Tuesday 23rd October 2007

In Racing We Trust

New Abarth ads hit the spot

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Grande Punto on sale in early '08

The Abarth Grande Punto is just about rolling out of dealerships in Italy, and we hope it’s the first in a long line of proper performance products.

The car is certainly an interesting appetiser for what lies in store, with its 1.4-litre turbo engine mustering 153bhp. The SS kit due next year in Italy should boost that to 178bhp too, making it a proper little hot hatch.

In preparation for its onslaught on the European market, Fiat and Abarth are readying their ads for the new car and we reckon they’re on to something.

These commercials are airing on Italian television to raise the profile of the newly reinvigorated performance brand. Until we get the first cars in the UK early next year, check out the links below.

Performance and a sense of fun: PH rates the Abarth philosophy: let’s hope it can deliver.

Advert One

Advert Two

Advert Three

[Gammy]

Not too keen TBH but class advert (number1) had me in stitches

[Tin Hat]

I like it, Abarth image is pretty cool too.

[mackie1]

I think I read that the fast one will be about £20k though. With a Clio Cup coming in at around £15k and the Corsa VXR at similar money that's quite expensive!

[flattotheboards]

i like the three adverts i hope they show them on uk tv.

[dublet]

That lovely engine noise is almost enough to make me want to buy a Fiat. But then again, just as I would step into the dealership, I would run away and buy something Japanese.

[Munter]

flattotheboards said:

i like the three adverts i hope they show them on uk tv.

Number 1 and 3 cant appear in the UK as they breach ASA guidelines. The piece at the end of all 3 breaches the guidelines. But you could possibly have the swing scene with a disclaimer across the bottom.

This country is crap isn't it.

Edited by Munter on Tuesday 23 October 13:27

[joe_90]

not allowed in the uk I suspect due to using the word 'racing'

[clonmult]

joe_90 said:

not allowed in the uk I suspect due to using the word 'racing'

Aye, because lest we forget, racing is EVIL, and SPEED (not stupid driving) kills!

[alfa_male]

Well done Fiat on producing another superb car that looks great and goes like sh**!!

[thebluebus]

Munter said:

flattotheboards said:

i like the three adverts i hope they show them on uk tv.

Number 1 and 3 cant appear in the UK as they breach ASA guidelines. The piece at the end of all 3 breaches the guidelines. But you could possibly have the swing scene with a disclaimer across the bottom.

This country is crap isn't it.

Edited by Munter on Tuesday 23 October 13:27

Why's that Munter? What do the ASA guidelines say?

[Munter]

thebluebus said:

Munter said:

flattotheboards said:

i like the three adverts i hope they show them on uk tv.

Number 1 and 3 cant appear in the UK as they breach ASA guidelines. The piece at the end of all 3 breaches the guidelines. But you could possibly have the swing scene with a disclaimer across the bottom.

This country is crap isn't it.

Edited by Munter on Tuesday 23 October 13:27

Why's that Munter? What do the ASA guidelines say?

Basically they say you may not promote a car by saying it's fast, or racey. Anything that might promote the use of speed. Also all driving has to be perfect for the road. So jumping over a bump at speed on a junction saying "in racing we trust". Well that's never going to pass!

[Munter]

Or to be exact (taken from here http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/codes/tv_code/tv_codes/S... ):
11.9 DRIVING STANDARDS

Note to 11.9:

11.9.1 applies to any advertising which features or refers to driving. 11.9.2 contains additional rules for automotive advertising.

11.9.1 Rules for all advertising

No advertisement may encourage or condone dangerous, inconsiderate or irresponsible driving or motorcycling

Note:

This does not prevent flamboyant driving in scenes which are clearly fantasy or ‘theatrical’ so that the action is distanced from reality (eg scenes of driving mayhem in trailers for action films).

11.9.2 Automotive advertising

Advertisements for cars, motorbikes or other automotive products must not:

a) encourage or condone fast or irresponsible driving nor

b) refer to speeds over 70mph nor

c) demonstrate power, acceleration, handling characteristics etc except in a clear context of safety. Any references to such characteristics must not imply excitement or competitiveness

[sad61t]

thebluebus said:

Munter said:

flattotheboards said:

i like the three adverts i hope they show them on uk tv.

Number 1 and 3 cant appear in the UK as they breach ASA guidelines. The piece at the end of all 3 breaches the guidelines. But you could possibly have the swing scene with a disclaimer across the bottom.

This country is crap isn't it.

Edited by Munter on Tuesday 23 October 13:27

Why's that Munter? What do the ASA guidelines say?

I was watching 1 & 3 and thinking the same thing. It's the airborne car - promotes irresponsible behaviour. iirc there was an ad that did something similar (a tagline along the lines of "On the road... sometimes&quot that got banned.

I think #1 is the best of the bunch. #3 stretches the plausibility gap too far - if you really jumped that far the whole car would just nosedive into oblivion.

Fiat reliability is an issue - I've a Panda 1.1 (didn't see the need for 100bhp in a city car & the wider wheels and silly spoilers ruin the lines) and it's a real hoot round the local lanes but at legal speeds & group 1 insurance. Corners have to be planned so it's settled all the way through (don't ever try to change line mid-corner, the body roll makes it a truly scary experience), momentum maintained at all costs, and judicous use of 2nd gear on tight uphill bits. There's no tacho so stereo (a cassette deck!) is off as rev counter is Mk1 eardrum. Only niggle so far (2 years) is that the central locking sometimes jams the driver's door either open (so it won't shut) or shut (so you can't open it). The former's the easier of the two as you just pull the internal door handle; the latter's a total pain as it involves climbing in the rea doors and adopting various yoga positions to try and reach the handle to toggle the lock. The garage are, of course, unable to replicate the problem.

[errek72]

Munter said:

11.9.1 Rules for all advertising

No advertisement may encourage or condone dangerous, inconsiderate or irresponsible driving or motorcycling

Arguably, that would make all white van ads illegal, no?

[Eoghan]

1 and 3 may not be allowed and who wants to think of there kids spending time unsupervised in the park (2), while they're stranded on the side of the motorway.

[C5L]

one of my interim cars was a Punto Sporting, they had so much character and the engine could be raped everyday , brings back fond memories.

Rock on Abarth !

[thebluebus]

Munter said:

Or to be exact (taken from here http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/codes/tv_code/tv_codes/S... ):
11.9 DRIVING STANDARDS

Note to 11.9:

11.9.1 applies to any advertising which features or refers to driving. 11.9.2 contains additional rules for automotive advertising.

11.9.1 Rules for all advertising

No advertisement may encourage or condone dangerous, inconsiderate or irresponsible driving or motorcycling

Note:

This does not prevent flamboyant driving in scenes which are clearly fantasy or ‘theatrical’ so that the action is distanced from reality (eg scenes of driving mayhem in trailers for action films).

11.9.2 Automotive advertising

Advertisements for cars, motorbikes or other automotive products must not:

a) encourage or condone fast or irresponsible driving nor

b) refer to speeds over 70mph nor

c) demonstrate power, acceleration, handling characteristics etc except in a clear context of safety. Any references to such characteristics must not imply excitement or competitiveness

Thanks!

I actually had a Stilo for a little while and nothing at all went wrong with it. Except it was a big stodgy old bus with a tiny engine.

But I knew that when I bought it.

[hobbadam]

I'm afraid id chose the 97 14 gt turb over it any day CMON FIAT WHATS HAPPENED?