Beefy new motor for baby Fiat

16:55, Feb 10 2010 Maurice Glover

FIAT'S chirpy 500 is to get the most powerful diesel motor yet fitted to a city car. With a perky 95bhp under its bonnet, the popular little model will be able to cover the 0-62mph sprint in 10.7 seconds and reach 112mph all-out. But its second-generation Multijet engine will allow it to cover more than 72 miles on a gallon of fuel and produce tailpipe emissions of only 104g/km. Thanks to a new variable geometry turbocharger, the motor delivers 20bhp more than the previous unit and is also equipped with a particulate filter. Stop-start technology is also added to keep fuel consumption low during town driving. "This remarkable new diesel engine will add even greater excitement to the 500 range without adding to the cost of ownership," says Fiat Group Automobiles UK managing director Andrew Humberstone.