Thursday 24th May 2007

Fiat 500 Abarth

Diminutive Italian sportster takes on the ‘Ring

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Can it recapture the glory years of Abarth?

Fiat has been putting the forthcoming Fiat 500 Abarth through its paces at the Nurburgring.

The little pocket rocket – on which Fiat is pinning so much of its hopes for revival – has been snapped in these exclusive PH photographs with only a minimum of disguise.

Marking the Abarth version out are bigger wheels, a small rear spoiler and additional air intakes at the front to keep the 1.4 turbo motor cool. This engine is also shared with the soon to be released Abarth Grande Punto, and is expected to produce around 150bhp.

With a relatively high output from a small engine, we’re hoping the Abarth 500 has some of the more exciting turbo characteristics from the golden age of turbo hot hatches, rather than the highly useable but slightly uninspiring characteristics of modern light-pressure turbo engines.

Let’s just pray that the Fiat engineers can deliver an entertaining drive as well as a high quality small car.  

Expect the Abarth 500 to make its debut at the Geneva motor show in 2008.

Additional air intakes for 1.4 Turbo motor

Small rear spoiler can be seen here

 

[andyinPembs]

Am I the only one on here that would actually get more excited about this car than a new Lambo / Fezza?

[Beefmeister]

What a little beauty.

Can't wait to see how this drives...

[Gio G]

So cute, want to stick it in my pocket and take it home. Hope it lives up to the Abarth name!

[paulie-mafia]

I'm so buying one of these!

[Horse_Apple]

andyinPembs said:

Am I the only one on here that would actually get more excited about this car than a new Lambo / Fezza?

Nope.

Just pray to God that Foxtons don't buy any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wigeon Incognito]

If I could afford that as a daily run around as well as having something exciting for the weekends I'd definitely buy one.

As it is hot hatches don't excite me enough to be my only car but that is certainly the most exciting small car I've seen for a long while!

Brilliant!

[jamieboy]

Should be good, and I think the Grande Punto Abarth will be worth a look as well.

[Matt1986]

i think i'll buy one.

Scratch that, i'll definatly get one. it really is something different, and with the panda 100bhp and the punto both getting rave reviews i should think this buggar will be a real treat on the twisties!

[vetteheadracer]

Why is painted like Spiderman?

[rob05]

Fiat back to there best

[anonymous-user]

Where do I sign

[GTRene]

hm, think thy do the right thing again lovely little car with a punch, hope the sound of the exhaust is good too, it needs a bit of that, ow and a bit of sucking air sound, like the Ritmo abarth did with a minimal filter system and the 2x double Weber's...but this is injection, but still I hope it can get a bit of that old school sounds, a bit mean...
GTRene

[jimbro1000]

Yes please! now how much is it? and when can I have it?

[cvegas]

I loved the original concept but this looks too tall. It should look cute but squat, more racey less mini MPV. Lets hope they place the seat low enough to the floor so that drivers feel 'seat of the pants' connected.

[anonymous-user]

I find it quite amusing that *every* car is tested around the 'ring these days. I wonder how much of it is for actual development and how much to get spy shots like this into the press.

As for the car, it does sound good, but I have a feeling its weight will be very important in the final equation.

[sprinter885]

Pondering...
1)Could one of these take the 'Ring flat out using top two gears only in a respectable time ? (apart from starting)
2)What time could Schumacher do in one round 'Ring?

Sorry if they're odd thoughts-don't know why.......

[runnersp]

Yes please! I want one!!!

[exgtt]

I really hope they use something like the 8v turbo motor from the Uno/Punto, lovely little motor, good for 200 bhp with enough lag to make it exciting. Ps i'm a fan of lag, a good boot up the ar5e @ 3k is what i like!!!

[cramorra]

love the idea and looks.. will test drive one..

Only down side that it will be highly overpriced and prob exp in UK as well....
Lets hope it will live up to the name

[blowy84]

the sort of car you could by for the other half and borrow it to whip down the shops in, its goiong to be very popular, i even have a little hope (very strange i know) that it is as unreliable as the classic uno turbo's and the renault 5, that gave them real character