When Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy last year, Fiat was standing by to assume a 20% stake in the company without actually putting any immediate cash into the deal. Fiat’s stake can grow to 35% if they introduce new, fuel efficient, American-built technologies to the Chrysler line.

To that end, Fiat announced that it would begin assembly of its new 1.4-liter Multi Air 4-cylinder engine at a plant in Dundee, MI, later this year. Initially, the engines would be installed in Fiat 500s that will be assembled at a plant in Mexico. Later, the same engine would be adapted for use in a variety of Chrysler branded vehicles.

Incorporating a completely new air intake technology, Fiat says that the engine can produce at least 10% more power and 20% fewer emissions than comparable engines with traditional valve controls. The engine, in a radical departure from traditional design, removes all direct mechanical linkages from the intake valves instead utilizing electronically controlled hydraulic valve actuation to more precisely control air intake to the cylinders. The system can control intake to each cylinder independently and vary control from one stroke of the engine to the next.

For a more detailed explanation, follow this link.

--M.D.