Fiat are about to make the next big step in petrol engine technology, a revolutionary new approach to valve actuation, that sweeps away to current established methods.
The project, known as UNIAIR, has been developed by Centro Ricerche Fiat for almost ten years, and is now production ready.
Ditching the inlet camshaft, UNIAIR sees the tappet piston and the engine intake valve connected through an oil chamber, which is controlled by solenoid valve, itself controlled electronically by commands originating from the driver's throttle pedal actions that have been processed by a control unit.
UNIAIR offers huge range of potential benefits including distinct advantages in the areas of increased power, improved low end torque characteristics, minimising engine emissions and wear, and cost saving through sheer design simplicity.
Fiat's engineers believe that all major development hurdles have now been successfully overcome and the introduction of its production application is already in the planning stage. Within the next couple of years this new technology will be introduced onto cutting-edge Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati models.
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