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1,126 Posts
Hello all!
Several weeks back I received a promo (bribe?) in the mail from Fiat to test drive an Abarth. Was in Reno today anyway and scheduled a visit to the dealership.
Kenny, the salesman, was remarkably well informed and although local streets did not provide much of an opportunity to exercise the 5 speed, I had a wonderful time doing brief sprints and listening to the marvelous exhaust note.
When we came back to the lot, Kenny popped the hood and we talked about the 4cyl, turbocharged, direct injection engine. I asked about the timing belt and here's where I got a big surprise. Change interval on the belt is, wait for it, 150k (!). Why so long? It only has to operate the one and only camshaft - on the exhaust side. Intake valves are handled by Fiat's Multiair system which controls valve timing, lift and duration with electronically controlled solenoids (I gotta get out of the house more!).
Here's a video Kenny sent me this afternoon. A worthwhile 5 minutes for the two other folks on the BB who are unfamiliar with this amazing technology:
All the best.
Several weeks back I received a promo (bribe?) in the mail from Fiat to test drive an Abarth. Was in Reno today anyway and scheduled a visit to the dealership.
Kenny, the salesman, was remarkably well informed and although local streets did not provide much of an opportunity to exercise the 5 speed, I had a wonderful time doing brief sprints and listening to the marvelous exhaust note.
When we came back to the lot, Kenny popped the hood and we talked about the 4cyl, turbocharged, direct injection engine. I asked about the timing belt and here's where I got a big surprise. Change interval on the belt is, wait for it, 150k (!). Why so long? It only has to operate the one and only camshaft - on the exhaust side. Intake valves are handled by Fiat's Multiair system which controls valve timing, lift and duration with electronically controlled solenoids (I gotta get out of the house more!).
Here's a video Kenny sent me this afternoon. A worthwhile 5 minutes for the two other folks on the BB who are unfamiliar with this amazing technology:
All the best.