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Fiat: it’s obvious!
For the first time, Fiat will be partnering the Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale 2010, continuing links with the world of sailing first started by the Group's founders, the Agnelli family. Challenge, surpassing oneself, respect for adversaries, the search for excellence: these are all values of the sailing world that are also shared by the Fiat Group.
Italy, Fiat and the sea
Italy has a very long coastline and has always produced great sailors who have proved themselves in the world's greatest regattas. Gianni Agnelli, son of the Fiat Group's founder, was himself a lover of the sea and loved steering his great yacht "The Stealth".
More recently, partnerships with Giovanni Soldini, the maxi yacht Alfa Romeo or between Lancia and the Monaco Yacht Club, all illustrate the Fiat Group's attachment to the sailing world.
Within the group, it’s the Fiat brand that is to be honoured in this great Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale race. It will provide the organisers with a fleet of vehicles. A consumer brand with a young, modern and very Latin spirit, Fiat could only be drawn by the enthusiasm inspired by the start and finish of the race as well as by the fascination with the sailors who will start the race on Sunday 31st October.
Fiat: a key player in sustainable development
Fiat has also been chosen by the organisers to be an Official Grand Partner due to the fact that the brand shares their concern for a greater respect for the environment.
For the 3rd consecutive year, Fiat is the brand with the lowest CO2 emissions for all sales in 2009 from the 10 best selling brands in Europe.
According to a study carried out by the independent organisation JATO, there has been a substantial decrease: from 133.7 g/km at the end of 2008, Fiat's average emissions were cut to 127.8 g/km by the end of 2009.
This result shows Fiat's commitment to improve respect for the environment and signifies a sustainable strategy focused on the development of new technological solutions that will help reduce fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions.
The Fiat Group's innovations focus particularly on motorisations as shown by the development of the Twin-Air dual cylinder motor. A real technological jewel, it will first be fitted to the Fiat 500 (September 2010).
Its 900 cm3 capacity enables it to develop 65 hp in its atmospheric version or 85 hp with the turbo. In its 85 hp version with the Dualogic robotised box, the Fiat 500 only emits 95 g/km of CO2.
This highly evolved motor includes MultiAir technology is primarily intended for petrol engines. The new electrohydraulic valve management system management guarantees optimum combustion and up to 25% reduction in CO2 emissions along with increased power of 10%.
The Fiat 500 Twin-Air will be available at the Fiat range test centre that will be open to the public from 23rd to 31st October in Saint-Malo (quai Saint-Louis).
Fiat wishes all sailors taking part in the Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale 2010 the very best of luck.
About Fiat
Fiat – Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino – was formed on 11th July 1899. In the automobile field, it produces and distributes the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth and Fiat Professional (utility vehicles) brands but also prestigious brands such as Ferrari and Maserati. It also has a 20% share in the Chrysler group that sells the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands.
The group is also present in the fields of trucks (with Iveco), agricultural and public works machinery (Case New Holland), industrial robots (Comau) or the automobile spare parts market with Magneti Marelli. Another of Gianni Agnelli's pleasures, the Fiat runs Juventus football club and has also branched out into the media sector with the daily newspaper La Stampa, as well as the banking and paper production industries.
The Group employs 190,000 people across the world and almost 10,000 in France where it produces the Fiat Ulysse and Lancia Phedra monospaces in Valenciennes and industrial motors in Bourbon Lancy or Iveco Irisbus buses in Annonay and Rorthais (Deux-Sèvres).
Today, Fiat produces a wide range of vehicles (Panda, Fiat 500 sedans and cabriolets, Punto and Punto Evo, Bravo, Croma SW, Sedici, Idea, Ulysse, Qubo and Doblò) distributed by our 230 dealers at 400 approved workshops.
Photos available from www.fiatpress.com
For further information, contact:
Christophe Useo
Tel: 01 30 16 70 54
Email: christophe.useo@fiat.com
Vincent Riou (FRA) (PRB) takes fifth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale
Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 07hrs 05mins 52 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 06 hrs 05mins 52 mins GMT/ Local 03hrs 05mins 52mins (CET -4hrs)) Vincent Riou on the IMOCA 60 PRB took fifth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October.
The elapsed time for PRB is 14 days 18 heures 03 minutes 52 seconds
His average speed is 11.37kts for the distance he sailed of 4026 miles.
Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Vincent Riou’s average speed is 10.00knots
Riou finished 01 day 00 hours 52mins 56secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement
Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) (Virbac-Paprec 3) takes fourth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale
Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 04hrs 13mins 13 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 03 hrs 13mins 13 mins GMT/ Monday 23hrs 13mins 13 mins (CET -4hrs)) Jean-Pierre Dick on the IMOCA 60 Virbac Paprec 3 took fourth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October.
The elapsed time for Virbac –Paprec 3 is 14 days 15hours 11minutes 13seconds
His average speed is 11.36kts for the distance he sailed of 3998 miles.
Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Jean Pierre Dick’s average speed is 10.08knots
Dick finished 22hrs 00mins 17 secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement
Rookie IMOCA Open 60 skipper Christopher Pratt is suffering from a complete lack of power on DCNS 1000 due to a problem with the engine of his boat.
The engine failed Thursday and since then he has been running with almost no power. He is navigating off a small hand held GPS.
“Thursday morning I tried to repair the engine but it is the injection pump and so I have been unable to use it and so have no means of recharging the batteries. I have been in virtual blackout since then. I have a little help from the solar power but have been racing with no computer, no pilot, no keel motor, no nav station. There is just the small hand held GPS which I have a waypoint in, and with a little sun have managed to fire up the computer a couple of times. I have been carefully trying to build up enough power in the batteries to use the pilot a little and navigate a little.
But the last two days there has been really very little wind. As soon as I drop the helm it goes through 360 degrees, so I have to steer all the time. I have tried everything. Ive had a pouffe at the helm and steered with my feet as well as my arms and hands. I have not been able to move off the helm much since Thursday. I just go to make some food, then get back to the helm and sleep there. I think I should get to Guadeloupe Tuesday evening.”