Tuning Magneti Marelli Upgrade Power Module for Twinair

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Tuning Magneti Marelli Upgrade Power Module for Twinair

The Twins

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I thought you would like to know that Magneti Marelli are launching a power module for the Twinair [like the one that makes the regular Abarth 500 into an SS Abarth 500!]

I have been buying my performance parts directly from DotShop Italy.


Mattia is really helpful and shipping to the UK is very reasonable too

I have found these guys to be 100% reliable and thoroughly recommend them.

I'll post some more info as soon as I know more from Mattia.

Thanks,

Ian.
 
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Sounds interesting that power module.
I'll have a look at the site.

If you can't see what you want just send Mattia an email through the 'contact' section, he is very helpful indeed and has perfect english.

Don't for get to say 'Ciao' though ;)

Saluti,

Ian.
 
One thing that puzzles me though is you say the upgrade module is like the one that turns an Abarth into an Essesse.
Historically you get a new ecu with the "SS" upgrade.
Have they recently done away with this and give you 'tuning box' instead?
 
Still remain unconvinced mapping the TA, I just wonder what the component head room is on the engine, there is always a tolerance but how much and cost/bhp

Best way for me to improve power to weight on the TA would be for me to go on a diet
 
They push the same motor to 105hp on the 500L, but I don't know if there are any mechanical changes??
Good point raised. Did they put a bigger turbo or just tune it more? And why haven't they introduced it on the Fiat 500 yet?
 
They push the same motor to 105hp on the 500L, but I don't know if there are any mechanical changes??

Would be interesting to know for peeps as to whether hardware or code, used to playing the code game on VW engines, i've liberated about 100bhp out my other car from mapping and a zorst without too much strain due to the turbo size
 
The Magneti Marelli module does the same thing as the new ecu on the SS.
As its a MM product it is developed along with the original MM ECU.
I hear your concerns but this must be the 'safest' way to liberate some power.
I'm going to go for it!
Will let you know the results in a couple if weeks.
 
The Magneti Marelli module does the same thing as the new ecu on the SS.
As its a MM product it is developed along with the original MM ECU.
I hear your concerns but this must be the 'safest' way to liberate some power.
I'm going to go for it!
Will let you know the results in a couple if weeks.

Err, the OE ECU is a Bosch Motronic unit.

Engine management manufacturers know nothing about the physical limits of the engine, or the desired mapping values - that's determined by the engine manufacturer/installer working with a dyno and emissions measuring kit. You're technically 'in the lap of the gods' with anything other than an approved FIAT remap with an accompanying warranty, so I wouldn't be thinking that just because Magneti-Marelli have made it, it must be good.
 
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Obviously as Magnetti Marelli are part of the Fiat group it should be decent, but I would want to know what the unit is going to do before buying :)
 
Magnetti Marelli have a good (and long) record of producing advanced electronics for cars. As I understand it, the unit controlling the TA engine could do almost anything you'd want from a comprehensive mechanical tune up - fuelling, ignition timing, valve timing - everything except compression ratio (better not get into that!). I'd be far more inclined to go for Bosch or MM units than anybody else's gizmo as they know what they're doing and have reputations to lose. 105 hp and a solid toque curve should be easy for the TA engine; 120 hp should also be available without any problems, which is what I assume any warmed up Panda would have to have.
 
The problem for me is that the TA's brakes are not that good in comparison to the 1.4. So more power may be possible, but I feel the brakes of the car would not be able to cope with the higher attainable speeds of a higher powered car.

I am really curious to see if they will actually replace the 1.4 with the TA 105 with disc brakes all round, since so far there has been nothing to replace the 1.4. The TA is halfway between the 1.2 and the 1.4
 
The problem for me is that the TA's brakes are not that good in comparison to the 1.4. So more power may be possible, but I feel the brakes of the car would not be able to cope with the higher attainable speeds of a higher powered car.

I am really curious to see if they will actually replace the 1.4 with the TA 105 with disc brakes all round, since so far there has been nothing to replace the 1.4. The TA is halfway between the 1.2 and the 1.4

Yep, bigger brakes is a planned upgrade too.
Is the TA significantly lighter I wonder. Maybe this could explain small / drum brakes.
I fancy some drilled discs.
Cheers,
Ian.
 
Yep, bigger brakes is a planned upgrade too.
Is the TA significantly lighter I wonder. Maybe this could explain small / drum brakes.
I fancy some drilled discs.
Cheers,
Ian.


The weight difference is between 50-100 kg's (someone let me know the exact figure. Still though I have driven both and I noticed the TA is noticeably worse under braking.
 
Magnetti Marelli have a good (and long) record of producing advanced electronics for cars. As I understand it, the unit controlling the TA engine could do almost anything you'd want from a comprehensive mechanical tune up - fuelling, ignition timing, valve timing - everything except compression ratio (better not get into that!). I'd be far more inclined to go for Bosch or MM units than anybody else's gizmo as they know what they're doing and have reputations to lose. 105 hp and a solid toque curve should be easy for the TA engine; 120 hp should also be available without any problems, which is what I assume any warmed up Panda would have to have.

I'm not disputing MM's credentials - but one has to be careful to see that the plug in box has been developed properly - chances are it has.

I need to apologise for being wrong, the TA has got a Marelli ECU, I looked at mine today as I was cleaning the car :)
 
The problem for me is that the TA's brakes are not that good in comparison to the 1.4. So more power may be possible, but I feel the brakes of the car would not be able to cope with the higher attainable speeds of a higher powered car.

I am really curious to see if they will actually replace the 1.4 with the TA 105 with disc brakes all round, since so far there has been nothing to replace the 1.4. The TA is halfway between the 1.2 and the 1.4

Don't be fooled by thinking disc brakes are 'needed' on the rear of a light (nose heavy) FWD car, they aren't - drums are perfectly satisfactory (and actually more effective than discs because they 'self servo'). If there is any criticism with the brakes on my TA, it's that they might fade after repeated high speed braking because the discs on the front are solid.

However, I don't agree that they 'wouldn't cope'. Aren't the 1.4's front discs (which, remember, do around 95% of the braking of a FWD car unless it's full of passengers and weight in the back) the same size as the TAs? Just ventilated, of course.

And no-one start with the 'ahh, but the rear discs help too - because it makes it like a 'performance' car which all have disc rear brakes'. Main reason for rear discs on the 500 are little more than marketing - to appeal to those who think it makes a big difference.
 
I've noticed it dives quite a lot under heavy braking upsetting the balance of front/rear braking.
I put this more down to the suspension than inadequate brakes though.
 
Dive will always be due to the suspension geometry. MacPherson strut suspension is quite prone to it - double wishbone with inclined wishbones will always be the best in this regard - and the difference is quite marked. A lot more expensive to package in a little car though.

Don't forget the car has electronic brake force distribution, so the back brakes are doing as much as they can before locking.
 
Don't be fooled by thinking disc brakes are 'needed' on the rear of a light (nose heavy) FWD car, they aren't - drums are perfectly satisfactory (and actually more effective than discs because they 'self servo'). If there is any criticism with the brakes on my TA, it's that they might fade after repeated high speed braking because the discs on the front are solid.

However, I don't agree that they 'wouldn't cope'. Aren't the 1.4's front discs (which, remember, do around 95% of the braking of a FWD car unless it's full of passengers and weight in the back) the same size as the TAs? Just ventilated, of course.

And no-one start with the 'ahh, but the rear discs help too - because it makes it like a 'performance' car which all have disc rear brakes'. Main reason for rear discs on the 500 are little more than marketing - to appeal to those who think it makes a big difference.

I know there is a difference but I cant be sure I think the 1.4 has bigger front discs as well? All I do know is there is a noticeable difference in braking between the TA and 1.4.
 
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