Fiat 500 Abarth Geneva preview
February 19, 2008 by George Skentzos
Following leaked official images finding their way onto the web, Italian car maker Fiat has officially revealed its new Fiat 500 Abarth hot hatch.
Set to make its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the Abarth represents a high-performance edition of the outrageously popular Fiat 500.
The Abarth’s new 1.4-litre 16v petrol turbocharged engine delivers a maximum 99kW at 5500rpm and peak torque of 206Nm at 3000rpm in Sport mode, and 180Nm at 2500rpm in Normal mode.
Like the original Fiat 500 upon which it is based, the Abarth variant will fully comply with future Euro 5 emissions standards.
It has also adopted the new TTC (Torque Transfer Control) system, which improves the transfer of drive torque to the wheels, but, above all, ensures that the car behaves impeccably on bends, making it safer and more entertaining even with a sporty driving style.
Print it: 
nuthin this ugly could be hot. looks like it melted
206nm in that little thing is awesome.
Anything Abarth is a good thing! check your history.
more kw’s would have been nice
Awesome package, but what a shame about the wheels.
Brilliant !!
Anyone who can’t appreciate this is an absolute philistine.
99kw in 1000kg or under is plenty enough to get all the thrills you need.
HEY CAPT ME THINKS THE WHEELS ARE THE ONLY GOOD THING BOUT THE CAR….YOU BUY THE CAR AND ILL BUY THE WHEELS OFF YA..THAT CAR IS PLAIN UGLY……..LOL
mehh, expected price?
Speed Freak: Give it six months after it appears on the roads, see how many there are, then tell me they all bought it because it was ugly. But maybe those wheels would look good on your ‘74 Torana.
I could get used to the look (I think). This would be a hoot to drive. Great power to weight and would be fun in the bendy stuff. I understand there is also an SS with over 130 kW to play with.
THOUGHT ID SEEN THAT CAR B4, TAKE A LOOK AT THE UGLY NISSAN MICAR AND HERE I THOUGHT THAT CAR WAS UGLY, THIS CAR TOPS IT. CAPT I CARNT REALLY SEE MANY OF THESE CARS SELLING WHO IN THERE RIGHTMIND WOULD BUY ONE….ALSO ID THINK 19 OR 20′S ON MY VE SV6 WOULD LOOK RATHER SWEET?? DONT NO…. DONT NO BOUT THE TORANA THOUGH….
Love it!
SUPERB!
Sorry about the price [we cam imagain!]
Cheers
F-O
Frugal One – its not a Superb that a Skoda its a Fiat 500…ha ha ha.
hey guys look for Ford Ka ST the under pinning of the fiat but the look of a mini Focus ST. Long live what the suzuki GTI was.
Awesome!
I would really like to test drive that thing when it comes out. 200+ Nm from a 1.4L engine. Awesome.
“Abarth” ???
What were they thinking?! Perhaps it means something in a european language.
A bath :-/
RoFLaTiC, Abarth was the surname of the business’s austrian-italian founder. Its the same as Ford being named after Henry Ford, or Holden being named after James A Holden, or many other businesses. Next time you post engage your brain first.
Personally I preferred Abarths take on the Punto more than this take on the 500, no matter what body kit you add to a cutesy car like a 500, its never going to really look sporty and aggressive. Engine should be a cracker though.
Indeed. Engine should be brilliant in this car.
I can’t wait too see what ATECO does about bringing an Abarth kit for the Punto. I wouldn’t mind ricing mind up.
Fun! Sounds like it will handle brilliantly and move quite well… would be a lot of fun on smaller Euro roads (not to mention a couple I know of over here in Oz too) :)
Specifically around Tassie :D
TGOR
Watch out for the Cheeky Grin on the owners face, when this thing blows you into the weeds. You laugh now, remember this when it happens!