LA 2011: Fiat 500 Abarth Revealed

We’ve known it was coming, but now we have all the details on the US-Spec Fiat 500 Abarth. Following the regular 500 and the 500C quasi-convertible, the 500 Abarth packs more of everything: power, grip, brakes, and attitude. Here’s what to expect.We’ve known the US Abarth would be getting the turbocharged 1.4L MultiAir I4, but we didn’t know whether it would arrive in regular (135bhp) or EsseEsse trim (160bhp.) Thankfully Fiat realized that we love power, so the turbocharged Italian will arrive in full-strength form, packing 160bhp and 170lb-ft of torque under the hood. The Abarth version gets goodies like forged connecting rods, piston cooling jets, and lower-compression 9.8:1 pistons, down from 10.8:1 in the normal 500. The small turbocharger breathes through twin side-mounted intercoolers.
Changes on the interior all sound welcome. Most interesting to me are the Abarth sports seats, which have larger torso and thigh bolsters, contrast stitching, and harness pass-throughs. Hopefully they’re mounted lower to the floor, and don’t have those painful headrests. A flat bottom leather-wrapped Abarth steering wheel sits in front of a revised instrument cluster with an analogue boost gauge with an LED shift light, and 160mph markings. Abarth pedals, a leather handbrake, and black trim round out the interior upgrades.


What else is different? Well, the “Sport” mode on regular 500′s now also affects engine mapping, making boost more aggressive as well as the steering heavier when activated. Torque is limited in first and second gear in “normal” mode, so be sure to hit the button before you set off.