Scorpion rising

UNMISTAKABLY a Fiat 500 but, at the same time, thoroughly modified to give a harder, faster edge, the 500 Abarth will appeal to a different market than its lovable standard sibling. With 133bhp from a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, sharper steering and upgraded suspension, it's a properly quick hatchback that retains the retro style of the original.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Apr 2010, 18:42 BST
Updated 27th Apr 2010, 18:49 BST

Karl Abarth was already a five-time European motorcycle racing champion, something of an expert in the field of car modification and married to the secretary of Ferdinand Porsche’s son-in-law when he established Abarth & C in 1949. This car tuning business began its association with Fiat in the early 1950s, specialising in making racing and performance modifications to the Turin manufacturer’s products. Then, in 1971 Fiat brought the firm in house and began using Abarth’s expertise and scorpion badge on its quickest cars. Today, Fiat is busy forcing the Abarth brand back into the limelight riding on the bodywork of fast Fiats like the 500 Abarth.

The Fiat bit could almost be dropped from the title of the Fiat 500 Abarth. It’s certainly been made scarce elsewhere on the car. There’s not a single Fiat insignia visible on the exterior or in the cabin and instead, the 500 Abarth is littered with the red and yellow crest and lone scorpion of Abarth. This is clearly a Fiat 500 but the Italian manufacturer is telling us it’s a very special one, worthy of its own sub-brand. The question is, can it live up to this billing?

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The conventional Fiat 500 is not a car that instantly strikes you as being ripe for conversion into a rip-roaring hot hatchback. It’s a little bit soft and bouncy in its suspension and although this helps it ride well over surface imperfections and makes it an amiable companion for scooting about town, it doesn’t exactly encourage you to hurl it into corners. As befits its target market, the 500 Abarth is a very different prospect with far-reaching modifications designed to transform the driving experience. First is the 1.4-litre turbocharged powerplant that produces 133bhp and a smooth flow of power from 2,000rpm. It’s capable of firing the 500 to 60mph in under eight seconds and on to a 128mph top speed, which is plenty quick. The suspension has also been firmed up significantly to increase composure through the bends and the brakes have been upgraded to sportier items for more secure stopping.