Fiat Abarth

Abarth 500C (above) and Punto Evo (below right) – Click either for high-res image galleries

With the unification of Fiat and Chrysler, we're been expecting major changes in the corporate structure of the two automakers and their various brands. Most recently, Lancia chief executive Olivier Francois was named head of the Chrysler division, leading to reports that the

Where there's smoke, there's fire. So it was natural to expect that, with the debut of the mildly facelifted Fiat Punto Evo and its smoked headlights, we might expect an updated version of the fire-breathing Abarth to go with it. And this, according to reports, is our first look at just such a hot hatch.

Fiat's Abarth performance division only has two basic product lines, so how many revisions can it possibly have on the burner? Well, two, as reports emerging from Europe suggest.

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

Fiat 500 Abarth by Karl Schnorr – Click above for high-res image gallery

Raikkonen drives Rally Finland in a Fiat Punto Abarth

Abarth Corse seats by Sabelt – Click above for high-res image gallery

While it may seem like an inopportune time to exhume a performance marque, that's just what Renault is up to, says Car. According to the U.K. glossy, Renault will relaunch the Gordini brand in Europe next year with a new Twingo variant. You may recall that it was recently revealed that the French automaker's plans to bring back its storied Alpine product line has been axed, but the decades-dormant Gordini