The new 500 Abarth is a concentrated powerhouse of performance, style, technology and safety, stemming from years of experience and the passion of the world of racing.
In perfect keeping with the Scorpions Tradition, the style of the new 500 Abarth seduces at first glance, and at the same time contributes decisively to the car's performance. A daring, aggressive car, the 500 Abarth is dedicated to everyone who has a dream and pursues it relentlessly, who feels free and independent, with determination, enthusiasm and style, and has a genuine passion.
Nothing is left to chance on the new 500 Abarth; every detail of it's design has been developed to improve its look and it's performance. Die-hard fans will certainly notice that extra touch on the muffler, where the scorpion logo has been stamped just like on the historic Abarth models.
The front features an element that emphasises the 500 Abarth's GT credentials; the triple air intake element consisting of a central intake and a two symmetrical 'nostrils' on either side of the bumper. The turbocharger, gives the 500 Abarth a more pronounced, dynamic side profile.
The Abarth logo seems to 'float' above a finned surface that serves as an extra air intake. On the sides, the Abarth emblems are crossed by a tricolour bolt of lightning. And lastly, we have the wheels, either 16 or 17 inch, and featuring different styles.
Inside the new 500 Abarth you will find special instrumentation, an analogue pressure gauge for measuring the turbo pressure, and a GSI (Gear Shift Indicator) as well as a three-spoke steering wheel with shaped grip, and flattened at the base to let you adjust it perfectly.
Among the details that will captivate you are; the aluminum pedals with rubber inserts, leather gear lever knob with an ergonomic grip for sportier use, and the handbrake grip, which is also in leather.
Then there are the seats, with a head restraint built in to the back, a specific Abarth design, and a wraparound configuration that ensures containment even on bends. And you can decide whether to go for black or red leather upholstery, or else a fabric finish.
The 500 Abarth was designed to offer you all the thrills and spills of a racing car while at the same time being ideal for everyday driving; better performance; better handling, and better braking. Under the bonnet; a Fire 1.4 16v Turbo petrol unit that can deliver a maximum power output of 135 bhp (99 Kw)at 5500 rpm and a peak torque at 206 Nm at 300rpm in Sport mode (in Normal mode, peak torque is 180 Nm at 2500 rpm).
In detail, the engine is a 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 1368 cc unit (supercharged by a fixed geometry IHI RHF3-P turbocharger): it can reach a top speed of 205 km/hr and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/hr in just 7.9 seconds. This is possible thanks to the overboost function, which is activated by the Sports button, and alters the control unit setup and turbo pressure, as well as the load on the steering wheel.
And the whole setup is characterised by an extremely simple construction, giving you all the sturdiness and reliability you need.
The 500 Abarth has been designed to thrill, but also to offer outstanding safety.
The stable, effective braking system together with the outstanding pick-up provided by the 135 bhp engine, and a highly-predictable road behavior, enable you to get out of even the most critical situations with ease. The 500 Abarth also comes with 7 airbags as standard and a host of sophisticated technical solutions for active including two special devices; the TTC (Torque Transfer Control) and GSI (Gear Shift Indicator) systems.
As far as the suspension is concerned, the 500 Abarth mounts a McPherson type independent wheel system at the front, and in inter-connected (semi-independent) wheel setup at the rear, with the torsion beam. Designed by Magneti Marelli, these two setups have been specifically revised and developed to give you the maximum driving comfort and handling.
Making its debut on the 500 Abarth is Blue&Me™ MAP with a Telemetry function. This is a highly-innovative additional service developed by Magneti Marelli , based on years of experience in the world of racing, and combining sporting performance with the benefits of Blue&Me™ MAP.
The Monitoring function shows on the display the main vehicle parameters (engine speed, vehicle speed, gear engaged. The Track function provides a further series of information such as the position of the car on the route (thanks to GPS) and journey time The Configuration function enables you to store telemetry data about the route and associate it with a customised session.
The Blue&Me™ MAP system is the new frontier in the market for portable navigation system. It is safe and easy to use, through a high degree of integration with the vehicle.
| OTR | £14,150 |
|---|---|
| RFL | £xxx |
| First registration fee | £xx |
| Number plates | £xx |
| Delivery charge | £xxx |
| Total Retail | £xx,xxx.xx |
| Tax | £x,xxx.xx |
| Basic | £xx,xxx.xx |
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Climate Control | £260 |
| 50/50 Split folding rear seat | £150 |
| Leather Sports Interior | £800 |
| Electric "Sky Window" sunroof | £550 |
| Electrochromatic Anti-dazzle rear view mirror | £100 |
| Xenon Lights | £500 |
| 17" Alloy wheels with 205/40 R17 tyres (5 petals) | £175 |
| 17" Alloy wheels with 205/40 R17 tyres (10 spokes) | £175 |
| Chrome finished door mirror | £70 |
| Pre-disposition for portable navigator/telemetry | £15 |
| Blue&Me Nav | £240 |
| Fixed glass roof panel | £325 |
| Colour 270 "Funk White" Pearl paint finish | £700 |
| Colour 891 "Crossover Black" Metallic paint finish | £375 |
| Colour 111 "Pasadoble Red" Special paint finish | £250 |
| Colour 676 "Campovola Grey" Special paint finish | £250 |
| Red checked roof | £135 |
| White checked roof | £135 |
| Black checked roof | £135 |
| Red Scorpion bonnet decal | £75 |
| White Scorpion bonnet decal | £75 |
| Black Scorpion bonnet decal | £75 |
| Red Abarth side stripe and mirrors | £160 |
| White Abarth side stripe and mirrors | £160 |
| Black Abarth side stripe and mirrors | £160 |
| Alloy gear knob | £50 |
09/07/08
This the hottest production 500 yet - the Fiat 500 Abarth. You're unlikely to miss this fact, given its big wheels, sill extensions, rear spoiler, bold twin exhausts (they issue a pleasingly resonant rort), rear diffuser and some cheekily scaled Abarth badging.
There’s not a Fiat emblem to be seen on the Abarth 500, ramming home Fiat’s intentions for this hot sub-brand.
Its turbocharged 1.4 twin cam pushes out 133bhp and 152lb ft of torque in overboost, which is enough to slingshot the Abarth 500 to 62mph in 7.9sec. It rides on fat 195/45 R16 rubber and firmer suspension, with steering that’s more precise and improved clamping power.
Inside you’ll find seats cleverly sculpted and trimmed to resemble the buckets of the ‘60s, a combined turbo boost gauge and gearshift change-up light – it’s hung from the side of the leather covered instrument cowl. There are also leather finishes for gearlever and wheel, the wheel itself flat-bottomed and very good to look at, and alloy pedals. Again, there’s no mistaking Abarth’s intent.
View Full Story: Autocar
10/07/08
WHO said that nostalgia was a thing of the past? The oh so retro Fiat 500 has made the Italian firm a big success again.
Just a few years ago Fiat had boring and boxy with cars such as the Stilo and Multipla.
Now they have two of the most wanted small cars on the planet - the Grande Punto and 500.
But it’s the 500 which has really captured the imagination. Fiat expected to sell 120,000 in its first year, it has actually sold 200,000!
View Full Story: The Sun
17/08/08
The new Fiat 500 Abarth packs a lot of power in its compact frame. But why is it covered in enamelled scorpions?
There's something hugely appealing about the unexpectedly fast, small car. It's the combination of cute looks and the promise of major amusement from cheeky, giant-killing performance.
So, a Fiat 500 wearing big wheels, a roof-mounted wing and enough stripes to decorate a general is a pleasing eyeful. This, and the fact that the 500 is impossibly stylish to start with. You might be surprised not to find a single Fiat badge, unless you go burrowing deep in the engine bay, but it is liberally sprinkled with enamelled scorpions, some of which crop up in unexpected places - like the real thing – such as high on the rear wings.
View Full Story: The Independent
10/07/08
Can the Fiat 500 Abarth live up to the hype? Now we've driven it, we have the answer. In the last year, no car launched anywhere has had the same impact on the buying public as the Fiat 500. It seems we just can’t get enough of its retro bubbliness, cheery smile and Italian chic.
But if you feel a little patronised by the unashamed plundering of the Fiat back catalogue, perhaps the new hot version, the 500 Abarth, will change your mind. It’s still working to the same template of rehashing past successes, but it's claimed to be bang up to date in performance and driving dynamics. It mixes pukka design with pin-sharp performance.
View Full Story: Car Magazine Online
OTR: £2,750