced by the upgrading of the braking system and adjusted ride: the esseesse kit for the 500C includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 284 mm x 22 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 240 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, Abarth esseesse 7″ x 17″ ET35 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 205/40 ZR17 tyres.
The conversion kit for the Abarth 500C also includes four sensors to record correct tyre pressure, a special “powered by BMC” air filter and esseesse badges for the engine cover and tailgate. The esseesse kit for the Abarth 500C is due to go on sale from October in all European markets.
While not currently part of the Fiat Group brand portfolio in South Africa, Abarth is under consideration for local introduction.
