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Fiat shows off 'green' 500 and Panda

Fiat proudly showed off two new environmentally friendly models at the Geneva show.

The 500 Aria and Panda Aria models are both low-emissions vehicles that will qualify for zero road tax in the UK.

The 500 Aria achieves this using a retuned version of the 500's 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine that produces just 98g/km of carbon dioxide.

Other technical solutions to help the 500 are a new Duologic semi-automatic gearbox and Stop&Start, which switches the engine off when the car is at a standstill to reduce pollution and improve economy.

Fiat has also reduced the weight of the 500 Aria, fitted low rolling resistance tyres and kitted out the cabin in recycled materials.

Even the seats are made from recycled leather that is attached to a new lattice material to make what Fiat calls 'Mataleather'.

The 500 Aria will be on sale before the end of 2008, though Fiat has not confirmed prices.

The Panda Aria will take longer to come to the showroom and introduced Geneva visitors to Fiat's new two-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

This engine can run on petrol or a methane-hydrogen mix that is cleaner and greener.

It will use the same semi-auto gearbox as the 500 Aria and Stop&Start technology, which Fiat says will reduce emissions to just 69g/km for the Panda.

Alisdair Suttie

(Additional photographs by United Pictures)

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