Autoblog

Report: Fiat 500 Abarth Speedster in the works

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Performance, Europe, Hatchback

Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've been hearing about the supposed introduction of the Fiat 500 to American shores for so long that the car may grow stale before the first one touches soil on our side of the Atlantic. Chrysler and its parent company, Fiat, seem to have grown keen to that very possibility, so to stir the pot somewhat, the two have gotten together and released a few scant details about a performance version that's also headed our direction.

As we've already heard, the 500 Abarth will pack around 134 horsepower from a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a 0-60 run of around 7.6 seconds. If you're thinking that those numbers aren't exactly devilish, fear not - the Abarth-tuned cars will also pack reworked suspensions to help them carve up tarmac like a turkey dinner.

That's cool and all, but the biggest news is that Fiat is actually mulling an Abarth Speedster - a unique new model that is rumored to borrow heavily from the 1959 Zagato Abarth 750. Expect a shorter roofline as well as a folding soft top if the car comes to fruition. No one knows exactly which engine Fiat would snug down into the little topless wonder, but rumor has it that a 163-horsepower version of the same 1.4-liter four-pot is a definite possibility. Sounds good to us.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Esseesse

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Fiat 500 Abarth Speedster in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slick Little Number: Pogea Racing develops Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition with 264 HP

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari, Fiat

Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition by Pogea Racing - Click above for high-res image gallery

Soon enough, we Americans will be able to feast upon the Forbidden Fruit that is the Fiat 500. Will we get the hotted-up Abarth models? That remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure, we're super duper jealous of the hotter hatch that the folks at Pogea Racing have created - the 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition which boasts more power (a lot more power, actually) all wrapped in a too-cute (but still somehow menacing) package.

The Pogea team starts with a 500 Abarth, which in standard form produces 160 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. From there, a new turbocharger, exhaust system, downpipe and catalytic converter have been added, meaning that the tiny Fiat now cranks out a whopping 264 hp and 243 lb-ft. Staggering numbers for a car that's smaller than a Mini Cooper. To tame all of that extra grunt, larger brakes have been added that reduce braking distance by about six feet, though the new stoppers are identical in weight to the standard Abarth setup.

Yes, we want one. In fact, we'll take two. Scroll through the gallery below to see dozens of high-resolution photos, and follow the jump to read Pogea Racing's (translated) press release.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition by Pogea Racing

[Source: Pogea Racing]

Continue reading Slick Little Number: Pogea Racing develops Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition with 264 HP

Slick Little Number: Pogea Racing develops Fiat 500 Ferrari Dealers Edition with 264 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: Fiat 500 BEV and Fiat 500 Abarth SS are in the house

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Chrysler, Fiat, Electric

Fiat Abarth SS and BEW - Click above for high-res image galleries

The tiny Italians are coming! That's right gentle readers, Fiat has dropped two little baby 500s off inside COBO Hall - and one of them's electric. Let's start with that one, the uninspiringly titled Fiat 500 BEV (background). The suffix stands for "Battery Electric Vehicle." Let's call it truth in advertising. The powertrain is carried over from the work Chrysler's now defunct ENVIgroup had been working on for the past couple years. We can't say too much more (hint, hint), but rumor has it that this sucker is fast. Also, no tail pipe(s).

Fast is good, however, and the Cinquecento that sets our hearts all a flutter is (obviously) the 500 Abarth SS. Or as they say in Italy, Abarth Esse Esse. That last part of the name is significant, as it indicates this particular 500 doesn't have 133 horsepower, but rather 160 hp. The beauty part? After standing next to the Abarth for a few moments it becomes uncomfortably obvious that its much smaller than the Mini. Meaning... all sorts of wonderful things.

Other than that, the Abarth SS has five-point harnesses tied into racing seats and perhaps the best badging in the industry. Scorpions are every where. Take a close look at the shot of the wheel. Not only does the center cap sport a scorpion, but the valve-stem cap does, too. It's all about sweating the small stuff. Lusting over it, too. No specific information is available on the time line/likelihood of either car ever showing up in a Chrysler dealer near you.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth SS and BEV

Detroit 2010: Fiat 500 BEV and Fiat 500 Abarth SS are in the house originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Romeo Ferraris 500 Abarth packs 360 tarmac-munching Italian stallions

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat, Specialty

Romeo Ferraris 500 Abarth endurance racer - Click above to view in high resolution

Think you've seen the most hardcore 500 already? Sure, Abarth has churned out some pretty wicked versions of the retro-hatch, but even the 695 Tributo Ferrari and R3T rally machine can't hold a candle to the beast above.

Given the name, you might think this latest Cinquecento was the result of another collaboration between Abarth and its big sister companies. But this 500 is actually a product of independent racing garage Romeo Ferraris, which has rebodied the 500 in carbon fiber and fitted it with a wing that looks big enough to sustain a jumbo jet's flight path. If that's not bonkers enough, Ferraris has squeezed out an insane output of 360 horsepower from the Abarth's 1.4-liter turbo four. That's more than 257 horsepower per liter, and rivals even the similarly insane 427 Cinquecento from SEMA for pure lunacy.

Drivers Aldo Cerruti, Michela Cerruti and Mario Ferraris will be taking turns behind the wheel at the upcoming 6 Hours of Vallelunga endurance race on November 22. We'd suggest everyone else get the hell out of the way.

[Source: CarScoop]

Romeo Ferraris 500 Abarth packs 360 tarmac-munching Italian stallions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Fiat 500 to launch in the U.S. with Abarth performance model

Noah Joseph — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Fiat

Fiat 500 Abarth EsseEsse - Click above for high-res image gallery

With every passing week comes another report of how Fiat and Chrysler will be sharing products. If it's not Chrysler-badged Lancias then it's Lancia-badged Chryslers or an Alfa-badged Jeep. As for the Fiat division itself, the emerging strategy appears to be to bring the 500 retro-mini over and set it up as something of a brand of its own, with sights set squarely on BMW's Mini and forgoing the rest of the Fiat line-up.

Earlier reports indicated that we'd be getting four versions of the 500 Stateside, including basic hatch, cabrio and upcoming wagon in addition to the Abarth performance model. But rather than start with the basics and work its way up, or launch the entire range simultaneously, the latest news suggests that Fiat is preparing to hit U.S. soil running by starting off with the 500 Abarth. According to WardsAuto, the Fiat 500 Abarth - complete with 133-horsepower turbocharged four, upgraded suspension and all the sporty touches that make an Abarth an Abarth - will arrive at Chrysler dealers in 2011 with an $18,000-$19,000 price tag. Fiat reportedly targets selling 20,000-25,000 units of the 500 Abarth in the first year.

By the time the 500 Abarth arrives, we'll likely be looking at an updated version with even more oomph. With the standard hatch, the open-top 500C and the upcoming Gardiniera wagon expected to follow, there's no telling if the initial model will be the only Abarth on offer, or whether Fiat will follow up with the even hotter EsseEsse version (pictured above), racing models like the Assetto Corse or R3T, an Abarth convertible or specials like the 695 Tributo Ferrari or an Opening Edition of our own.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth

[Source: WardsAuto.com]

REPORT: Fiat 500 to launch in the U.S. with Abarth performance model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat unveils rally-spec Abarth 500 R3T in San Remo

Noah Joseph — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat, Specialty

Abarth 500 R3T - Click above for high-res image gallery

The little brand that could, Abarth, secures whatever few items from the growing Fiat empire it can get its hands on and takes them to the extreme. The performance division was designated to handle Fiat's rally activities, and took the IRC title in its formative year with the Punto Abarth S2000. Then they turned around and put their hot Punto on the road with the 155 horsepowerPunto Abarth and 180 hp Punto Abarth EsseEsse.

But since the scorpion brand got its hands on the Fiat 500, they've been churning out more performance variants than Porsche. The 500 Abarth debuted with 133 hp, launched with the special Opening Edition. Then the 500 got an EsseEsse version of its own with 160 ponies. The track-bound 500 Abarth Assetto Corse followed with 200 horsepower, and at the recently concluded Frankfurt show they unveiled the 695 Tributo Ferrari. More versions were interspersed, and even more are said to be on the way - but not before the rally team has had a chance to debut the new Abarth 500 R3T.

Built to Group R3T specifications, a rally formula for turbocharged cars up to 1.6-liters in engine displacement, the rally-prepped 500 packs a 1.4-liter four with a Garret GT 1446 fixed-geometry turbocharger, good for 180 horsepower and driving through a six-speed sequential transmission with twin-plate clutch and a locking differential. 17-inch OZ alloys are mounted to an adjustable suspension and pack Brembo discs all around supplemented by a hydraulic handbrake. Inside, the 500 R3T has been fitted with a full roll cage and FIA-spec racing buckets with six-point harnesses, while dry weight comes in at 1080kg (2380 lbs), the minimum for the category.

The vehicle was introduced this past weekend at the Sanremo rally, where Abarth has won two of the past three years running, and it will be used in special promotional events as part of the Assetto Corse program. Check out the details in the press release after the jump and the pair of high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Abarth 500 R3T

[Source: Abarth]

Continue reading Fiat unveils rally-spec Abarth 500 R3T in San Remo

Fiat unveils rally-spec Abarth 500 R3T in San Remo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Fiat confirms Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" for Frankfurt debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari, Fiat

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari - Click above for high-res image gallery

Still waiting for that baby Ferrari to come along? This may be as close as you'll get. Confirming earlier reports, Fiat's Abarth and Ferrari subsidiaries have gotten together to collaborate on a special 500 to honor Maranello. We first heard about a special Ferrari edition 500 last year when we were in Italy test driving the new Alfa MiTo. But while the previous 500 created for Ferrari was used solely as a courtesy car for Ferrari owners bringing in their cars for service, this new Frankfurt-bound special edition will actually be available for purchase by the general public.

Called the 695 Tributo Ferrari, the special Cinquecento packs a 1.4-liter 16-valve turbo four tuned by Abarth and Ferrari engineers to produce over 180 horsepower, snorting through a variable exhaust system and mated to a paddle-shift automated manual transmission. 17-inch rims crowd the little wheel wells, mounted to a sport-tuned suspension and packing 284mm Brembo brake discs.

The most attention-getting detail, of course, is the paint scheme, decked out in Scuderia Red with Racing Grey stripes to mimick the outgoing 430 Scuderia. All we've got on the interior so far is that Jaeger has been commissioned to make the special instruments and Sabelt provides the bucket seats (probably similar to the ones we reported on recently).

This isn't the first time the Prancing Horse and the Scorpion marques have come together, Fiat pointing to the 1953 Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth for reference. And whether this proves to be more of a marketing ploy or a serious set of wheels remains to be seen, but it's got to be better than the Michael Schumacher edition Fiat Stilo from a few years ago. For our part, we wouldn't mind pitting this against the upcoming Toyota iQ-based Aston Martin Cygnet to determine who'll be king of the exotic-branded superminis. Check it out in the press release after the jump and images in the hi-res gallery below.

Gallery: Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari

Continue reading Officially Official: Fiat confirms Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" for Frankfurt debut

Officially Official: Fiat confirms Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" for Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Topless Hotness: Fiat reportedly planning 500C Abarth cabrio

Noah Joseph — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Fiat

Fiat 500C - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the Fiat 500 still selling like hotcakes, the Italian automaker's performance division is reportedly working on a new combination to further bolster interest in the retro hatch. Melding the best elements of the 500 Abarth and the new 500C convertible, Fiat is said to be preparing a 500C Abarth for launch overseas in time for the next sunny season.

Porting over the engines from the fixed-roof 500 Abarth, the cabrio would be offered with the 133hp 1.4-liter turbo four, upgradable to 157hp with the optional Esse-esse kit. But while most convertibles loose their rigidity and gain weight when the top is lopped off, the 500C's unique roof rail structure keeps torsional twist at bay - to say nothing of the Cinquecento's iconic profile. Pricing would be competitive with the new Mini Cooper Cabrio, and with both the Abarth and convertible variants expected to appear Stateside by 2011, there's a good chance Fiat will throw this one into the mix, too.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Fiat 500C

[Source: Autocar]

Topless Hotness: Fiat reportedly planning 500C Abarth cabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat launches pricy new special-edition 500 Abarth Competizione

Noah Joseph — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Fiat, Specialty

Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione - Click above for high-res image gallery

Cars may be getting smaller, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily getting cheaper. As if to prove that point, Fiat has thumbed its nose at the Tata Nano with a special 500 that packs a big price tag in a small package.

Commemorating the first anniversary of Abarth's return to the Dutch market, Fiat's performance division has launched this special-edition 500 Abarth Competizione. It costs nearly $35k and only ten will be made available for exclusive consumption in Holland. The €3,000 premium (nearly $4,200 USD) over the stock 500 Abarth gets enthusiastic buyers a special little hot hatch with a black roof, black 17-inch alloys and matching black graphics, along with special bucket seats inside. The 500 Abarth Competizione also comes equipped with sat-nav, air-con and a premium audio system. Although the Competizione edition packs the 135hp turbo four, buyers can always upgrade with the 160hp EsseEsse kit. For a premium, of course.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione

[Source: Fiat]

Fiat launches pricy new special-edition 500 Abarth Competizione originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Abarth releases limited-edition 500 "Opening Edition"

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Fiat, Specialty

Click for hi-res gallery of Fiat 500 Abarth Opening Edition

At its unveiling at this past March's Geneva show, it was immediately apparent that Abarth had carried off a transformation of the Fiat 500 from a demure retro-hatch into a veritable pocket rocket. But for those for whom the 135 hp turbo four is just not enough, the performance division has unveiled a new limited edition "500 Abarth Opening Edition".

Although the name might suggest a convertible, the 500 Opening Edition is a fixed-roof hot-hatch distinguished by a 160hp engine, dropping a half-second off the conventional 500 Abarth's 0-60 time, now down to a sprightly 7.4 seconds. The Opening Edition also gets red brake calipers behind special 17" alloys in white or titanium finish, tinted glass and a revised interior with red leather and special badging with a serial number plate. Available in either pearl white or Campovolo gray (the latter available with a red-and-white checkered roof), only 100 examples of the 500 Abarth Opening Edition will be offered, complete with a special car cover to keep the exclusive vehicle protected from the elements.

Check out the big gallery of high-resolution images by clicking the thumbnails below.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Opening Edition

[Source: CarScoop]

Abarth releases limited-edition 500 "Opening Edition" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2008: Fiat 500 Abarth punches above its weight

Noah Joseph — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:57:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Fiat

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Fiat 500 Abarth

Nestled between designer-edition Bugattis, drop-dead drop-top Alfas and suped-up Maseratis, it'd have been all too easy to miss something as small as the new 500 Abarth. But that would've been a big mistake, because the scorpion-emblazoned, hot little retro number is one of the most compelling sports models on display at this year's Geneva show.

This version packs a 135hp turbo four - not exactly Veyron-beating power, but promises to be plenty to shoot the turbocharged mini-fridge around every corner in Rome like a carnival ride. Plus the Fiat performance division from its new factory in Turin is working up a 160hp kit that also kicks the visuals up a notch, but as you can see in the gallery below, the scorpion's venom is already thoroughly laced with grappa. Press release after the jump.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth

Continue reading Geneva 2008: Fiat 500 Abarth punches above its weight

Geneva 2008: Fiat 500 Abarth punches above its weight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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160-hp Fiat 500 Abarth SS to follow in November

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat

Click either image to view in high-res gallery

You have to admire Fiat's spunky rejuvenated Abarth division. Its first model is barely on the market yet, its second model is about to be unveiled, and it's already taking on challengers and shouting "What's next?" At a media preview for the new 500 Abarth in Turin, Italy, Fiat confirmed speculation that an even more powerful version would be offered as soon as November of this year. The 500 Abarth being shown in Geneva is equipped with a 135-hp turbo four, while the "esse-esse" (read: SS) kit will offer a host of performance and visual upgrades to bring the sprightly retromobile up to 160 hp.

The availability of the optional equipment makes sense, since a similar package was revealed for the Grande Punto Abarth, and the 500's kit is likewise expected to be available direct from the showroom, or retrofitted to an existing 500 Abarth up to one year or 20,000 km after purchase. If the 500 Abarth "esse-esse" is to hit the market in November, we could see it unveiled at the Paris auto salon in early October.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth

Gallery: Fiat Grande Punto Abarth SS

[Source: Carscoop]

160-hp Fiat 500 Abarth SS to follow in November originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva '08 Preview: First Fiat 500 Abarth official images leaked

Alex Nunez — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat

Click image for photo gallery

This morning, we brought you a Fiat-provided doodle showing a super-deformed 500 Abarth meant to give us a gist of what to expect when the Italian automaker pulls the cover off the Scorpion-emblazoned performance variant. What we didn't expect was that we'd be seeing official images on the same day we posted the sketch. Thanks to Carscoop (and one of its generous readers), we've got exactly that.

The first four (of many, we're sure) official images show the Nuova 500 dressed in the equivalent of a tracksuit and running shoes, with a full bodykit consisting of a new front spoiler, side skirts, and rear bumper with a nifty-looking diffuser insert through which a pair of rolled exhaust tips peek. Black, Scorpion-emblazoned 5-spoke wheels with silver and red accents sit inside the hot hatch's flared fenders, while the endlessly-cool Abarth shield adorns the nose, rear quarters, and hatchback lid. Flashes of red make their way onto the rearview mirrors, brake calipers, and side stripes, too. Inside, the leaked cutaway drawing shows us read seats with matching door panel inserts. The whole thing is very butch...like a little bulldog puppy, and it's bound to be one of the stars of the show when the doors are thrown open in Geneva. We can't wait to see it in person.

[Source: Carscoop]

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth

Geneva '08 Preview: First Fiat 500 Abarth official images leaked originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 Abarth to bow at Tokyo Motor Show

Alex Nunez — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Hatchback, Fiat

At the press conference officially introducing the new Fiat 500 last week, a journalist from Japanese enthusiast website Response.jp asked about plans for the car in the Asian market. In response, Fiat Automobiles boss Luca De Meo replied that the eagerly-anticipated 500 Abarth will make its debut at this fall's Tokyo Motor Show. Fiat already sells cars in Japan, and small cars are ultra-popular there anyway, so this is basically a no-brainer.

The 500 Abarth is also expected to make the journey to the United States in 2010. Footage of the diminutive Italian hot hatch lapping the Nürburgring has been circulating the web for some time now, and it looks (and sounds) like great fun. There's no question in anyone's minds that the Nissan GT-R will rule Tokyo, but we have a feeling the pert little Fiat's going to cause a sensation there as well, especially once the show opens to the public. After all, in Japan, cute sells.

[Source: Response.jp (translated)]

Fiat 500 Abarth to bow at Tokyo Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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