Tuesday 7th April 2015

Pogea Racing announces 330hp Abarth 500

'The perfect symbiosis of sporty functionality and finest high-end ambience.' And 162mph...

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Just when it seemed the Biposto was as silly as the Abarth 500 could become... This is the Pogea Racing Abarth 500, also known as 'The Blue Wonder' and the result of a 500 subjected to 'an extensive fitness programme'. Indeed.

Not your average Abarth 1.4 turbo...

So it's lighter, more powerful, more agile and, as befits the fitness overhaul, has a spruced exterior too. The removal of the rear seats and the addition of carbon panels has slashed 71kg from the standard kerbweight. The paint is Monterey Blue (from the Koenigsegg palette, no less) and the suspension is by KW, with the centre of gravity lowered by 45mm.

But obviously the real excitement is under the bonnet. Still a 1.4 but totally overhauled from standard (forged pistons, an 'XXL' intercooler, uprated turbo, new cams, an additional fuel pump, machined cylinder heads plus exhaust and intake tweaks), this Abarth 500 makes 330hp. Three hundred and thirty horsepower. In addition to 303lb ft, Pogea claims a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds a top speed of 162mph. In a 500! A new gearbox, clutch and reinforced pressure plate should protect the drivetrain from total meltdown.

Slowing the Abarth down from those ludicrous speeds are 313mm front discs with six-piston aluminium calipers and perforated discs from the EsseEsse Abarth at the back. The tyres aiming to contain the rampant power are Toyo Proxes T1-Rs, 205/40/R17 all round.

The quilted leather inside may not be to all tastes, likewise the 'Beats by Dr Dre' sound system, but we have to applaud Pogea Racing's mad work here. For Abarth 500 owners who feel their car is missing a little pep, the Pogea Racing conversion costs 12,500 euros (c. £9,100). Complete cars cost 43,500 euros, or about £31,700. That's made to look even better value when this 695 Tributo is £29K...

[NailedOn]

Holy Smoke.
It's a baby Evo!

[StottyEvo]

Bargain! What an amazing little machine

I expect it should surprise a few people

[Baryonyx]

Neat. I really do like the 500 as a performance car (I hate it in it's everyday guise!). However, I think the other one with the trick gearbox would be more to my tastes. I have to say as well, I'm not fussed on the colour of this one. It needs a good shiny clearcoat on it.

[PHMatt]

I'm guessing the fact a car that weighs as much as my receding hairline and has 330bhp "only" gets to 60 in 5.1 seconds because of traction problems being FWD?

If that was RWD surely you'd be talking low 4's?

[dc2rr07]

PHMatt said:

I'm guessing the fact a car that weighs as much as my receding hairline and has 330bhp "only" gets to 60 in 5.1 seconds because of traction problems being FWD?

If that was RWD surely you'd be talking low 4's?

My thoughts exactly, 0- 60 time that is and not your hairline.

[r11co]

Can I have all that in a Panda bodyshell...?

[dinkel]

With AWD this should politely make the quickest golfball ever.

Mental and ballistic.

Where's Chris when you need 'm.

[MrBarry123]

So all of that modification comes in at a total of £9,100? That's quite spectacular value given a Fiat 500 can be picked up for as little as £8k nowadays.

[james64]

That looks quality

[dlockhart]

Does it sound like a Renault 5 turbo when you lift off the throttle?

[Fetchez la vache]

If it didn't look like a goldfish from the front I'd be all over that...
Love the idea about having that in a Panda

[dinkel]

Grande Punto looks like the car that could handle this power - AWD.

[Oddball RS]

Never mind the traction of the line, I bet 30-100 is a real giggle....

[framerateuk]

PHMatt said:

I'm guessing the fact a car that weighs as much as my receding hairline and has 330bhp "only" gets to 60 in 5.1 seconds because of traction problems being FWD?

If that was RWD surely you'd be talking low 4's?

I'd imagine in-gear times would be quite different. FWD will always struggle off the line.

[turbo-ww]

Holy Moley.....

[soad]

Abarth Fiat 500 Turbo 330 HP CV Racing SS Supercharged and special exhaust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=89&v=Gmc_lSuIZ...

[Ryvita]

330 BHP from a 1.4. 235 BHP/litre. Bloody hell.

How much compression must that thing be running? And in related news, what's the service interval? Measured in hours?

[Neil_M]

Anyone else scratching their head at the possibility of buying a cheap Abarth 500 and throwing this ~ £9k at it?

I wonder could I save a few quid and not take the paint, sound system and seats...

[matrignano]

Does the 500 share the Panda platform?
If so it would be interesting if the Panda 4x4's geartrain could be dropped in this 500...

[SuperchargedVR6]

Ryvita said:

330 BHP from a 1.4. 235 BHP/litre. Bloody hell.

How much compression must that thing be running?

Probably less than 10:1 given how much boost pressure will be required to get 330hp from a 1.4!