Fiat and Yamaha team up on new AbarthFZ1
Click above for more images of the Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse
Before Karl Abarth was putting his sporting touches on Fiats for competition, he was a successful motorcycle racer, winning five European Championships. When Fiat realized how successful Abarth was with its cars, the Italian automaker purchased the tuning division and made it an integral part of its operations. The relationship has continued to this day and the tuning company is now an official division. The motorcycling connection finally comes full circle, as Fiat is the main sponsor for Yamaha's MotoGP race team and star rider (not to mention current MotoGP champion) Valentino Rossi. To celebrate Abarth's centenary, Fiat and Yamaha have teamed up on a tuned version of the 150 horsepower FZ1, a naked version of the previous-gen R1 literbike. The FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse gets extra-special goodies like a complete Öhlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, Brembo monobloc front brake calipers, and an Akrapovic exhaust system. We're smitten with the red and white paint job, which looks resplendent against its attendant Abarth scorpion logos.
Gallery: Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse
[Source: Italiaspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Will 10:06AM (11/17/2008)
Please let it be sold in the US!
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raize221 11:52AM (11/17/2008)
It wont.
Unfortunately we don't even get the standard FZ-1 here, all we get is the faired Fazer version. The pic shows a naked version of the bike so no-go on that, not to mention that Abarth isn't a name known well here. Make it with a Shelby badge and it would be a different story...
Rick 10:25AM (11/17/2008)
Please stop with all of the cross marketing!!!
But I'm also guilty of perpetuating this nonsense. I once purchased a pair of (knock-of) Ferrari sunglasses at a swap meet in the 80's for $5.
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BoxerFanatic 11:25AM (11/17/2008)
Wow...
That has almost as much gold on it as the original MV Agusta F4 Serie Oro.
Not bad looking at all, save the long angular headlight. It is a bit "beaky" and odd.
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Adam 2:20PM (11/17/2008)
I don't understand the point of nakeds since fairings serve an aerodynamic purpose, but this is zexy as hell. However, if it isn't a cruiser, I'm not that interested in it.
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RMc 2:35PM (11/17/2008)
God Save the Queen do I love gold Marchesinis.
Yamaha and Fiat have long ties in racing so this cross branding actually makes sense. This is a good way to celebrate Mr. Rossi's recent GP season as well.
Damn that's the best Fazzer my eyes have ever seen and bikini fairings work better than you might think. The air goes somewhat over your head verses straight into your chest as it does on a proper sportsbike.
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RLQ 5:58PM (11/17/2008)
I kind of like this more than the new R1.
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