Autoblog

Not since the Citroen 2CV has a car been sold to the mass market with a two-cylinder engine. That will change next year when Fiat begins selling its hotly anticipated revival of the 500 with a 0.9-liter turbocharged two-cylinder engine that Auto Express reports will produce between 90 and 110 bhp. The tiny two-pot is said to be 20% more economical than an average 1.2-liter city car, which translates to about 60 mpg on the combined cycle. Those power numbers are nothing to sneeze at either, considering the car will effectively be putting out over 100 hp per liter thanks to the turbo. Torque ratings are being pegged at around 88 ft-lbs., which, when combined with the 500's light-as-a-feather weight, should mean the retro city car can squirt along cobblestone streets and dodge pedestrians with the best of them. The 500 will also be available with larger gas engines and at least one diesel for those wary of powering home on only two cylinders. We'll be waiting for reviews of this engine, as the task of refining such a powerplant could not have been easy for Fiat engineers.

[Source: Auto Express]

General Motors announced that it will be introducing 19 -- yes, 19 -- new engines and powertrains for the 2007 model year. The powerplants span the gamut of technologies available today and include hybrids, traditional gasoline-powered engines, ethanol powerplants and everything in between. The claim to fame for every last one is better fuel economy, reduced emissions and more choice, the automaker says.

The offerings include a small-block V8 for trucks, six-speed automatic transmissions and powertrains employing GM's Active Fuel Management technology.

[Source: Auto Spectator]

 

 

Ford Motor's new top-of-the-line diesel (photo at right) starting rolling off the production line Friday at the company's Dagenham Diesel Centre in Britain. The new powerplant is a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V8 that puts out about 265 hp (270 ps) and 472 ft-lb. of torque (640 Nm). Up to 25,000 of the new V8s will be produced annually.

Ford says it will announce vehicle applications for the new engine later this year.

Ford's Dagenham operation builds half of all Ford diesels worldwide.

[Source: Ford]