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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth [w/video]

Perfectly Imperfect Pint-Sized Pocket Rocket You can learn a lot about a car by the way it sounds. Fire up a Lexus LS and you'll hear practically nothing. Rev the snot out of a BMW M3 and your ears will be beaten by high-pitched traces of Formula One; do the same with a Dodge Challenger SRT8 and you'll be taken back to 1970 with a low, burbling rumble. Bear in mind that all of these machines mentioned are powered by V8 engines, long the bastion of beastly automotive soundtracks. Clearly, each car's designers tuned all eight cylinders, their assorted valves, camshafts and exhaust ... Read More

Vital Stats

Engine:
1.4L Turbo I4
Power:
160 HP / 170 LB-FT
Transmission:
5-Speed Manual
MSRP:
$26,700 as tested
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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Official: Fiat builds 1 millionth 500, still a ways to go before passing original
    1366651800

    There are now 1.1 million examples of the new Fiat 500 cruising the roads of 83 countries, one million of them made at the Fiat's Tychy plant in Poland, the rest in the Fiat plant in Toluca, Mexico. It's taken 69 months since the car's 2007 launch to reach the milestone, the capstone hatchback being an Abarth 500. Where does that fit into the historical ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Report: Fiat 500 Abarth to get automatic transmission option
    1365635700

    Boo and hiss all you want, but the truth is that manual transmissions aren't for everybody. When Fiat launched the hot little 500 Abarth last year, it did so with a five-speed manual as the only transmission available, but according to Ward's Auto, that might change. "We're not opposed to doing it. We just didn't think there would be consumer requests ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Detroit: Fiat 500 Cattiva and Abarth Tenebra concepts showcase design to enhance personality
    1358290020

    Fiat brought out two new design concepts at the Detroit Auto Show, both intended to expand the appeal of its 500 Turbo and 500 Abarth models with upgraded and unique appointments inside and out. First up is the Fiat 500 "Cattiva," based on the 500 Turbo, painted with a vibrant Rame (Copper) exterior with contrasting Nero (Black) accents. The turbocharged ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Video: Fiat confirms 500 Abarth Cabrio for LA with F1-inspired video
    1353101280

    In addition to the electric 500e, Fiat will be debuting a new 500 Abarth Cabrio under the lights of the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. And to get everyone excited about the scorpion-stung droptop, Fiat has launched this promo video showing the cars zipping around a track at the hands of Ferrari Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Video: Watch Sam Hubinette and Jen Horsey run Targa Newfoundland in a Fiat 500 Abarth
    1353016800

    We'd grown pretty accustomed to seeing Sam Hubinette sling a Dodge Challenger around a drift course, but the guy knows how to do more than go sideways. Back in September, the Crazy Swede partnered up with Jen Horsey to take on the Targa Newfoundland in a Fiat 500 Abarth in the open class. How'd the team do? The plucky little hatch snagged second place, ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Paris: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Fuori Serie puts customization program on display
    1348858800

    Customization programs are nothing new in the auto industry. For a fee, they offer a chance to work directly with the manufacturer to create a one-of-a-kind vehicle for the customer. These programs, however, are usually offered by makers of the most exotic, expensive and exclusive vehicles, like Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Porsche. It's not often that a ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Review: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth [w/video]
    1346342220

    Perfectly Imperfect Pint-Sized Pocket Rocket You can learn a lot about a car by the way it sounds. Fire up a Lexus LS and you'll hear practically nothing. Rev the snot out of a BMW M3 and your ears will be beaten by high-pitched traces of Formula One; do the same with a Dodge Challenger SRT8 and you'll be taken back to 1970 with a low, burbling ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Video: Jay Leno burns rubber in a Fiat 500 Abarth
    1343347200

    As you can see from the screen grab above, some people get to have all the fun. Jay Leno, who owns more cars than you will ever drive in your lifetime, was graced with the presence of a Fiat 500 Abarth at his garage. Now, this was not the first time that Fiat has stopped off with the potent Italian runabout. Fiat dropped in on Leno with an Abarth back in ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Report: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth sold out
    1338843480

    Eager to get your hands on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth? Get in line, and be warned: you're going to have to wait. According to The Detroit News, Chrysler has stopped taking wholesale orders on the 2012 model year 500 Abarth. According to sources within the automaker, customers who plunk down the money for the hotted-up 500 right now will be put on the 2013 ...

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    Fiat 500 Abarth
    Official: Abarth 695 Maserati Edition bows at Mille Miglia
    1337607000

    The Fiat 500 in its various guises positively romps on its popularity, making special-edition hay with terrific frequency. This latest outing in the form of the Abarth 695 Maserati Edition follows a familiar trail, coming three years after the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari that debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. That hatch had a tuned 1.4-liter turbo ...

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