Let us go back to the 50’s and 60’s when small great handling cars were dominating the market in Europe.   [Like the Dino Ferrari and Porsche 904 as the eye candy of affordable performance.]     Fiat jumped in with its Abarth performance shop named after Carlo Abarth.  They sold performance exhausts and other parts for cars.  The Abarth competed in the 850cc-2000cc class with Johann Abt behind the wheel.   He was told if he could win every race he entered he would receive a car for free.   This inspiration led to 29 of 30 victories while placing second on the 30th. Not many drivers have had such a season in any race.

The new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is a car I have been looking forward to since Chrysler Motor Group announced Fiat was coming to America.  I have always loved reading the stories of the underdogs winning against the giants of Ferrari and Porsche.   The legacy of a great driver’s car is still in the sheet metal of this car, and when you buy a new Abarth you receive a day of racing  with a Richard Petty driving instructor to learn how to drive this car to its full potential.  
I should start with the Go Fast of this car as it is a weekend racer’s car.  The Engine is a 1.4l 16v Turbo charged 4cyl. With a 160hp and 170lb ft of torque it sets the brand. This engine features a twin intercooler design with a forged steel crankshaft, lightweight forged connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons with piston cooling jets; which, makes this a very remarkable and reliable engine.   The 1.4l was voted “best International Engine” in 2010 which boasts high remarks  over Honda.  It really shows the love put into this car to make sure you have the very best performance at a great price.

Everything about this car was designed with the track in mind. Equal length half shafts to reduce torque steer, frequency selective damping (FSD) KONI shock up front, stiffer Abarth specific rear stabilizer, and lower ride height increases the handling and cornering grip.  A world apart from the base 500, this car turns into every corner with confidence and asks for more.  4wheel disc brakes with little brake fade at the track and a torque transfer control (TTC) sending the power where it is needed on each side of the front wheels, shows that every corner of this car was redone to ensure great fun and performance when you get behind the wheel. 

At first glance you think will I fit in that car?  Is it comfortable?  The answer is YES all around. Every detail inside the cabin of the Abarth was analyzed for the best ride and comfort.  The steering wheel has a great position and gives good feedback when driving. The wheel is leather with Rosso stitching to match the interior. It even has a flat bottom design to give you more room.  The seats come in either leather or high grip cloth and Rosso stitching to give an elegant  and sporty appeal.  The seat is positioned perfectly for  track view and has memory seating for the driver.  I enjoyed the bolsters which offer great feedback and support when getting into the power.   

The exterior was designed to look as fast as the car with Abarth graphics on the side. The Abarth aero kit and dual exhaust set it apart.  This car is a weekend track car in every  aspect, but formed for the road and everyday driving.   28mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway with a $22,000 price tag make the Abarth  an affordable and efficient sports car for everyone.