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Fiat is set to showcase its developmental green technologies with the 500 Aria concept, a car the Italian automaker will unveil at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Unlike the gasoline/methane/hydrogen-fueled Panda Aria which Fiat debuted in Frankfurt, the 500 concept uses a small diesel engine.

The 500 Aria's 1.3-liter 16-valve Multijet diesel is equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and start-stop technology with a robotic Dualogic transmission. The auxiliary systems have been replaced with new units that draw less power, certain components have been replaced with lighter-weight versions, and the conventional tires have been switched out for low-drag Pirelli rubber. All in all, the measures taken on the 500 Aria concept reduce the car's fuel consumption by 10 percent in city driving, and cut CO₂ emissions down to 98g/km.

Fiat has also installed interior components made from recycled materials: the floor is derived from old tires, and the seats are upholstered with woven recycled leather and various organic materials. Although the 500 Aria itself remains purely a concept vehicle, it serves as a demonstration of earth-friendly practices and technologies which Fiat says it is already putting in place on standard production vehicles. See for yourself in the image gallery below and in the preliminary press release after the jump.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Aria concept

Press release:

Fiat: the vehicles for a sustainable transport

The best example of this continuous commitment in the research and realization of products, with minimal environmental impact are the vehicles and prototypes displayed in Geneva. Starting with the brand new Concept car 500 Aria and the prototype Panda Aria: which are really and truly "ecological manifestos" that confirm the will of Fiat to study continuous changes in the field of researching innovative solutions for the containment of polluting emissions and CO2 levels.

Alongside these remarkable examples, other Fiat models with a level of CO2 emmissions lower than 120 g/km with be displayed. They are the best examples of Fiat's research in the field of traditional motorizations, developed especially to reduce their environmental impact.

So here we have a Fiat 500 Sport equipped with a 1,2 litre petrol propulsion engine combined with the robotic shift Dualogic. There's also space for a Panda Climbing, ambassador of the wide and articulated Natural Power range of vehicles with dual petrol/methane-hydrogen fuel management. Under the spotlights we also have the Grande Punto and Bravo models equipped with 1,3 and 1,6 litre Multijet propulsion. In particular the Fiat Bravo model displayed adopts the brand new 120 CV 1.6 Multijet with robotic Dualogic shift, which boasts an important supremacy: indeed, not only does it have a CO2 value below the 120 g/km threshold, it's also the first Euro5 vehicle in it's category (in accordance with the limits of the future Euro5 law).

The combined result of these technologies can be equated to the Fiat leadership on environmental themes, starting from CO2 emmissions. In fact, in 2007 the Fiat Group reduced the average CO2 emissions of vehicles sold in Europe by 19% in comparison to 1995. Still in 2007, as many as 23% of cars sold had CO2 emissions inferior to 120 g/km and 67% inferior or equal to 140 g/km.

Boosted by these percentages and notwithstanding the decisions taken in the European headquarters, Fiat Automobiles commits itself to obtaining within 2012, the lowest average considered level of CO2 emissions for its cars. Fiat intends to follow this objective via the introduction of an intervention plan aimed at motors, shifts, and cars, as well as the structural use of the Stop & Start system.