The novelties in the Fire family

The 65 bhp 1.2 Fire 8v

The tried and tested 1242 cc Fire engine makes its debut on the Fiat Punto with a number of refinements designed to make it a champion of thriftiness where consumption is concerned, but without detracting from performance. The engine delivers 48 kW (65 bhp) at 5500 rpm and takes the car to a top speed of 155 km/h.
That is not all. With the 1.2 8v engine, the new car has very low fuel consumption, among the best in its category. The merit goes to the engine configuration, which aims to achieve generous torque at very low revs (with benefits in terms of enjoyment and elasticity), and to the ratios chosen to optimise the balance between performance and consumption. The result is torque of 10.4 kgm (102 Nm) at 3000 rpm and consumption of 7.9 l/100 km (urban cycle), 5.1 l/100 km (out of town) and 6.1 l/100 (combined cycle). Interesting results which were achieved with a few effective improvements. For example, new inlet and exhaust manifolds, a new combustion chamber (with the compression ratio now 11:1), and new cam profiles to optimise the fluid dynamics of the engine, thus improving efficiency.


Also with the target of reducing consumption, the engineers chose an active knock sensor, capable of managing the advance efficiently in all conditions and, above all, the Marelli phased sequential multipoint injection system, which was only available on more sophisticated engines until a short time ago. The new model adopts a 'drive by wire' system which eliminates the mechanical link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve, significantly improving the torque delivery on the basis of the driver's demands, translating it into benefits for the customer in terms of driveability and consumption.

Where performance is concerned, we should underline the use of an electronic control system developed for the car and based on a new generation Marelli electronic control unit, capable of dialoguing in a network with the electronic devices on the car through serial lines.

The quality of life on board also improves as a result of the optimised performance of the inlet and exhaust systems, the optimisation of the coupling tolerance between the crankshaft and the crankcase, the computerised selection of the main bearings, and the development of a specific method to install the engine in the engine bay. This also reduced the amount of vibration transferred from the engine to the bodyshell. A special barycentre system was adopted to support the engine, with two blocks plus a reaction link that acts as a tie rod, with the result that the new supports are aligned on an axis that passes through the engine's centre of gravity, to obtain reaction forces with a neutral link.

An efficient engine, and a clean engine. Where the environment is concerned, the 1.2 8v respects EC phase 4 anti-pollution standards, thanks to the new AISI steel exhaust manifold with a catalytic converter in the engine bay, welded on the flange of the exhaust manifold. The device is very efficient in this position, because it can reach high temperatures more rapidly, reducing emissions while the engine is still heating up. The equipment present on Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 8v to reduce its environmental impact includes a returnless fuel supply system, which eliminates the recirculation of fuel inside the tank and reduces the formation of fumes.


And finally, to improve reliability the coils have been mounted close together in a single block. This new type of coil reduces shock absorber wear, making more energy available to ignite individual spark plugs because the lost spark has been eliminated, easier cold starts because more energy is available for the spark plug (more energy supplied by the coil and no losses during the high voltage transfers because very short cables are used) and, finally, a significantly reduced risk of interference to the onboard equipment from high voltage cables.


The 77 bhp 1.4 Fire 8v

The new engine has a capacity of 1368 cc and four cylinders in line, with a bore of 72 mm and a stroke of 84 mm. There are two valves per cylinder, activated directly by the overhead camshaft.

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