FIAT Barchetta User Manual

Page 78

Electric devices

Use the electrical devices for the

necessary time only. The heated rear
window, supplementary lights, wind-
screen wipers, heating system blow-
er require large amounts of energy
and, increasing the request for pow-
er also increase fuel consumption (up
to +25% when driving in towns).

Air conditioner

The air conditioner is an additional

load which greatly affects the engine
leading to higher consumption (on av-
erage up to +20%). When the tem-
perature outside the vehicle permits
it, use the air vents.

Spoilers

The use of aerodynamic optional

extras which are not certified for
specific use on the vehicle may
reduce the aerodynamic penetration
of the car and increase consumption.

STYLE OF DRIVING

Starting

Do not warm the engine when the

vehicle is stationary or at high or low
revs: in this way the engine will warm
up gradually increasing consumption
and emissions. You should drive off
slowly straight away avoiding high revs,
so that the engine will warm up more
quickly.

Unnecessary actions

Avoid revving the engine when

stopped at traffic lights or before
switching off the engine and avoid dou-
bling the clutch as these actions have
no purpose on modern cars and only
increase consumption and pollution.

Gear selection

As soon as the traffic and road con-

ditions allow it, shift to a higher gear.
Using a lower gear to liven up accel-
eration greatly increases consumption.
In the same way, improper use of the
higher gears will increase consump-
tion, emissions and wear and tear on
the engine.

Top speeds

Fuel consumption increases consid-

erably as speed increases. For exam-
ple, when accelerating from 90 to 120
kph, fuel consumption increases by
about +30%. Your speed should be
kept as even as possible and superflu-
ous braking and acceleration avoided
as this increases both consumption
and emissions. A “soft” way of driving
should be adopted by attempting to
anticipate manoeuvres to avoid immi-
nent danger and to maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front in or-
der to avoid braking sharply.

Acceleration

Accelerating violently increasing the

revs will greatly affect consumption
and emissions: acceleration should be
gradual and should not exceed the
maximum torque.