It doesn’t seem like much time has passed since the North American International Auto Show – but already the focus of the automotive world has switched to Geneva.

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Fiat will introduce the 500L – a new model in its 500 range. The L stands for “Large” as Fiat looks to offer the characteristics of both the traditional B and C segments in one vehicle.

The vehicle will be 414cm long, 178cm wide and 166cm high – it features a five-seat single volume structure and is a further development of the concept of cab forward that was introduce by Fiat with the 600 Multipla.

The Fiat 500L is scheduled to be introduced in Europe during the final quarter of 2012 and will have an engine range of the TwinAir and 1.4litre petrol models; and a turbo-diesel 1.3 MultiJet II.

Just how important are green innovations for carmakers? You only have to look at Fiat’s commitment to the Chrysler Group to see how much of a role “green thinking” plays in the minds of the top car companies.

The Italian carmaker has increased its interest in Chrysler by five per cent after Chrysler achieved an “ecological event”. This meant that it has received regulatory approval for a car based on a Fiat platform or vehicle technology with a fuel efficiency rating of at least 40mpg.

The rating was achieved with a pre-production version of the Dodge Dart, which was based on Fiat’s architecture technology. Now Chrysler has issued an irrevocable commitment to the US Department of the Treasury to start assembly of the vehicle at a production facility in the USA.

This move brings Fiat’s interest in Chrysler to 58.5 per cent with the remaining equity owned by VEBA. It marks the fifth time in the past year that Fiat has increased its ownership in Chrysler after receiving a 20 per cent stake back in June 2009.

After producing around six million first- and second-generation Fiat Panda cars, the Italian carmaker will now introduce the third generation of the popular city car.

The new vehicle will come with a choice of two-cylinder engines, each equipped with a start and stop system as standard. The engine choices will be: the 85hp 0.9TwinAir Turbo, that was named International Engine of the Year 2011; and the 65hp 0.9 aspirated TwinAir. In addition, customers will be able to choose from a renewed 69hp 1.2 Fire petrol engine; and a 75hp 1.3Multijet II, both of which will also include start and stop.

New features include: the “low speed collision mitigation” braking system; the TomTom2 Live navigation system; a gear shift indicator; and both ecoDrive and ECO mode.

In addition, the new Fiat Panda will be available with front-wheel drive; and a Panda 4×4 will also be introduced.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show – and features the first application of the new Fiat 1.4litre MultiAir Turbo engine.

Boasting an estimated 160hp and 230Nm of torque, the engine delivers a 70 per cent increase in engine rpm torque and a 59 per cent increase in power compared to the base 1.4litre engine.

Among the features of the engine are a cast-iron block and an aluminium bedplate. There is a forged-steel crankshaft with select-fit main bearings supported across the four main bearings; while the crankshaft features lightened counterweights to reduce overall mass.

Typically, MultiAir technology on a 1.4litre engine creates a 15 per cent increase in low engine rpm torque and a 7.5 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency; with a 10 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

In addition, the Fiat 500 Abarth comes with a heavy duty C510 five-speed manual transmission with larger constant velocity joints with 53 per cent greater torsional strength to offer added durability and refinement.

The Italian brand Alfa Romeo isn’t a name we mention regularly at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk – but now it has received a boost into our hall of recognition thanks to a fellow group member.

Fiat will develop a new four-cylinder petrol direct injection turbo engine for Alfa Romeo beginning in 2013. It has been designed for both transversal and longitudinal applications with a displacement of 1.8litres and a maximum output of 300hp.

The engine will be compliant with Euro 6 standards and is made entirely from aluminium. It features a 200bar petrol direct injection system, dual variable timing and a high efficiency turbocharger.

According to Harald J Wester, Fiat’s chief technology officer and head of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands, the engine marks an important step for Alfa Romeo. He hopes it will help reconnect Alfa Romeo to its historical roots as a premium Italian sports car brand.

It’s been a week packed with exciting new vehicles at the Frankfurt International Motor Show – but now it is the turn of an old favourite to take centre stage.

Fiat has presented the latest version of its Panda city car at the event, ahead of production beginning in the last quarter of this year. The Panda has been on the market for 31 years and has sold more than 6.5million units.

Now the new vehicle will initially be available with front-wheel drive, though a 4×4 model will be released later. It will also come with a choice of four engines – three petrol and one diesel – with a TwinAir Turbo Natural Power model and a 1.2 EasyPower model also following.

Included in the range are new two-cylinder engines: the 85hp, 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, which has earned the title “International Engine of the Year 2011” and the 65hp, 0.9 Aspirated TwinAir – both will feature a start and stop system as standard. In terms of the diesel model, there is a 75hp, 1.3Multijet II engine with start and stop available.

In addition, the new Fiat Panda will offer a gear shift indicator which discreetly prompts the driver to change gear to assist more fuel efficient driving.

The new Panda city car range from Fiat will soon benefit from Euro 5 engines.

The Italian carmaker has introduced the new units which offer higher top speeds, improved fuel consumption, lower CO2 figures and stronger acceleration – they will be available in the Panda 1.2 Active, 1.2 MyLife, 1.2 Dynamic and the diesel 1.3 MultiJet Dynamic.

In the case of the 1.2litre engine, it can take the car from 0-62mph in 13.4 seconds while offering a top speed of 101mph. It also returns 47mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 figures of 113g/km.

Meanwhile, the 1.3litre MultiJet diesel travels from 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds, achieves a top speed of 103mph, has a combined fuel consumption figure of 56mpg and its CO2 emissions are just 109g/km.

TwinAir is Fiat’s highly economical 0.9-litre engine which has been found on the Fiat 500 since early this year. Now, however, the Italian firm has decided to launch a specific TwinAir range for the successful city car.

Available in two trim levels – TwinAir and TwinAir Plus – Fiat hopes to lure more customers with the promise of low CO2 emissions and genuine ‘fun to drive’ appeal.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the range are the matt black alloys – 15” on the TwinAir and 16” on the TwinAir Plus. Adding to the sporty features are burnished metal effects on the dash, sports seats, and chrome exhaust pipe.

With CO2 emissions of just 95g/km, its one of the lowest emission cars in the UK today – and the new range is available in both 500 body styles – hatchback and convertible. And will only be available in vibrant colours such as Pearlescent Red, Tropicalia Yellow and Electroclash Grey. A special colour, Midnight Black, is available only on the TwinAir Plus model.

TwinAir:

• Sporty looking mouldings and metallic effect dashboard
• Sport kit (chrome exhaust pipe, spoiler)
• Sport seats
• Black interior surround
• 15” matt black alloy wheels
• Air conditioning

TwinAir Plus:

Adds the following specification over the TwinAir trim:

• 16-inch matt black alloy wheels
• Automatic climate control instead of air conditioning
• Blue&Me
• Sport leather steering wheel with eight commands
• Leather gear knob
• Dark tinted windows
• Body coloured door mirrors

“TwinAir and TwinAir Plus will become the best offer for Fiat 500 customers,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

“The combination of lively performance, high equipment levels, great value for money and undoubted green credentials make the TwinAir range a wonderful proposition for Fiat 500 lovers everywhere.”

Fiat’s tiny 875cc, two cylinder engine has been named as the finest engine in the world in this year’s International Engine of the Year Awards.

As voted for by a jury of 76 international motoring journalists, Fiat’s innovative fuel efficient ‘TwinAir’ engine not only won the overall engine of the year award but even won the Best New Engine, Best Sub 1-litre, and Best Green Engine categories, beating zero-emission, pure electric vehicle engines from Nissan and Mitsubishi in the last category-the first electric powertrains to be shortlisted for the awards.

On sale today in Fiat’s fun and frugal 500 model, this economy-minded engine achieves up to 70.6mpg combined and emits just 92g/km CO2.

Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology International and co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards, says: “Fiat has now produced one of the all-time great engines. Who would have thought that a two-cylinder unit could have won the International Engine of the Year title when we launched the Awards in 1999? Its triumph is a clear signal that less is more: people want low-emission, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and just two cylinders certainly seems to provide a comprehensive solution!”

The 13^th International Engine of the Year Awards were presented at Engine Expo 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany on 18 May. The event, one of the annual highlights of the automotive industry calendar, saw a total of 12 Awards given to those manufacturers that have been judged to have achieved excellence in powertrain engineering.

For further information on the Awards, and to see all the category nominees and winners, please visit: www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear.

This year’s Geneva Motor Show promises to be even more exciting than the North American version if the list of debutants is anything to go by.

The latest name on the list is the new Fiat Freemont, which will go on sale in the second half of 2011 and is based on the Dodge Journey. It will be the first Fiat vehicle to emerge from the partnership with Chrysler and will be produced in the Toluca plant in Mexico.

The new Fiat Freemont.

So what does the vehicle have to offer?

The Fiat Freemont will feature seven seats and have front wheel drive with turbo-diesel power units – a 140hp or 170hp 2.0 MultiJet combined with a manual gearbox. There will also be 4×4 versions available with 170hp 2.0 Multijet and 276hp 3.6litre petrol V6 engines. According to Fiat, the performance of the car has been improved thanks to a special suspension and steering configuration for greater accuracy and directness.

The third row of seats can be folded down to disappear completely below the floor and create a wider load platform.

In addition, the Freemont will include seven airbags, an electronic stability programme, brake assist, electronic roll mitigation and hill holder as standard.