SEAT is enlarging the Mii family with the debut of the brand-new SEAT Mii Ecofuel - the firm's lowestemitting production-car ever. The Mii Ecofuel runs on compressed natural-gas (CNG), bringing excellent efficacy and significantly reduced operating costs without sacrificing the pleasure driving dynamics the Mii is interchangeable with.

The 1.0litre, 68 PS engine influenced by the threecylinder petrol unit seen in the Mii (with 60 PS and 75 PS outputs), however it is been especially developed for CNG business. Its CO2 figure of only 79 g/km is best-in-group.

"The new SEAT Mii Ecofuel now makes eco-friendly CNG technologies affordable for many," explains James Muir, President of SEAT S.A. "Its appealing starting price and exceedingly low consumption and emissions amounts create the Mii Ecofuel 1 of the very intriguing and practical options available - even for highmileage drivers."

For an entry cost of EUR12,050 in Germany, the fresh SEAT Mii Ecofuel is the most affordable CNG version in the available on the marketplace. The value - for - money and low-maintenance costs are common for SEAT.

"The Mii Ecofuel unites driving enjoyment, functionality, efficacy and resource conservation with no compromise," says Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice-president of Research and Development for SEAT. "Thanks to the state-of-theart vehicle design, we could find the two CNG tanks underneath the vehicle floor to save space. This implies the high functionality, security and driving fun of the SEAT Mii stay almost unaffected."

Innovative CNG engine

As in the gas-driven Mii versions, the Ecofuel variation includes a threecylinder sparkignition engine with a displacement of 999 cc.

The CNG engine within the SEAT Mii is technically quite similar for the petrol engines, and in addition produced from aluminum. The engine was altered in lots of areas, to attain optimum CNG operation.

On account of the combustion chamber temperatures and higher pressures, the spark plugs finally have a higher ignition voltage. The reduced lubrication characteristics of gaseous fuels are compensated by particular guides, along with diverse valves and valve seats. Motor control unit and the cam profiles will also be altered.

In the brand new SEAT Mii Ecofuel, the ECU also handles the direction of the digital gas pressure regulator along with the gas injector valves. Injection time is adapted to match, when operating on reduced gasoline, that has a lower calorific value because of its lower methane content.

In contrast to standard petrol, the combustion of CNG produces around one-quarter less CO2, along with significantly less carbonmonoxide and hydrocarbons. Fine particulates or soot aren't emitted whatsoever, although unburnt remaining methane must be converted by the catalyst. That is why, the catalytic converter has somewhat different gold and silver.

Suitable for petrol, also

Despite being specifically designed to run on CNG, the Mii Ecofuel engine also can run on unleaded petrol. This implies that, with a complete tank, a complete range of up-to 380 miles is potential.

An unique fuel level gauge within the instrument panel notifies the driver of the amount in the gas along with the petrol tank. The varieties obtainable in both operating modes are also shown within the display.

Ideal integration of the gasoline tanks underneath the vehicle floor

Due to the consolidation of the CNG technologies in for the automobile design, there are almost no constraints on use and performance - the sole difference between the versions and this may be the lack of the spare wheel well. The connector for filling the SEAT Mii Ecofuel at anyone of the growing amount of CNG gas stations across Europe is found beneath the exact same flap while the gas cap.

The SEAT Mii Ecofuel's reduced consumption and emissions figures are attained through conventional appropriate fuelsaving Ecomotive Technology, including a Start/Stop system along with a Brake Energy-recovery system.

Where there's a definite need for CNG fuelled vehicles and the infrastructure to support it initially, SEAT will introduce the Mii Ecofuel in markets for example Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, holland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

SEAT Mii Ecofuel 2014 Review Inside & Outside