Fiat Selects NGK Spark Plug Europe as Exclusive Supplier for LPG Engines

Fiat has chosen NGK Spark Plug Europe as the exclusive supplier of spark plugs for three bifuel petrol-LPG engines that will power a wide range of models. For these EURO 5 applications, NGK developed the ZKR7AI-8, a precious metal spark plug perfectly designed to meet the high demands of LPG combustion.

NGK is the sole supplier for the new EasyPower engines from FIAT, which are capable of both gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operation. The 8V motor is available with displacements of 1.2 and 1.4 litres delivering 70 and 77 HP, while the 16V version reaches 90 HP. The engines will be installed in the FIAT models Panda, Cinquecento, Idea, Grande Punto and Bravo. Designated Ecochic, the 1.4 8V will also power the Lancia Musa and Ypsilon.

For these engines, NGK supplies Fiat with the ZKR7AI-8 spark plug, which is ideally designed to meet the exceptionally high demands of LPG operation. As higher combustion temperatures occur when combusting gas, there is an increased risk of hot gas corrosion. Additionally, higher ignition voltages are generally required to ignite a gas-air mixture, which introduces the risk of ignition failure.

To counter these effects, the ZKR7AI-8 features a centre electrode with a laser-welded Iridium tip. It is only 0.6 mm in diameter, enabling more ignitable air-fuel or air-gas mixture to reach the spark, thus improving ignition reliability and engine efficiency. Furthermore, the slim centre electrode minimizes the ignition voltage required for reliable ignition. To further ease ignition reliability and reduce the power requirement, the spark plug’s electrode gap was set to only 0.8 mm.

In spite of its slim electrode design, the Iridium spark plug is a true survivor: Due to the exceptional robustness of the precious metal Iridium, electrode corrosion and spark erosion are kept to a minimum, so that the electrode gap remains virtually unchanged throughout the plug’s service life.

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NGK Spark Plug Europe GmbH
-Press department-
Harkortstr. 41
40880 Ratingen
Tel.: (+49)2102/974-102
Fax: (+49)2102/974-148
E-Mail: presse@ngkntk.de

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