Filed under: Convertibles, Euro, FIAT
Rendered Speculation: Abarth Roadster
We've always been fond of the Smart roadster, which never officially made it to U.S. shores and proved to be a flop across the pond. But this rendering, courtesy of WorldCarFans, has us thinking that a second attempt might be worthwhile.If the Abarth roadster ever comes to fruition, it would be an exercise in balancing a lightweight structure with a small price tag. Cost prohibitive carbon fiber couldn't be used, so some other form of composite would have to be employed for the chassis and body panels. Abarth could source the 135 hp, 1.4-liter mill from its own version of the Fiat 500 for power, mount it amidships and call it done.
WCF dons its speculative cap and figures that if Abarth gives the roadster the green light, Europe could see the minimalist two-door by 2013 sporting a £12,000 sticker.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
martin 6:15PM (7/16/2008)
i wouldn't say "flop" they sold every smart roadster they made, and for a lot of money. it's more the smart brand than any one car thats the problem. they arent especially economical for their (lack of) size and arent exactly cheap for half a car, i had a 2004 pulse cabriolet and that had a list of £9500 :-o
Reply
Torrent 6:20PM (7/16/2008)
Meh........
Reply
Red 6:30PM (7/16/2008)
If it looked like THAT, I would buy it (reminds me of a better looking Del Sol). But the 1.4L would have to be mounted up front. In a car this small, some practicality would be a priority, the smart roadster having little to none, really.
Reply
Jeff Banks 6:31PM (7/16/2008)
I don't understand why Americans dislike roadsters so much. I love the MGB and would probably own one if I had any sort of mechanical aptitude at all (which I don't) and could constantly put it back together again. Miata is probably my next car...unless worlds come together and this comes to the states.
Not all of us feel the need to drive around a carful of bratty kids. Two doors is enough.
Reply
Bungle 11:12PM (7/16/2008)
I don't know that that's true... the Mazda Miata, Honda S2000, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, BMW Z4, Audi TT, Chrysler Crossfire, Nissan 350Z, Lotus Elise, Chevrolet Corvette, and Toyota MR-2 Spyder all sold (or are selling) well, to the best of my knowledge.
Granted, depending on your definition of "roadster," some of the above cars may not qualify. I picked the above from memory and from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadster
I think the problem with this car in America (aside from the completely unfamiliar and currently unsupported Abarth brand) would be its diminutive size. Most of the Americans that I know, not including myself, are not fond of small cars, and if they're to be persuaded to buy one, it would have to be for purely economic and other practical reasons.
jurm 7:37PM (7/16/2008)
Well, now would be a good time to get a vehicle like that to market. Small engine (assumed fuel efficiency), nicely styled, and fun to drive (we really do need more MR cars). It would sell better than most any SUV they could dream up. Heck, make an electric version and get some serious publicity drummed up for it too.
Reply
bduddy 9:20PM (7/16/2008)
What?
Abarth=FIAT
Smart=Daimler
What do the two have to do with each other?
Reply
stecki 9:59PM (7/16/2008)
i love how the girl is behind the car, yet her feet are lower than the tires, therefore in front of the car... do it, but do it right!
Reply
Gungosa 10:25AM (7/17/2008)
Yeah, she's obviously being sucked into a black hole or some such.
tankd0g 11:19PM (7/16/2008)
What does this have to do with the Smart roadster? Did Abarth ever have a tuned version of it?
Reply
Dan 12:20AM (7/17/2008)
It has nothing particularly to do with the Smart roadster, they were just trying to describe the market niche... which is probably full already of Smart roadsters, Mister Twos, 914's, and Lancia Scorpions.
Reply
Red 3:41AM (7/17/2008)
For the record, this is not a worldcarfans design. Shame on them for trying to take credit. This was a design called the Abarth SS Concept created by the same IED students that created that Maserati concept last year.
http://carbodydesign.com/archive/2007/06/01-abarth-ss-concept-by-ied/
Reply
Mi key 12:28PM (7/17/2008)
Speaking of the the Smart Roadster. Daimler was thinking of bring over the Smart Roadsters. I think they made two concepts of the roadsters, one was called the razor and I forget what the other was called. Smart should have came to America awhile back if not for Daimler's narrow minded vision. I know that Smart price could have hurt it but a lot of that came form the fact it was not sold in the largest automotive market in the world, the USA.
Reply
ROOLLY 1:27PM (7/17/2008)
I really like these kind of cars like Lotuses. Shows how you don't need Big engines to go fast, and they look cute.
Reply