Abarth Roadster - Like A Lotus, But Not?
Fiat to go it alone without help from Hethel or Austria
Not the new Abarth roadster...
Abarth's unique sports car, which will hit showrooms early in 2013, will be a nod to the 1960s, when Abarth produced a series of bespoke-bodied sports and racing cars.
According to an Autocar report, the new car will echo the layout of the Lotus Elise, employing a transverse, mid-mounted layout, a similar roof mechanism and even similar proportions. Power, as expected, will come from Fiat's new MultiAir engine range, while transmitting the power will be Fiat Auto's soon-to-be-launched dual-clutch gearbox.
It is also reported that the roadster will be pitched at around £25,000 - which is presumably one of the main reasons for Fiat's rejection of the ultra-expensive, carbon fibre-heavy KTM X-Bow being used as the basis for the car.
And it might just be our imaginations, but could it be possible that Fiat's decision not to use Lotus as its engineering partner for the Abarth roadster has something to do with the fact that Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is ex-Ferrari? Is this a good ol' Italian blood feud? Who knows...
Is it just some Italian pipe dream that will never see the light of day?
I really hope it does happen, but hope it stays pure and focused, and doesn't water down to something more "mainstream"
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff