Brazilian auto exports have been down recently but indications are they’ll recover in coming months due to strong growth in neighbouring Mercosur markets, especially Argentina. Engine exports, on the other hand, are doing well following large investments by Brazil’s four largest automakers in recent years.
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In 2008 Fiat acquired from Chrysler the Tritec Motors business in Campo Largo, Paraná state, and has recently refurbished the facilities (spending $250m), developed two new engines and plans to export 40% of production which is targeted at 400,000 units yearly by 2014.
Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), which the venture is now part of, has ambitious plans for widespread sales of its 1.6- and 1.8-litre ‘E.torQ’ engines (both 16 valve, chain drive single overhead camshaft), including powering other automakers’ vehicles in the US (Chrysler), Europe and Asia.
FPT CEO Alfredo Altavilla visited Brazil to inaugurate the expanded facilities and let slip that the new Fiat two cylinder engine family and its robotised, double dry clutch automated gearboxes would be made in the Paraná plant, confirming local speculation.
The E.torQ engines have many improvements over their predecessors and will replace the 1.8-litre engines currently purchased from GM of Brazil in many local Fiat group models by year’s end.
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By GlobalDataThey are already being installed in the Punto (and Doblò from this week), delivering substantial gains in smoothness, performance and fuel economy. The 1.6-litre version pumps out 115 bhp and the 1.8-litre, 130 bhp, both on Brazil’s E100 ethanol fuel. The 1.6 is the best compromise for cost and performance and is notably better suited to the 2,600lb Punto compact hatchback than the previous 84bhp, 1.4 litre ‘Fire’ engine.
The 1.6-litre unit averages 28mpg (urban) and 38 (extra-urban) on petrol but the rather conservative 10.5:1 compression ratio increases ethanol consumption to 19mpg and 25.5 respectively. The 1.8 litre motor (actually 1.74 litre) delivers more torque (136.6lb ft) and slightly better relative fuel economy: 27.7mpg and 37.4 (petrol); 18.3mpg and 25 (ethanol).
The relatively new Linea sedan, launched with an old 1.84 litre Fiat engine, also gets the new 1.74 litre engine.
Sources in Argentina, where the outgoing 1.84 is made, told just-auto the new engine imported from Brazil would replace it within weeks.
