One of the benefits of the strengthening ties between Fiat and Chrysler is a mutual expansion of their joint product portfolio. The shared leadership of the two auto groups has seen Fiats arrive in North American showrooms and Chryslers proliferating overseas. Which is all well and good, but where's the excitement? Where are the performance models for which the Italian auto industry is so deeply loved? Well, we finally have our answer.
We've been anticipating the launch of the Abarth sub-brand in North America ever since the basic Fiat 500 first arrived – if not longer – and Chrysler has now confirmed its arrival as a fait accompli. When the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of the month for the LA Auto Show, the Chrysler Group will finally unveil the American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth.
Few details have been disclosed as to the U.S.-market Abarth's specifications, but what we do know is that the 500 Abarth arriving on American shores will pack an all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four, kept in check by upgraded brakes, handled by a sportier suspension, controlled by a higher level of technology and conveyed by a more aggressive appearance.
The much-loved European-model Abarth 500 offers up either 130 horsepower or 160, the latter with the Esse-Esse kit. We're hoping for the higher end of that spectrum, of course, but we'll have to wait until the LA show to find out for sure. In the meantime, we'll just have to live with the pair of preview images and the press release – along with written, photographic and video run-downs of the Abarth brand's heritage – after the jump.
We've been anticipating the launch of the Abarth sub-brand in North America ever since the basic Fiat 500 first arrived – if not longer – and Chrysler has now confirmed its arrival as a fait accompli. When the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of the month for the LA Auto Show, the Chrysler Group will finally unveil the American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth.
Few details have been disclosed as to the U.S.-market Abarth's specifications, but what we do know is that the 500 Abarth arriving on American shores will pack an all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four, kept in check by upgraded brakes, handled by a sportier suspension, controlled by a higher level of technology and conveyed by a more aggressive appearance.
The much-loved European-model Abarth 500 offers up either 130 horsepower or 160, the latter with the Esse-Esse kit. We're hoping for the higher end of that spectrum, of course, but we'll have to wait until the LA show to find out for sure. In the meantime, we'll just have to live with the pair of preview images and the press release – along with written, photographic and video run-downs of the Abarth brand's heritage – after the jump.
New 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth To Debut At The L.A. Auto Show
Faithful to the 'small but wicked' saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth arrives to America with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks - world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited-production volume.
Building on the excitement of the new 2012 Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the new Fiat 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving-puristswho want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.
With its all‐new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race‐inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will unleash the brand's legendary performance heritage to American streets.
60 Years of Racing Heritage
The History of Abarth
Over 10,000 individual race victories, 10 world records and 133 international titles are part of the rich racing heritage behind the acclaimed Abarth marque. In fact, success in competition has always been one of the cornerstones of the Abarth story, and it is no less important now than when Karl Abarth founded „Abarth & C‟ over 60 years ago in 1949.
Abarth and the Fiat brand have a history of collaboration going back 45 years and resulting in six international records and nearly 900 individual race victories. It is with this racing pedigree in mind that fans of Abarth are eagerly anticipating the official launch of the new Fiat 500 Abarth.
A Fighting Start
Karl Abarth (born on November 15, 1908, in Vienna) had racing in his blood and was a fivetime European motorcycle champion by his mid-twenties. This was a feat made even more astonishing when considering that he achieved this success using his own hand-built motorcycles and with no official factory support. Success came at a price, however. In 1939, Abarth suffered a near-fatal accident during a race in Yugoslavia.
The crash left Abarth hospitalized for almost a year and effectively ended his motorcycle racing career. Undeterred, he remained in Yugoslavia during the war, opting to further hone his mechanical skills and step away from driving temporarily. Working as a technical manager in a workshop in Ljubljana, Abarth indulged his entrepreneurial flair by taking on small engineering projects as well as researching how to run internal combustion engines on kerosene.
Shortly after the end of the war, Abarth returned to Italy, prompting him to reestablish old ties with the Porsche family. Stints working in Porsche‟s design department and Italian sports-car manufacturer Cisitalia quickly followed, until March 31, 1949, when he founded the „Abarth & C‟ company with Armando Scagliarini, producing aftermarket products for production cars.
Abarth Performance Exhaust Systems
To supplement the cost of producing tuning kits, Abarth branched out into developing performance exhaust systems. Using his extensive experience with motorcycle exhausts, Abarth developed a new range of car exhaust systems.
Soon, Abarth had developed an array of exhausts tuned to specific vehicles and launched an eye-catching campaign to sell them. The exhausts were presented in a matte black finish with chrome-plated tips. Despite their high price (starting at 5,950 lire as opposed to 2,000 lire for a standard silencer), motorists chose to fit them in the thousands, and Abarth‟s company grew from the strength of these sales.
By the end of 1950, Abarth employed over 40 people and had sold over 4,500 exhaust systems. By 1962, global sales would reach nearly 260,000 units. At the same time, Abarth had once again forged ahead in racing – this time on four wheels. The iconic Fiat Abarth 750 helped Abarth win its place in the record books by smashing time and distance records. The combined success of the exhaust systems and motorsport achievements attracted attention from major manufacturers, and in 1958, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., son of the American president, travelled to Italy to sign an agreement to distribute Abarth products and vehicles in America.
Abarth and the Original Fiat 500
1958 proved to be a landmark year for Abarth for another reason. Fiat released a new car: the 500. Measuring just 10 feet (3 m) long and weighing a mere 1,100 pounds (499 kg), the Fiat 500 was one of the very first, true city cars and was the perfect answer to post-war market demand for inexpensive and practical motoring.
Karl Abarth saw other uses for the Fiat 500, however. Initially releasing the vehicle under the designation 595 (later switching to 695), Abarth took a standard Fiat 500 and gave it the full Abarth treatment. This included raising the compression ratios on the small 479 cc engine, fitting a Weber 26 IMB carburetor, optimizing the fuel and intake systems and adding a full Abarth sports exhaust system.
The combined result dramatically improved the handling and doubled the horsepower from 13 to 26. The car‟s exterior remained largely unchanged, apart from having wider wheels and tires, some discrete Abarth branding and a machined ABARTH plaque between the trunk lid and bumper for extra cooling for the rear-mounted engine.
Breaking six international records in its first year of production, the Abarth 595 went on to claim nearly 900 individual race victories by 1965. In fact, the 1960s as a whole proved to be a golden age for Abarth. The famous Scorpion badge (used because Abarth‟s astrological sign is Scorpio) quickly became a symbol of power and performance – so much so that Abarth entered everyday language in its native Italy. Customers in cafés and restaurants would not ask for a strong coffee, or a coffee with a shot of alcohol, but instead ask for an "Abarth coffee."
Abarth Unleashed Again
Since being re-launched in 2007, Abarth has enjoyed improved sales, which have resulted in expansion to international markets. In addition to its success on the dealership forecourt, Abarth has achieved important results in motorsport as well – both in off-road and on-road disciplines, proving its worth as a true all-round contender.
On track, 2011 sees the Abarth 500 compete in the „Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia‟ and the „Trofeo Abarth 500 Europa‟ championships, which include rounds at famous circuits such as Monza, Spa Francorchamps and Imola. In rallying, the new Abarth 500 will prove its spirit in the 2011 „Trofeo Abarth 500 Selenia‟.
In the U.S. the Fiat 500 Abarth will have its world premiere at the 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show, joining the Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio.
ABARTH BRAND – TIMELINE
- November 15,1908 – Karl Abarth is born in Vienna, Austria
- 1930 – Starts racing his own hand-built motorcycles. He becomes a five-time European motorcycle champion
- 1939 – A near‐fatal accident ends his motorcycle racing career
- 1949 – Starts the 'Abarth & C' company producing aftermarket products for production cars as well as performance exhaust systems; wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with his first race car ever (the 204 A Roadstar, derived from a Fiat 1100)
- 1955 – The Abarth 750 GT is launched
- 1956 – The Fiat Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, is presented and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records that same year; two different versions of the same car appear with a Zagato body: Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato and Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
- 1958 – Creates the Fiat 595 Abarth from a Fiat 500 and with it breaks six international speed records
- 1965 – Fiat 595 Abarth tallies nearly 900 victories over its seven-year run
- 1971 – Abarth is absorbed into Fiat Auto
- 1979 – Karl Abarth dies on October 24
- 2007 – The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe
- 2011 – The Fiat 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S.
Faithful to the 'small but wicked' saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth arrives to America with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks - world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited-production volume.
Building on the excitement of the new 2012 Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the new Fiat 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving-puristswho want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.
With its all‐new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race‐inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will unleash the brand's legendary performance heritage to American streets.
60 Years of Racing Heritage
The History of Abarth
Over 10,000 individual race victories, 10 world records and 133 international titles are part of the rich racing heritage behind the acclaimed Abarth marque. In fact, success in competition has always been one of the cornerstones of the Abarth story, and it is no less important now than when Karl Abarth founded „Abarth & C‟ over 60 years ago in 1949.
Abarth and the Fiat brand have a history of collaboration going back 45 years and resulting in six international records and nearly 900 individual race victories. It is with this racing pedigree in mind that fans of Abarth are eagerly anticipating the official launch of the new Fiat 500 Abarth.
A Fighting Start
Karl Abarth (born on November 15, 1908, in Vienna) had racing in his blood and was a fivetime European motorcycle champion by his mid-twenties. This was a feat made even more astonishing when considering that he achieved this success using his own hand-built motorcycles and with no official factory support. Success came at a price, however. In 1939, Abarth suffered a near-fatal accident during a race in Yugoslavia.
The crash left Abarth hospitalized for almost a year and effectively ended his motorcycle racing career. Undeterred, he remained in Yugoslavia during the war, opting to further hone his mechanical skills and step away from driving temporarily. Working as a technical manager in a workshop in Ljubljana, Abarth indulged his entrepreneurial flair by taking on small engineering projects as well as researching how to run internal combustion engines on kerosene.
Shortly after the end of the war, Abarth returned to Italy, prompting him to reestablish old ties with the Porsche family. Stints working in Porsche‟s design department and Italian sports-car manufacturer Cisitalia quickly followed, until March 31, 1949, when he founded the „Abarth & C‟ company with Armando Scagliarini, producing aftermarket products for production cars.
Abarth Performance Exhaust Systems
To supplement the cost of producing tuning kits, Abarth branched out into developing performance exhaust systems. Using his extensive experience with motorcycle exhausts, Abarth developed a new range of car exhaust systems.
Soon, Abarth had developed an array of exhausts tuned to specific vehicles and launched an eye-catching campaign to sell them. The exhausts were presented in a matte black finish with chrome-plated tips. Despite their high price (starting at 5,950 lire as opposed to 2,000 lire for a standard silencer), motorists chose to fit them in the thousands, and Abarth‟s company grew from the strength of these sales.
By the end of 1950, Abarth employed over 40 people and had sold over 4,500 exhaust systems. By 1962, global sales would reach nearly 260,000 units. At the same time, Abarth had once again forged ahead in racing – this time on four wheels. The iconic Fiat Abarth 750 helped Abarth win its place in the record books by smashing time and distance records. The combined success of the exhaust systems and motorsport achievements attracted attention from major manufacturers, and in 1958, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., son of the American president, travelled to Italy to sign an agreement to distribute Abarth products and vehicles in America.
Abarth and the Original Fiat 500
1958 proved to be a landmark year for Abarth for another reason. Fiat released a new car: the 500. Measuring just 10 feet (3 m) long and weighing a mere 1,100 pounds (499 kg), the Fiat 500 was one of the very first, true city cars and was the perfect answer to post-war market demand for inexpensive and practical motoring.
Karl Abarth saw other uses for the Fiat 500, however. Initially releasing the vehicle under the designation 595 (later switching to 695), Abarth took a standard Fiat 500 and gave it the full Abarth treatment. This included raising the compression ratios on the small 479 cc engine, fitting a Weber 26 IMB carburetor, optimizing the fuel and intake systems and adding a full Abarth sports exhaust system.
The combined result dramatically improved the handling and doubled the horsepower from 13 to 26. The car‟s exterior remained largely unchanged, apart from having wider wheels and tires, some discrete Abarth branding and a machined ABARTH plaque between the trunk lid and bumper for extra cooling for the rear-mounted engine.
Breaking six international records in its first year of production, the Abarth 595 went on to claim nearly 900 individual race victories by 1965. In fact, the 1960s as a whole proved to be a golden age for Abarth. The famous Scorpion badge (used because Abarth‟s astrological sign is Scorpio) quickly became a symbol of power and performance – so much so that Abarth entered everyday language in its native Italy. Customers in cafés and restaurants would not ask for a strong coffee, or a coffee with a shot of alcohol, but instead ask for an "Abarth coffee."
Abarth Unleashed Again
Since being re-launched in 2007, Abarth has enjoyed improved sales, which have resulted in expansion to international markets. In addition to its success on the dealership forecourt, Abarth has achieved important results in motorsport as well – both in off-road and on-road disciplines, proving its worth as a true all-round contender.
On track, 2011 sees the Abarth 500 compete in the „Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia‟ and the „Trofeo Abarth 500 Europa‟ championships, which include rounds at famous circuits such as Monza, Spa Francorchamps and Imola. In rallying, the new Abarth 500 will prove its spirit in the 2011 „Trofeo Abarth 500 Selenia‟.
In the U.S. the Fiat 500 Abarth will have its world premiere at the 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show, joining the Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio.
ABARTH BRAND – TIMELINE
- November 15,1908 – Karl Abarth is born in Vienna, Austria
- 1930 – Starts racing his own hand-built motorcycles. He becomes a five-time European motorcycle champion
- 1939 – A near‐fatal accident ends his motorcycle racing career
- 1949 – Starts the 'Abarth & C' company producing aftermarket products for production cars as well as performance exhaust systems; wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with his first race car ever (the 204 A Roadstar, derived from a Fiat 1100)
- 1955 – The Abarth 750 GT is launched
- 1956 – The Fiat Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, is presented and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records that same year; two different versions of the same car appear with a Zagato body: Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato and Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
- 1958 – Creates the Fiat 595 Abarth from a Fiat 500 and with it breaks six international speed records
- 1965 – Fiat 595 Abarth tallies nearly 900 victories over its seven-year run
- 1971 – Abarth is absorbed into Fiat Auto
- 1979 – Karl Abarth dies on October 24
- 2007 – The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe
- 2011 – The Fiat 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S.
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