RE: Mid-Engined Abarth To Be Based On KTM

[GTRene]

and here the special X1/9 Dallara version



and here a very nice picture of a mostley standard X1/9

[GTRene]

and here the Abarth version of that X1/9

[Imafreeman]

X-bow chassis is cabon fibre isn't it?

Even with not paying full cost it won't be cheaper than the existing Elise tub (which doesn't seem to be part of the new line-up). Expensive to repair too.

Hope it's better than the current crop of Abarths.

[Terry Barr]

GTRene said:

Fiat did make lots of mid engined sportcars....the FIAT X1/9 Bertone.

And at one time they stuck in a 2 litre dohc Fiat lump into an X19 for rallying. They killed it off fairly quickly as it was quicker than a Stratos.

[rutthenut]

Terry Barr said:

And at one time they stuck in a 2 litre dohc Fiat lump into an X19 for rallying. They killed it off fairly quickly as it was quicker than a Stratos.

Is that right?
Bear in mind that the reason the Stratos did eventually get killed off (whilst still competitive) was apparently because Fiat Group wanted a more recognisable Fiat car for rallying, so did the (lovely) 131 Abarth.
Me, I'd like a 124 Abarth to play with.

[otolith]

The Crack Fox said:

otolith said:

790kg for the X-bow - promising start.

Not really, that's about the same as an Elise, which can be used all year round. I think the X-bow is a bi of a porker compared to Caterfields and Atoms etc. Also, when you add a few hundred kilos of conventional bodywork to the KTM (to make it the Abarth car) is will be heavier than the Panda and 500, cars Abarth could (and should) drop that engine into in the first place...

I'm thinking of what it will weigh compared to the 1100kg Elise 3.

Don't really give a toss what engines they stick in the rebadged shopping cars, to be honest...

[turbosei]

50k is too much, the appeal of Abarth is in affordable performance, a bit of Italian cool mixed with Italian craziness. Pricing it to compete with Lotus and even Porsche (Cayman/Boxster) is risky, but I guess with a target of 500 a year they aren't expecting to sell many.

Would have been nice to have seen it a lot cheaper - more like an Italian MX5, 200bhp would be plenty for that and wrapped in a great Pininfarina design (they could use the business apparently) it would sell all day long.

[dinkel]

rutthenut said:

Me, I'd like a 124 Abarth to play with.

Oh yes indeedy: stylish box with a soundbyte.

Or this:

Let's bring back decent Italian clothing. Simca Abarth 2000: 665 kgs holding a 185 brake one point nine.

[GTRene]

Terry Barr said:

GTRene said:

Fiat did make lots of mid engined sportcars....the FIAT X1/9 Bertone.

And at one time they stuck in a 2 litre dohc Fiat lump into an X19 for rallying. They killed it off fairly quickly as it was quicker than a Stratos.

Indeed a very fast car...
what about Israel's fastest X1/9....

fast said:

Israeli X1/9 - which is the fastest streetlegal X in the world with about 650HP at 1000KG dry weight, beating a moded GSXR1000 and raping a ZX10R.

0-100 KMH in 2.8 seconds

100-200 KMH IN 4.0 seconds

0-270 KMH 15.9 seconds

I believe its this one

http://www.streetfire.net/video/bertone-x19_101778...

[TdM-GTV]

I nearly got excited then... Abarth, MR, Fiat lump... Couldn't understand the Elise platform being expensive but maybe the X-bow is better designed for mass production..

I was thinking 20 odd maybe 30k and everyone's a winner!

50... Damn... Too much. Might be good value second hand though - they will manage to sell 500 I think.

[turbo-ww]

Terry Barr said:

GTRene said:

Fiat did make lots of mid engined sportcars....the FIAT X1/9 Bertone.

And at one time they stuck in a 2 litre dohc Fiat lump into an X19 for rallying. They killed it off fairly quickly as it was quicker than a Stratos.

Had one once, great car, wonderful handling, lack of poke and a sh1 t gearbox.

I believe there was a cottage industry fitting punto turbo engines.

[BSC]

tomv1to said:

I know so far all Abarth have done is tune existing Fiat models but I'm really excited that they are getting the opportunity to make their own individual model.

Abarth had a go on Porsche. The Abarth Porsche was a successful race-car as well as the above mentioned Abarth Simca.

[BSC]

TdM-GTV said:

Couldn't understand the Elise platform being expensive but maybe the X-bow is better designed for mass production..

You are kidding, right? How could a carbon-fibre chassis (KTM X-bow) be cheaper than a glued and rivetted aluminium chassis (Elise)? Or even more suited for mass-production?

[mainaman]

1.8 Multiair Turbo and 190 BHP!?This has to be a typo,cause the non-Multiair 1.8 Turbo makes 240 BHP in the Gulietta Cloverleaf!

[dom9]

I am looking forward to seeing what they do!

[Toecutter]

mainaman said:

1.8 Multiair Turbo and 190 BHP!?This has to be a typo,cause the non-Multiair 1.8 Turbo makes 240 BHP in the Gulietta Cloverleaf!

The Giulietta Cloverleaf 1750 TBi is turbocharged, with direct injection and dual variable valve timing.

[jimbro1000]

Toecutter said:

mainaman said:

1.8 Multiair Turbo and 190 BHP!?This has to be a typo,cause the non-Multiair 1.8 Turbo makes 240 BHP in the Gulietta Cloverleaf!

The Giulietta Cloverleaf 1750 TBi is turbocharged, with direct injection and dual variable valve timing.

It is a typo because the biggest multi-air at the moment is 1.4 - and produces 190bhp in road-trim. Alfa wouldn't let Abarth have the TBi engine anyway thanks to the in-fighting between the different departments. The odds of the project really getting to production is pretty slim for the same reasons - Alfa and Lancia have a shared platform for their new cars and Abarth was *supposed* to share it as well but flicked their teeth at the rest and keep insisting on mid-engined. As a result Abarth are thin on budget for a new development of their own coupled with a general evaporation of interest within the Fiat group in nurturing the Abarth brand.

I think I will start saving hard though - this is just too much of a temptation to replace my aging Dallara.

[Gillet]

Its the £50k that must be the typo, are they mad?! Car companies baffle me sometimes, and if anyone buys this i'll be even more baffled

[sospan]

Ths seems to be a good route for companies to go.
Take some good bits from another car and restyle it to your own design.
Collaboration like this will certainly help reduce design/development costs and as each company has already done its bit.
KTM is a bit overpriced - I saw them when looking at kitcars.
But Fiat/Aberth styling and possible better value for money may be the outcome.
Can't wait to see the photos of one.
KTM is a track car more than a road car so this hybrid (word used in a better way than fuel/electric mode) may be a good one.

[Marcus Butlerus]

I have heard rumours that the continuum transfunctionaire requires replacment after 20k, I wouldn't pay more than £49400 IMO.