Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT
Geneva '08 Preview: Official specs leaked on Fiat 500 Abarth
by John Neff on Feb 18th 2008 at 2:37PM 
click above for more high-res images of the Fiat 500 Abarth
The slow progress being made towards the full reveal of the Fiat 500 Abarth is nearly complete, but a few more loose lips have revealed official specs that look more than promising. The 500 Abarth will pack more hotness per cubic inch of hatch than most other three-doors in Europe thanks to a 1.4L turbo four-cylinder producing 135 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 152 pound feet of torque at 3,000 rpm in Sport mode. In Normal mode, Fiat has the 500 Abarth producing 133 pound feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. The car also gets Fiat's new Torque Transfer Control system, which sounds like a fancy solution to the torque steer that would otherwise send a car like this veering towards the telephone poles.
What's interesting is that the larger Grande Punto Abarth also uses a 1.4L turbo four-cylinder, though tuned up to produce 155 bhp. This suggests that tuners will easily be able to turn up the wick on the 500 Abarth's engine for havoc-wreaking hatchback hotness.
Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth
[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
clinton 3:08PM (2/18/2008)
its not a leak, its official
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Ilya 3:08PM (2/18/2008)
De-tuning sucks.
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lovice 3:31PM (2/18/2008)
If by detuning, Fiat can keep the price down. Then I think it's a good thing for most hot hatch consumers. Coz it leaves space for people to either tune it back to the original form (155bhp&180bhp), or to their preferred level.
Enok 3:30PM (2/18/2008)
Maybe this model won't be found under pine needles in people's back yards, like every other Fiat.
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Matt Keller 3:54PM (2/18/2008)
You all do realize that this is the one that's coming to the US right?
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bepsf 4:06PM (2/18/2008)
I'd be happy with a turbodiesel 500
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Jason Bird 4:40PM (2/18/2008)
If I can fit...I'll buy one...if they ever come back to the US.
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Bancho 5:52PM (2/18/2008)
Send one over in base trim with the turbodiesel and I'll buy one right away. Hell, I'd probably be more than happy with the 1.2 or 1.4 normally aspirated gas engines as well. Just send some 500's our way...please!
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Ilya 11:57PM (2/18/2008)
You're right in a way, but how does detuning help to keep the prices down? It's not like the detuned ECU costs more...
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Ilya 11:58PM (2/18/2008)
My comment went to lovice. Something is wrong with the reply button once again.
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79Nik 3:38AM (2/19/2008)
In september will start the selling of the SS version with the 160 hp engine. I think it's enough power for a such small car
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MikeInNC 10:18AM (2/19/2008)
If they could deliver one of these by December of 08 to me, I'm not joking when I say I'd put down a deposit right freakin now.
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Punkcrisis 7:43PM (2/19/2008)
If only they made car's like this in Canada!
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