Fiat has finally released the first official photos of the Fiat 500 Abarth that is going to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
The 500 Abarth is powered by a 1.4L turbo engine that produces 135 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The car also features a new Torque Transfer Control system that improves the cars handling and power delivery to the wheels.
Expect more details next month.
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Comments (23)
The front and profile scream new beetle and the back looks like a mini-cooper.
Overall it's pretty ugly and would fail if it were the halo car in Fiat's US revival.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | February 19, 2008 8:37 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 08:37
Cheap Car Lover is right, it is very beetleish. The car is also too small for me.
Posted by Jeremy | February 19, 2008 8:47 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 08:47
Gay. But knowing how things work it will probably sell like crazy....ugh.
Posted by Alex | February 19, 2008 9:56 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 09:56
Gay. But knowing how things work it will probably sell like crazy....ugh.
Posted by Alex | February 19, 2008 9:57 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 09:57
As unsafe as a Mini-Cooper...why bother?
Posted by Sphere | February 19, 2008 10:00 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 10:00
LOL, this has got to be the most blatant mix of any two card EVER. I actually though I was looking at a Beetle with a body kit.
Posted by SEALBoy | February 19, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 11:30
I think it is cool looking. Perfect size for ripping down some winding roads, with 135 hp sure it gets along fine. smaller than the vw (new bug is too big anyway). Decent mpg I'm sure. Looks like fun.
Posted by Scott | February 19, 2008 3:39 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 15:39
So who's the daddy, the VW Beetle or the Dodge Neon?
Posted by Tommy Boy | February 19, 2008 3:49 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 15:49
I think i see a little vw gti in there somewhere too. Must be a clone.
Posted by Scott | February 19, 2008 5:14 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 17:14
A Mini-Beetle?
Looks like fun for a little commuter car. Rush hour traffic is all about slice and dice. Price it at $20K and watch them fly off the lot.
Posted by Kell | February 19, 2008 5:35 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 17:35
Mini Cooper unsafe haha what a crock i had a cooper i wrecked a cooper and not a scratch the mini sacrificed itself for my preservation and it was a small suv that hit me and dude busted his leg so point null. This car looks very fun and prob a gas to drive, car suppose to be fun to drive!!!!
Posted by al | February 19, 2008 5:42 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 17:42
Al:
Amen to that! The MINI Cooper is an extremely safe car for its size. It ain't like the old days where you would die in a small car. It is what we pay the engineers for. You don't just need masses of steel anymore.
Posted by Joan of Arc | February 19, 2008 7:11 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 19:11
Damn, that looks like a fun car. I'll take a pocket rocket commuter car any day of the week.
Posted by longdxcommuter | February 19, 2008 10:18 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 22:18
I'll take this over a Beetle any day.
Posted by Jim | February 19, 2008 10:52 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 22:52
Well, yes, IMHO the Mini is unsafe, a co-worker of mine had brain trauma when a contractor's F-250 rear ended him at terminal speed of 45mph (or so sad the investigation, he had to stopped at a traffic light entering North 680 @ Walnut Creek, Ca). He passed away at work and had to rush to the hospital to crack his head open and stop the bleeding. The car was bad, and yes, he hadn't broken anything, but after talking to him later he came to the conclusion that the Mini is so tough that it can have the luxury of absorb any big impact. A bigger car would have been capable of absorb some of the impact before reaching the passenger protection cell. Of course, he will not buy a Mini again.
I don't think that with a FIAT you wouldn't fare any better, but hey, as my bike riding friends say, a $50.00 head will buy a $50.00 helmet (instead of an Arai or Shoei). To each its own. Cheap thrills, cheap protection.
I agree 100% with the fun part, this FIAT must be fun, as must be a Caterham 7. But they aren't safe, despite the manufacturer's hype you chose to believe.
Posted by Sphere | February 20, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 13:46
Well, yes, IMHO the Mini is unsafe, a co-worker of mine had brain trauma when a contractor's F-250 rear ended him at terminal speed of 45mph (or so sad the investigation, he had to stopped at a traffic light entering North 680 @ Walnut Creek, Ca). He passed away at work and had to rush to the hospital to crack his head open and stop the bleeding. The car was bad, and yes, he hadn't broken anything, but after talking to him later he came to the conclusion that the Mini is so tough that it can't have the luxury of absorb any big impact. A bigger car would have been capable of absorb some of the impact before reaching the passenger protection cell. Of course, he will not buy a Mini again.
I don't think that with a FIAT you wouldn't fare any better, but hey, as my bike riding friends say, a $50.00 head will buy a $50.00 helmet (instead of an Arai or Shoei). To each its own. Cheap thrills, cheap protection.
I agree 100% with the fun part, this FIAT must be fun, as must be a Caterham 7. But they aren't safe, despite the manufacturer's hype you chose to believe.
Posted by Sphere | February 20, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 13:46
LOL at all the "looks like a beetle" comments, you clowns. I'm assuming you don't know of the original FIAT 500 this is styled on?
Posted by brad | February 20, 2008 3:06 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 15:06
@Brad:
Agreed, It is actually a pretty good update of the classic Fiat 500 lines (albeit engine placement in front and not rear). Trust me, old school Italians can instantly identify with the car's lines.
Posted by longdxcommuter | February 20, 2008 4:04 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 16:04
are you serious you want a mini to stand up to an f250 traveling 45mph hitting it from behind? my friend got hit by an older f250 from behind at 30 and he nearly died, had to spend 3 weeks in icu and broke his legs and a rib. the fact that your friend is alive after his 2500lb mini got hit by a 7000lb f250 from behind should shout from the rooftops that its pretty damn safe
Posted by Kahless | February 20, 2008 4:22 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 16:22
he was in a probe
Posted by Kahless | February 20, 2008 4:24 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 16:24
Well, there are a lot of F250 out there,and at highway speeds, you know? If the Mini can't stand it, this is not my problem. I'm not calling for a ban on the Mini (nor on Contractors and their trucks), I'm just saying the Mini is not safe.
Posted by Sphere | February 20, 2008 7:27 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 19:27
135 hp for a "performance" deal? my dad had an original 500 that pulled a little less without a turbo. and it didn't have all that mas to propel....
I love the car but this should be putting out closer to 200 hp and lb-ft to be worthy of Abarth name...
Posted by SVT | February 21, 2008 3:51 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 03:51
Hey look at the Fiat 500 crash test
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/Fiat_500_2007/298.aspx
It's one of the safest cars in its category!
If you want a small car that is unsafe and not environment friendly, have a look at the Tata Nano - but it's built for an entirely different market and purpose.
I agree that even the safest small car can't do much against a F-250 beast, but in Europe fortunately people doesn't go around with such a heavy pollutant like that. Small cars like the Fiat 500 or the Mini:
- aren't a gas guzzler like the F-250, it can easily do over 75 mpg with its tiny 1.3l diesel multijet engine. yes, it isn't a rocket, but who cares if you can't go over 70 mph in highways?
- much better handling and braking that helps you to avoid collisions
Ps. Even if I'm Italian, it doesn't mean I have to speak good of Italian cars. In fact my family bought another PT Cruiser. It's so practical and still like its design.
Posted by agentsmith | February 25, 2008 8:06 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 20:06