Fiat F.I.R.E Engine explained

The FIRE (for "Fully Integrated Robotised Engine") is a series of automobile engines from Fiat Powertrain Technologies. It was designed by Italian design firm Rodolfo Bonetto.It is constructed by robot assembly plants ("Robogate") to reduce costs. The Italian design office Rodolfo Bonetto  was involved in the construction. The engine was fully automated assembled on a robotic road ("Robogate"), making it cheaper to manufacture than its predecessor.

In the mid-1980s, the FIRE replaced the small Fiat OHV engine, whose basic features are still based on the Fiat 600 engine . The FIRE is a 4-cylinder inline engine with five main bearings, cast iron block and toothed belt driven overhead camshaft in a light metal cylinder head with parallel valves and bucket tappets.

The engine has been built since 1985 in various versions, with cylinder capacities from 769 to 1368 cc with eight valves and in the so-called "Super-FIRE" version with 16 valves with 999 cc (Brazil) and 1242 cc (Brazil and Europe).

The engine was introduced in the Y10 (1985) of the Fiat subsidiary Lancia, followed by Fiat Uno (1985) and Fiat Panda (1986).

The 1368 cc version, which was introduced in 2003, is available with both eight and 16 valves; In 2005, Fiat introduced a version with variable intake manifold and exhaust gas recirculation . This engine is commonly called "Starjet" engine. Also in 2005, a turbocharged 1368 cc version, called the "T-Jet" engine, was introduced, followed in 2009 by an engine with the electro-hydraulic valve control system Multiair .

The mixture of the FIRE initially came from a single carburetor from Weber. Over the years, the engine was equipped with intake manifold injection and developed successively to SPI (one-point injection), MPI (multi-point injection) and most recently to SMPI (sequential multi-point injection). The FIRE engine is currently used in the slightly modified version of the Formula 750.

The FIRE series replaced the old Fiat OHV engine in the mid-1980s. Mechanically, they are simple straight-4 engines with five bearings and overhead cam heads.

 List of FIRE engines

The FIRE engine has been available in the following displacements:

The FIRE was originally a carburetor engine, and later progressed to a single point injection (SPI) to multipoint injection (MPI) and is now a sequential multipoint injection (SMPI). It is now used in the 750 Formula in a slightly modified state.

• 769 cc (0.8 L) - 65 mm bore x 58 mm stroke 
  • 8v (1986 - 1992)

Since 1985, it has been constructed in different versions from 769 cc to 1368 cc with 8 valves; there is another version called the "Super-FIRE" which uses 16 valves and is available in 999 cc (Brazil) and 1242 cc (Brazil & Europe) displacements.

• 999 cc (1.0 L) - 70 mm bore x 64.9 mm stroke
  • 8v (1986 - 1993)
  • 8v SPI (1993 - 2003)
  • 16v SMPI (1998 - 2003, Brazil only)
  • 8v SMPI Flex-fuel (2005 - current, Brazil only)

• 1108 cc (1.1 L) - 70 mm x 72 mm
  • 8v (70 mm x 72 mm) (1983 - 1993)
  • 8v SPI (1993 - 2000)
  • 8v SMPI (2001 - current)

• 1242 cc (1.2 L) - 70.8 mm bore x 78.9 mm stroke
  • 8v MPI (1993 - 1999)
  • 8v SMPI (1993 - 2009)
  • 8v SMPI VVT (2007 - current)
  • 16v SMPI (1998 - 2009)

The 1368 cc variation introduced in 2003 is available in both 8 and 16 valves; in 2005 Fiat introduced a version incorporating port deactivation (PDA) and EGR. This unit is frequently referred to as the "Starjet" engine. In 2005, a turbocharged version of 1368 cc was introduced as "T-JET" engine, and a MultiAir (electro-hydraulic valve) 

• 1368 cc (1.4 L) SMPI - 72 mm bore x 84 m stroke
  • 8v (2003 - current)
  • 8v VVT (2005 - current)
  • 8v Flex-fuel (2005 - current, Brazil only)
  • 16v (2005 - current)
  • 16v StarJet VVT – PDA (2005 - current)
  • 16v T-Jet (2006 - current)
  • 16v MultiAir (2009 - current)
  • 16v MultiAir Turbo (2009 - current)

Applications

• Autobianchi Y10 (1985) 999-1.108
• Fiat Uno (1986) 999-1.108
• Fiat Panda (1986) 750-999-1.108
• Fiat Tipo (1988) 1.108
• Fiat Punto (1993) 1.108-1.242
• Fiat Cinquecento (1994) 1.108
• Fiat Bravo/Brava (1995) 1.242
• Lancia Y (1996) 1.108-1.242
• Fiat Palio (1997) 1.242
• Fiat Seicento (1998) 1.108
• Fiat Punto (1999) 1.242-1.368
• Fiat Stilo (2001) 1.242-1.368
• Fiat Panda (2003) 1.108-1.242-1.368
• Fiat Idea (2003) 1.242-1.368
• Lancia Ypsilon (2003) 1.242-1.368
• Lancia Musa (2004) 1.368
• Fiat Grande Punto (2005) 1.242-1.368
• Fiat Bravo (2007) 1.368
• Fiat 500 (2007) 1.242-1.368
• Lancia Delta (2008) 1.368
• Alfa Romeo MiTo (2008) 1.368
• Ford Ka (2008) 1.242
• Tata Indica Vista (2008) 1.242
• Tata Indigo Manza (2009) 1.368
• Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010) 1.368
• Dodge Dart (2013) 1.368
• Fiat 500L (2012) 1.368

Production

As part of the June 10, 2009 Operating Agreement, Chrysler's commercial production of Fully Integrated Robotized Engine began in its Dundee, Michigan facility.Chrysler's first FIRE engine model, a 100 hp 1.4-liter FIRE with Multiair engine, was first introduced in Fiat 500 starting in 2010.