Friday 20th September 2013

Zender Abarth 500 Corsa Stradale concept

Clearly this is the week for sub-tonne, four-cylinder, 240hp Italian sports cars!

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It says something about the scale of the Frankfurt show that concepts as attention-grabbing as the Zender Abarth 500 can go largely unnoticed. Dan and Chris covered a lot, they really did, but there's only so much walking and writing two men can do.

Stylish cabin remains. It is a 500 after all...

But we're still slightly aggrieved to have missed such a wicked little Fiat. The Zender Abarth 500 Corsa Stradale, as the name may suggest, is a race-derived hatch for the road. It would sit very nicely alongside a 458 Speciale you imagine, both sharing a track focus with some road concessions.

But the Zender 500 doesn't forego luxury like the Ferrari it emulates. The sports seats are still hide-covered (with contrast stitching, of course) and all the standard kit appears present.

The properly interesting stuff is elsewhere on the Zender 500 concept. That up-and-at-'em , tarmac rally car stance comes courtesy of an entirely new front end with wider wings, some swollen arches, side skirts and a new rear diffuser/spoiler arrangement. The new pipes, high up near the bootlid, are a lovely nod to the Speciale too. Or it's a very nice coincidence.

Moreover, the entire body is now constructed from carbon fibre. Zender hasn't released a kerbweight but given the standard Abarth is 1,035kg, it must now be around a tonne.

458 Speciale-aping pipes a nice touch

So the fact it's now making 240hp is all the more exciting, and mildly terrifying. Especially given the 500 is still only displacing 1.4 litres, giving a specific output of 171hp per litre. Unfortunately, Zender hasn't released any exact details on the mods, perhaps because it was witchcraft.

Anyway, we do have some performance figures. 62 mph comes up in 6.5 seconds (traction issues presumably) and 124mph in 24.7 seconds. Frustratingly, there isn't a 0-100mph time, which would probably be more relevant. Zender claims a top speed for the Corsa Stradale of 144mph.

Given the amount of exorbitantly-priced special editions Fiat keeps churning out, it's disappointing there are no plans to produce the Zender Abarth 500 at the moment.

 

[Source: CarScoops]

[mikebradford]

think it looks great
perfect alloys for the car

the normal fiat 500 looks good when the right colour scheme / options are selected
this adds to its

[davidsfox]

I agree, not really a fan of the 500, but this looks really good. I bet it wouldn't be cheap though!

[vwsurfbum]

Looks shexhsy

[Carnnoisseur]

Absolutely bonkers, love it!!

[Whiters]

That is superb. Looks like a great piece of work. Hope it's got and LSD...

[LuS1fer]

Looks like it's filled its nappy.

[ukmike2000]

Mad, bad, and dangerous to own.

I love it!

Looks nicely put together

[Monaro5.7]

What the weee car market needs just now, looks realy nice

[BBS-LM]

I love these little car, mush want

[Alfa159Ti]

Looks funky, but who actually buys cars like this?

[Andy ap]

I took one look at the front and thought oh its a modified beetle, Then looked at the pic of the clamshell bumper and bonnet and thought it looks like a MINI.

But Damn! Make the front grill and Xmas lights a bit better arranged and i'd love one. I think it looks amazing (despite the fussy front). Would be a truly insane car to own and i have a real soft spot for mental supermini's. Problem is if i was nuts enough to have one that interior would be replaced by buckets and a cage i mean seriously this really isnt a road car no matter what they tell you its a cup car / rally car thats all confused.

Also liking the Italian flag colours on the wing mirror....Subtle.

EDIT: PH can we have some high res pics of that i want to save them to my desktop for those days when a couple of screws are missing....

Edited by Andy ap on Friday 20th September 13:11

[cookie1600]

Just needs the boot propping open on two stays and it looks ready to go hooning!

[300bhp/ton]

Wonder how long those alloys would last on a bumpy pot ridden road? Looks good though.

[Bill Carr]

Want. That is all.

[dlockhart]

Has the Renault 5 turbo found its successor?

[nedge2k]

This is what the Abarth should have been. Shame they didn't RWD it...

[hill79]

A 1.4 putting out 240BHP? I think the keyword here is 'concept'.

[300bhp/ton]

nedge2k said:

This is what the Abarth should have been. Shame they didn't RWD it...

Yeah because things like the Renault Clio V6 was amazingly successful models, huge profits and little outlay in R&D and bespoke parts.......

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Much want

[mp3manager]