Next year Fiat will re-enter the American market, selling cars here again for the first time since the early 1980s. The only model currently scheduled for sale is the retro-micro 500, a MINI-like two-door hatch. But Fiat won't just roll out the standard model line; it's going to start with the range-topping Abarth 500, the in-housed tuned hot hatch.
Think of Abarth as the Italian equivalent of MINI's John Cooper Works. The company has been tuning Fiats for competition since the 1950s, and is now owned by Fiat itself.
The Abarth 500 will use a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine thatmakes 133 horsepower. Zero-to-sixty times for the front-driver should fall around 7.0 seconds. A five-speed transmission will likely be the only choice. Sixteen-inch wheels with performance rubber will be part of the Abarth package, along with sport suspension, sport seats, aluminum pedals, dual tailpipes and rear spoiler.
The Fiat Abarth 500 is expected to undercut the MINI Cooper S on price, coming in well under $20,000. The goal for Fiat is to sell around 20-25,000 of the Abarth 500s. Fiat will sell its new models through existing Chrysler dealers beginning late next year.
Kilometer Magazine - The World of European Motoring
This is a great package in a small car. Definitely happy to see this one cross the pond. Now I have to pitch it to my lady since she's gonna need a car soon. Then I could take it on weekends
This sounds like far more fun than a Smart car. What I notice about euro pricing and US pricing is the numbers are roughly the same, i.e. 18k euros = $18k car here.
**** driving my little brothers around, I'm making my mom buy one of these (so I can buy it from her a couple years later)
PinkSockDubz #1 The Minivan I only replied twice, now three times, to this thread because I have a chronic disease called PWS (postwhoresyndrome) which causes me to post many times per day, It's at the point where I can't even control myself anymore, any computer I'm near I steal so I can post in TCL
They are awsome! Ever since i saw one and watched the Top Gear special I wanted one, especially the Esse Esse version. They are just so cool, I think better looking and more retro than the Mini, mainly now, and all Italian. The Mini started to be all retro and british but BMW made it too technical and the original Mini was nothing like that.
Although it doesn't have the Abarth idiocy, but still a great car
Since my dad works at a CNH plant, Fiat owns them, they sent some here and let the workers take it out on their test track, and look at it and such and for $30,000 to get the TOP NOTCH one, uhhh HECK YEAH
Modified by Godspeed F40 at 10:16 PM 11-8-2009
4 wheels...good, 3 wheels...even better!
Quote, originally posted by dubsport87 »
Im not even sure this is mediocre, its just stock
I'm not a "dubber", i'm an enthusiast! "Alright! These chinless wonders will get you out of Turin faster than anyone else on four wheels. Remember that."
For advertising information Click Here
...
