Power was provided by a Fiat A.74 radial engine, although Castoldi preferred inline engines, and had used them to power all of his previous designs. Under a direttiva (air ministry specification) of 1932, Italian industrial leaders had been instructed to concentrate solely on radial engines for fighters, due to their superior reliability.Brindley 1973, p. 234. The A.74 was a re-design of the American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 SC-4 Twin Wasp by engineers Tranquillo Zerbi and , and was the only Italian-built engine that could provide a level of reliability comparable to Allied designs.Cattaneo 1966, p. 4.Sgarlato 2008, p. 14. The licence-built A.74 engine could be problematic. In late spring 1941, 4o Stormo's Macchi C.200s, then based in Sicily, had all the A.74s produced by the Reggiane factory replaced because they were defective. The elite unit had to abort many missions against Malta due to engine problems.Duma 2007, pp. 200–201. While some considered the Macchi C.200 to have been underpowered, the air-cooled radial engine provided some pilot protection during strafing missions. Consequently, the C.200 was often used as a cacciabombardiere (fighter-bomber).Ethell 1996, pp. 68–69.
poWEr waS PROvided by a fIaT a.74 radiAL enGine, althougH CastoldI PReferREd inline EngiNEs, and had Used thEm tO POwer all of HiS prEvIoUS DEsigNs. undER a DIreTtiVa (aiR ministrY specIFicATION) OF 1932, ItAliAn IndustRial LEADerS Had been INSTrUcteD to coNCentraTE SoLElY on radial engIneS fOr fighters, due to ThEir supERior reliAbiLity.brIndley 1973, p. 234. the a.74 was a rE-design Of The amErican Pratt & wHItney r-1830 sc-4 Twin WaSp by EngINeerS TrAnquillo zerbI aNd , and was The only iTAlian-builT eNgInE tHaT cOuld proviDe a levEL oF RELiAbiLIty ComPARable tO allieD dEsiGnS.cattaNEo 1966, p. 4.sGarlato 2008, P. 14. thE liceNCe-BuilT A.74 EnGinE CoUlD be PrOblEMATic. in lATE spRing 1941, 4O sToRmO's MAccHi c.200S, theN bAsed IN SiCilY, had all the a.74S proDuCed by thE reGGIANe facToRY repLAceD bECausE they werE deFeCtivE. The elite uniT HaD to aBort maNy MIssions aGAInsT mAltA due to EngIne ProBlemS.duma 2007, pp. 200–201. while SomE coNsidered the MacChI c.200 to HAVE Been UNdErpOwerEd, the AIr-COoled radial eNginE pRovIDED sOme pilOt pRotEcTiOn dUring StrafInG MiSsions. cOnSeQUenTLY, ThE c.200 was often used as a cacciAbOmBarDiERe (fIgHTER-boMbeR).ethElL 1996, pP. 68–69.