A legendary brand has just set a historic milestone to prove that zero-emissions cars are not all about EVs and FCEVs. Just when we thought green ammonia and methanol were going to be the future of sustainable mobility, they have just put a new engine on the table that has experts up in arms. The reason? It’s not liquid, but not electric either, but something more unexpected.
The first non-liquid engine? Not at all: it has been “resurrected”
When the entire automobile market is running towards electrification, Fiat wants to bring the gas-powered engines again into the market which has put speculations and discussions in every corner of the sector. The Italian car manufacturer famous for producing compact and stylish cars has revealed ambitions… to what?
They want to reinstate the use of a gas engine for its classic 500 hatchback, despite the growing shift towards the usage of EVs and car manufacturing’s push toward green technologies. This means is a major blow to the industry as top automakers globally are investing billions in technology.
This strategic move by Fiat has provoked interest and curiosity among the public and counterparties–whether it has an elaborate long-term plan set and how it prepared itself adequately to face the uncertain future of the automotive industry.
Goodbye to EVs with this new engine from Fiat: maybe, it´s not a good idea
This decision was still startling given how Fiat is coming back to the gas-powered engine at the time when the auto industry is driving electric vehicles barely. However, the transition is considered as strategic to cater for the current market trends and the evolution of consumers’ preferences.
Even though nowadays, there is strong development of the usage of the electric vehicles (EVs), gasoline cars still traditionally occupy a large portion of the market share. Some of the key factors that are currently making their disciples slow to accept EVs include issues such range constraint.
Fiat tries to offer a gasoline version to those people who do not like to experiment but need reliable transport with an internal combustion engine. However, companies that have invested in vehicles with gasoline engines benefit in one or the following ways.
They are more an easy to use and cheaper solutions for how many people value price in ease of use more than anything else. Also, some gasoline cars also have the ability to be refueled within a very short time, which makes such cars convenient for long journeys or in areas where charging stations have not been developed.
How can be this new gas engine? How Fiat wants to revolutionize the roads
Fiat decided to bring back the gas-powered engine for its iconic 500 hatchback and it could not have been a better decision as it sets the bar higher for a great drive. But perhaps the biggest source of this return to form is a new generation of a gasoline engine that has adopted conventional architecture.
The engine displaces 1.2 liters and has four cylinders, while taking moderate internal dimensions still delivers quite a decent power class. This new 500 hatchback engine claims to make around 100 horsepower to ensure the car is as sprightly as it needs to be especially in the often congested urban environment.
The exact power output numbers are yet to be announced but Fiat has geared up its engineers for the better fuel efficiency with a focus on great power. Thus, 500C should not only boast an extensive line of high-end technologies like direct fuel injection, variable valve timing, and an extremely light body weight.
As you have seen, this gas engine is going to provide a huge source of opportunities for car manufacturers, even if brands like Volkswagen or Tesla continue to focus exclusively on EVs. The key now will be hydrogen, but also the one we have seen so far, of which the first engines are already being marketed and you will soon see on the roads.
