18/02/2008 -The return of the Abarth brand continues with the Fiat 500 Abarth.
As envisaged by the plans to revive the brand, the Abarth & C. Spa company has set up new premises in the Mirafiori complex in Turin, bringing together the manufacturing, design and management functions for the whole company, as well as the staff of the Racing Team who were formerly housed in the historical plant in the nearby town of Chivasso.
From racing to our everyday roads, but always with a sporty approach. This is the goal behind the debut of the long-awaited ‘500 Abarth’, announced for the coming Geneva International Motor Show. The new car was developed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth of the 1960s, and will be marketed from July through the exclusive Abarth network.
With a strong sporty personality, the new car will be powered by a Fire 1.4 16v petrol Turbo engine, which delivers a maximum of 135 bhp (99 kW) at 5,500 rpm and peak torque of 206 Nm at 3,000 rpm in ‘Sport’ mode (in ‘Normal’ mode, torque is reduced to 180 Nm at 2,500 rpm). This brilliant, smooth new engine is also a friend of the environment: like the regular Fiat model it is derived from, the new Abarth will respect future Euro 5 legislation.
Another interesting feature of the 500 Abarth is the fact that it adopts 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. In other words, it is faithful to the phrase coined for the Abarths of the 1960s ‘small but wicked’.
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Series Production Car |
| released at | 2008 Geneva Motor Shoq |
| built at | Tychy, Poland |
| body stylist | Roberto Giolito |
| price $ | $ 15,500 |
| price €/td> | €15,000 |
| price £/td> | £13,500 |
| engine | 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet Inline-4 |
| position | Front Transverse |
| aspiration | IHI RHF3-P Turbocharger |
| ignition | Coil-On-PLug |
| block material | Aluminum Alloy |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl |
| fuel feed | Sequential Multipoint Injection |
| displacement | 1368 cc / 83.5 in³ |
| bore | 72 mm / 2.83 in |
| stroke | 84 mm / 3.31 in |
| compression | 11.0:1 |
| power | 100.7 kw / 135 bhp @ 5500 rpm |
| specific output | 98.68 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 118.94 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 206 nm / 151.9 ft lbs @ 3000 rpm |
| redline | 6500 |
| body / frame | Unit Steel |
| driven wheels | FWD |
| front tires | 195/45 R16 |
| rear tires | 195/45 R16 |
| front brakes | Ventilated Discs |
| f brake size | 22 x 284 mm / 0.9 x 11.2 in |
| rear brakes | Solid Discs |
| r brake size | 11 x 240 mm / 0.4 x 9.4 in |
| front wheels | F 40.6 x 16.5 cm / 16 x 6.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 40.6 x 16.5 cm / 16 x 6.5 in |
| f suspension | MacPherson Struts w/Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Torsion Beam w/Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1135 kg / 2500 lbs |
| weight distro | 64 % / 36 % |
| wheelbase | 2300 mm / 90.6 in |
| front track | 1407 mm / 55.4 in |
| rear track | 1397 mm / 55.0 in |
| length | 3669 mm / 144.4 in |
| width | 1628 mm / 64.1 in |
| height | 1491 mm / 58.7 in |
| transmission | FPT C510 5-Speed Transmission |
| gear ratios | 3.909:1, 2.238:1, 1.520:1, 1.156:1, 0.872:1 |
| final drive | 3.35:1 |
| top speed | ~205 kph / 127.30 mph |
| 0 – 100 kph | ~7.9 seconds |
| fuel econ epa | 7.59 L/100 km or 31 mpg-us |
| city fuel econ epa | 8.40 L/100 km or 28 mpg-us |
| hwy fuel econ epa | 6.92 L/100 km or 34 mpg-us |
| emission | 155 g/km |
Story by Abarth & C. S.p.A., edited by Supercars.net
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