The Uno’s not dead… Fiat showcased a biofuel-powered version of its re-energised econo-box at the Durban Show. Normal versions of the Brazilian-built car will probably be met with enthusiasm, but will the Flex idea catch on in South Africa?
By Gareth Dean
Its styling may not break any molds or set pulses racing – imagine an old Uno – still an ubiquitous sight on our roads, then squint your eyes slightly and you’ll get the idea – but under the bonnet, the new Uno Flex is worth a closer look.
This Brazilian-built model eschews the escalating oil costs by mounting a powerplant that is capable of running on petrol, biofuel, or a mixture of both. According to Fiat, 95 per cent of its new vehicles in Brazil now run on biofuels. So what’s the big deal? Well, a number of areas in South America have managed to attain independence from oil by adopting biofueled powerplants in their vehicles – so while we’re muttering expletives at the sight of soaring petrol prices, many Brazilians are filling up with readily-available biofuels that are not influenced by how many Veyrons an OPEC member wishes to buy this month.
Such biofuels as ethanol can be extracted from a wide range of sources – from sugarcane to animal waste, and yes if you drank enough of it in a denatured form you could get drunk – although in the districts using animal waste as a biofuel base, such a thought would be sobering enough.
The mechanicals of the 1,2-litre engine in the Uno Flex are not radically different from more run-of-the-mill units. Mated with a five-speed manual gearbox, this engine delivers 54 kW at 5 500 r/min and 102 N.m of torque at 2 500 r/min. The engine management system in the Flex uses sensors in the fuel tank to detect what kind of fuel or which fuel mixture is present and adjusts the engine’s settings accordingly.
Fiat Auto hopes the South African government’s plans to increase the availability of biofuels will create a new market for vehicles such as the Flex, but given the price premium the imported Flex is likely to demand over its normal-engined bretheren, the Durban Motor Show car seems like a great idea, but in the short term, better suited to another country.
Built in Fiat’s Belo Horizonte factory in Brazil, the new Uno models (including the Flex) destined for our shores will be available in three and five-door body configurations and offer such options as air-con, alloy wheels, central locking, body kit and electric front windows.
The petrol-powered Fiat Uno range will officially debut in July this year – the Flex models will go on sale shortly thereafter.
