Fiat 500 Twin Air

What is it?

This is the familiar Fiat 500 with what the manufacturer claims is the cleanest petrol engine on the planet beneath the bonnet. The new 875cc two-cylinder ‘Twin Air’ unit has apparently taken the Italians two years to perfect, but a cursory glance at the figures immediately suggests their hard work has paid dividends.

The engine produces just 95g/km CO2 and, according to the official figures, is capable of 68mpg. To put that in perspective, the Toyota Prius, with all the advantages of a hybrid powertrain (admittedly in a larger car) only manages 89g/km and 72mpg.

This green fingered frugality is made all the more remarkable by the Twin Air’s performance stats. The engine is the recipient of both a turbocharger and Fiat’s revolutionary MultiAir technology, and develops 85bhp, which is sufficient to pull the city car to 60mph in 11 seconds and onto a top speed of 108mph.

That may sound modest, but when you consider that the Ford Ka (the 500’s sister car) only manages 13.1 seconds and 99mph with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, it suddenly seems like Fiat’s engineers have successfully threaded a very fine needle with their extraordinarily compact, ultra downsized powerplant. And they’re not finished yet; the next 12 months should see the introduction of an even more economical 65bhp version without the turbocharger as well as a more powerful 105bhp variant.

What’s it like?

Well, an instantaneous impression is made the moment you turn the key. An unfamiliar engine note was to be expected, but the Twin Air really does have a clattery phut all of its own. Fiat insists it retained the distinctive two-cylinder sound deliberately, but its offbeat motorboat twang certainly takes some getting used to.

And get used to it you must because the noise is an almost constant presence at low speeds. Perhaps more disconcerting than the sonic intrusion is the impression that the engine’s curious warble tends to make it seem more laboured than it actually is at low speeds. It’s very easy to give the 500 a little bit too much gas when pulling away, and then not entirely trust it when you’re at speed.

There isn’t much pull at low revs ? there’s a noticeable surge when the turbocharger kicks in ? but it takes a leap of faith not to drive around in a lower gear than is strictly necessary. A prompt recalibration of expectations is required before the Twin Air can be driven as Fiat’s quoted fuel consumption figures intended.

The tiny two-cylinder lump ? as good as it is ? cannot replicate the tractability or refinement of a four-cylinder engine, but once you dispense with the idea that it will respond to your right foot in the same way, it doesn’t take long to realise that the 500 will tootle along contentedly even while you’re adhering to Fiat’s gear-change indicator. Concentration and liberal use of the power-sapping Eco button will be required if you hope to hit the quoted combined mpg figures, but expect 45mpg+ even with spirited driving.

In fact, disregard the car’s economic aspirations for a moment and the Twin Air promptly proves itself a peppy little peddler. Considering the unit’s size and low capacity its cheery torque band is nothing short of remarkable. Driven flat out the two-cylinder 500 is more than a match for its close rivals in the performance stakes and a further vindication of the time and money Fiat has invested in its MultiAir technology.

Should I give it garage space?

It’s hard to imagine a car better suited to its time than the Twin Air-powered 500. As a solution for small, ultra economical transport around a city centre, it’s a serious contender for class leader.

Fiat’s technological achievements beneath the bonnet are not to be understated. While the two-cylinder engine lacks the merry thrum of a three-cylinder unit and the immediate flexibility of a four-cylinder, its exemplary mix of low emissions, meagre thirst and obliging performance are likely to prove incredibly alluring to anyone looking to buy and run a car on a strict budget.

Rating

Specifications

Model: Fiat 500 Twin Air
Price: £10,665
Engine: 875cc two cylinder petrol
Power: 85bhp
Torque: 106lb ft
Performance: 0-62 – 11secs
Economy: 68mpg
CO2: 95g/km

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