Karl Schnorr upgrades the Fiat 500 Abarth

With the Fiat 500 set to come Stateside under the Italian automaker's partnership with Chrysler, our interest already is piqued by any opportunity to further enhance the retro mini's performance. Echoing founder Karl Abarth's Germanic roots, German tuning house Karl Schnorr has answered the call with a two-stage performance upgrade catalog to give the scorpion some added sting.

Fiat itself already offers the 500 in several states of tune. Above the standard engines, the company's Abarth in-house tuning arm offers the 133 horsepower 500 Abarth and the 158-hp 500 Abarth EsseEsse. Schnorr takes things two steps further with the 185-hp, 950-euro (around $1,350) Stage 1 kit and the 197-hp, 5,050-euro (nearly $7,250) Stage 2, complete with upgraded turbocharger and custom sports exhaust. Fresh coilover shocks drop the ride height by a few millimeters, mounted to 17-inch OZ alloys and complemented by even more stripes than the scorpion brand offers from the factory. Check it out in the gallery below and in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge]

PRESS RELEASE:

Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge - Saturated Capacity for the Fiat 500 Abarth - up to 200 hp

The Fiat 500 Abarth is currently the head in the range of Fiat. Those who wait for a really fast 500 will be satisfied as soon as this athlete passes through the school of capacity of tuner Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge.

But one step after the other!

Schnorr leverages the visual appearance up by using sporty parts. The aluminium rims from OZ in red (Seria Rossa) and in size 7x17" are worth 1.090,00 Euro fitting and vehicle inspection registryincluded. An improvement for sure, the "normal" Abarth looks much more athletic.

Schnorr promises a better road holding after having built in a special coilover kit which lowers the Fiat a few millimetres and charges the account with 1.270,00 Euro fitting and vehicle inspection registry included. For the measurement of the axis will be charged 85,00 Euro and for the adaption of the body 285,00 Euro. No question the serial Abarth accessories emphasize the outline of the Fiat is skilfully. They continue the dynamic layout of the line in a modern way and make hungry for way more.

Power Level I (163 hp - 950,00 Euro) from Schnorr offers for the 1,4-motor with serial 135 hp an improved performance of 28 hp and 45 Nm. At power level II (5.050,00 Euro) you should buckle your seat belt very tight. An aligned engine software in combination with a sport exhaust system with a big turbo charger gives the Fiat 500 the additional 65 hp. Besides the improved performance from 135 up to 200 hp the maximum hinge moment rises definitely. It can keep on carrying Euro 4-Norm.

For more information about the Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge please contact: www.schnorr-kfz.de