2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Review
By Larry Nutson
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth
Adrenaline Injection
by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
Fiat is on a roll, at least according to my half-full cup. Fiat 500
sales in the U.S. have increased each month through the first quarter of
this year. Some of the 140 U.S studios (dealers) are selling fifty Fiat
500s a month and a couple sold ninety. In Canada there are about 60
studios. Fiat head of North America Tim Kuniskis recently spoke about the
car as well as the brand's overall marketing plan for the near future to an
assembly of Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) auto industry
writers.
At this event we got our first look at the new Fiat 500 Abarth and a
chance to test its acceleration, handling, and braking prowess on an
autocross circuit. As I was about to put “words to paper” the
Chrysler Group informed dealers that the company would be no longer
accepting orders for the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Fiat can't make them fast
enough to support current demand. Customers will now have to wait until
next fall when the 2013 model of the car arrives in the U.S. The demand
for the car is all about the need for speed as it offers about 58% more
horsepower and 73% more torque than the Fiat 500.
But don’t be discouraged. Keep reading and then head to your
nearest Fiat studio and take a test drive. The 500 Abarth is a car you
want to drive. It’s the wicked little brother of the 500, as Tim
Kuniskis put it. All 500 Abarth buyers will get a full day track
experience to help them find all the fun in this sweet little car.
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The Abarth name heralds from that of Karl Abarth
(Ah-bart) born in 1908 under the sign of the Scorpio and a creator of
Fiat-based performance cars over many decades. Faithful to the “small
but wicked” saying coined for Karl Abarth’s cars in the 1960s,
the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth has a base price of $22,000. It’s
powered by a 160hp, 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to a 5-speed
manual transmission. The Abarth is offered only with a manual. In this
day of six and even 7-speed manuals the natural question is, why only five.
Well, the 500 Abarth doesn’t need more gears, at least I don’t
believe it does. The engine and transmission combination provide quick
acceleration balanced with EPA fuel economy ratings of 28 city mpg and 34
highway mpg.
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The 117hp per liter is exhausted through chrome-tipped
dual straight pipes from after the catalyst. The noticeably loud
exhaust…Fiat says menacing… tempted me after nearly every stop
to mash the pedal to the floor. And the “sport” mode button on
the dash is almost always pushed. Handling the power is a sport-tuned
suspension combined with a 15mm lower ride height, improved 4-wheel disc
brakes, and 195/45 Pirelli Cinturato P7 all-season tires on 6.5-inch wide
16-inch aluminum wheels. My test car was equipped with 205/40 Pirelli
P-Zero Nero 3-season tires on Bianco-painted 7-inch wide 17-inch alloy
wheels…a $1000 option and one that would call for winter tires if you
lived in a snowy winter part of the country.
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Other options on my Rosso exterior and Nero interior test
car included leather trimmed high-back bucket seats, a power sunroof,
TomTom navigation system, white mirror caps with body side stripe and a
Safety and Convenience package that included automatic temperature control,
security alarm and SiriusXM Satellite radio. All this pushed my test car
price to $26,900 with shipping.
On the outside the Abarth is distinguished by its
slightly longer nose. It’s needed to make room for the turbo and
intercooler. Cooling air flows through openings in the lower fascia and
also around the scorpion logo. A rear spoiler, fog lamps, halogen projector
headlamps, and red brake calipers round things out. The inside features a
unique Abarth leather wrapped steering wheel, leather shift knob, turbo
boost gauge with LED driver’s shift indicator light, bright pedal
covers, and Abarth floor mats.
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All 500s are very city-friendly with their short overall length and large
rear hatch making for versatile cargo carrying. The slightly longer Abarth
at 144.4 inches doesn’t detract from that convenience. Seating is
for four with adequate front seat room and more space than you would think
in the rear. City streets with well worn pavement and pot holes lets you
use the crisp handling to its fullest dodging those jarring and potential
damaging hazards. Take a highway cruise and settle-in at a comfortable
cruising speed and the efficiency of the multi-air engine should take you
350 miles or so down the road. I didn’t try for any measured fuel
economy but with all my full-throttle blasts I still managed to eek out
28.3 mpg.
Fiat now has a number of flavors of the 500. There is the coupe in
three models, the 500 Cabrio, a Gucci edition of both, and now the Abarth.
The Fiat 500 EV…electric vehicle… is expected to start
production at the end of this year. The 500L was introduced last March in
Geneva and is expected to be shown at the Los Angeles auto show in November
and come to the U.S. in 2013.
So, finish your espresso and start driving. Ciao!
© Larry Nutson
