It is rare for Brazilian carmakers to make concept cars, or concept versions of their cars. Fiat just released the all-new restyling for their oldest model on sale, the Uno. And during the debut event, they surprised everybody by showing a concept version of the Uno, called the "Ecology Concept." As the name already suggests, this is only a concept model, which could make it to production or not.
The "Ecology Concept" does not fit any ground-breaking technology, like the American and European carmakers do in their home countries. Instead, it proposes simple technologies that can make a car more efficient, and are not expensive to implant in production models. It features a start-stop system, which shuts down the engine at speeds below 3km/h and switches it back on as the driver takes its foot off the brakes.
It also features a tire-pressure monitoring system, which assists the driver in maintaining optimum tire pressures, so that fuel consumption is not increased. The most unusual technologies it carries are plastics, fabrics and some parts of the body made of recycled PET bottles and coconut fibers; it also features photovoltaic solar panels on its roof, which make it look as if a glass roof was installed. It is unlikely that Fiat will release an "Ecology" version of the Uno with all these features, but it is indeed likely that it will use some of these technologies on already-existing trim levels.
André's opinionFiat's redesigned Uno is a very good-looking car, but I have not seen it in person yet. Only after I actually see it, I will have a strong opinion about it. However, I find these technologies simple and easy to implant on models, which could not only benefit the driver with lower fuel consumption, but also reduce the car's impact on the environment.
Source: World Car Fans
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