Abarth cars

2010 Abarth 500 Monza

The Fiat Abarth 500 has become one of the more popular hot hatches to sprout special editions these days and this Abarth 500 ‘Monza’ edition is no different. Limited to only 10 units, this limited run hot hatch pays tribute to the legendary Italian racetrack just north of Milan.

Though it’s not as fancy and as flamboyant as many other special edition 500s we’ve seen in the past, the Abarth 500 Monza’s combination of sound and simple aesthetic interpretation and surprising performance power makes it a real collector’s dream. The fact that only ten people in the world can have a chance to own one makes it that much more enticing.

2010 Fiat 500 Abarth by Novitec

While a standard Fiat 500 develops around 100 HP, Abarth managed to do a bit of tweaking to the hatchback’s engine to increase this output to 135 HP. This was a pretty good little boost, but in the hands of another tuner, this output could still be improved. And this is where Novitec took the hatchback coupe and gave it a little makeover of its own, providing some engine updates and a couple of minor exterior modifications.

The first kit to come upon the Abarth 500 is the NT4-CORSE power kit. This kit runs 3,016 Euro and boosts the 500’s power to 164hp. Novitec accomplished this by adding a special turbocharger with a more efficient air supply to cool it down. Assisting the engine are larger injection nozzles and a special fuel pressure control. After that it was an optimized air-cleaner box with sport air-filter cartridge and a Novitec CORSE high performance exhaust system to round off the kit.

The second kit from Novitec is a tuning kit called the NT4-CORSE. This package provides a power boost to 212hp with the use of stainless-steel sport mufflers and high performance exhaust systems, available with one or two tailpipes in various shapes. The cost for this kit was not provided, but whatever the base price is, it is slightly increased if the customers opts for sport springs, a height-adjustable sport suspension made from stainless steel, 17 or 18" light alloy wheels, and a carbon front spoiler lip.

Press release after the jump.

2012 Abarth Roadster

News of Abarth preparing their own roadster started back in 2008 and, although we have caught some rumors here and there, nothing much has panned out leaving us to believe that Abarth will be clutched under the wing of other European brands forever. That, apparently, was an incorrect assumption.

Hoping to leave behind the disappoint that was the Smart Roadster, Abarth’s new Roadster model will feature an all new design, a transverse, mid-engined layout similar to that of the Lotus Elise. There are previous suggest reports suggesting the future Abarth model will share the chassis with the KTM X-Bow, but that is still under discussion. The car’s exterior design will be inspired by Abarth models of the 1960s.

Under the hood there will be the recently launched turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir, available with outputs as high as 170bhp. The engine will be mated to a new six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, but a seven-speed version is also a possibility for the future.

Expect the new Abarth Roadster to debut in 2012, priced at around £25,000 (aprox. $40,000 at the current exchange rates). Abarth expects to produce a total of 5,000 units to sell worldwide.

UPDATE 11/01/2010: New information has lead us to believe that Abarth may be creating their mid-engine roadster without the help of Lotus or KTM.

There were numerous issues that arose with KTM. The carbon-fiber chassis on the X-Bow could have been used for the Abarth model, but that would have resulted in a price that would have been way too high for Fiat customers.

While the KTM issue is merely business, the Lotus one may be more personal. Lotus CEO Danny Bahar left Ferrari and took many people from the company with him and let’s face it, those who leave the Italian company never return or work with them again.

KTM X-Bow to underpin limited edition Abarth Coupe

Rumors about an Abarth sports car started in late 2008 when Fiat decided that their in-house tuner could be better utilized. Nothing much has been said since then, but we have finally got some information on the future coupe model. According to Road&Track, the KTM X-Bow will form the underpinnings and running gear for Abarth’s limited edition. Its official debut will be made in 2013.

The future Abarth model will share the chassis with the KTM X-Bow and will be powered by a MultiAir 1.8-liter turbo engine producing between 180-190 bhp. The future coupe model will also come with an Abarth transmission and a unique interior and exterior design and trim. Until now it was rumored that the future Abarth model would be built on a Lotus Elise chassis and running gear, but those parts involve relatively old technology and Abarth doesn’t want to move backward.

Abarth will only build 2,000 units a year with prices in the $80k area.

2010 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari for sale on Jameslist

In terms of sheer power and performance, you won’t in a million years mistake the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari from any other supercar to come out of Maranello. To do so, after all, is to miss the entire point as to why this little minx of a car is such an alluring piece of machinery.

As the most exclusive of the plethora of special edition Fiat 500s out on the market these days, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is an eye-catcher in every sense of the word. Best of all, if you have the moolah to make such a purchase, you can get yourself one courtesy of Jameslist.

Like we said, the car is extremely limited in quantity so you might want to avail yourself of one before the entire stock runs dry. Pricing for the car is available per request on Jameslist so you better get to it, people.

It’s not often that you can get yourself a special edition car like this one.

2011 Abarth Punto Evo Esseesse

Not only will Abarth be showcasing the 500C Esseesse at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but they will also be sporting the Punto Evo Esseesse. Based on the Abarth Punto Evo, the Esseesse kit will go on sale in December.

The kit includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 305 mm x 28 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 264 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, Abarth esseesse 7" x 18" ET39 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 215/40 ZR18 tires.

Under the hood Abarth placed a 1.4 16v Turbo MultiAir engine that delivers a total of 180 HP at 5750 rpm and in Sport mode, a maximum torque of 270 Nm at 3000 rpm. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 7.5 seconds, while top speed goes up to 134 mph.

UPDATE 07/07/11: Abarth has finally released the pricing for the Punto Evo Essesse where it’s being sold in the UK for around £20,000, which is about $31,000 based on current exchange rates.

Press release after the jump.

2011 Abarth 500C Esseesse

In 2008, Abarth released their Abarth 500 package, and a few months later, they followed it with the Esseesse package at the Paris Auto Show. It seems the blueprints were laid out at that point because Abarth just unveiled their 500C, which is the company’s first convertible, and are planning to unveil the Esseesse package for the convertible at the same auto show at the end of this month. The package includes perforated, ventilated front disc brakes (diameter 284 mm x 22 mm), perforated rear disc brakes (diameter 240 mm x 11 mm), high performance front brake pads, front and rear Koni shock absorbers with FSD valve, specific red springs set lower than those on the original car, and Abarth esseesse 7” x 17” ET35 alloy wheels painted white or titanium, combined with 205/40 ZR17 tires.

Under the hood there is a 1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet engine that delivers a maximum of 160 HP and 230 NM of torque. Of course, due to the added weight of the convertible, the 500C completes the 0-60 mph sprint in 7.6 seconds which is 0.2 seconds slower than the 500. Top speed also takes a small hit at 130mph compared to the 131mph top speed of the 500. It’s a small price to pay for a convertible though, and one that was to be expected.

The package is finished by four sensors to record correct tire pressure, a special “powered by BMC” air filter and Esseesse badges for the engine cover and tailgate.

Press release after the jump.

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa receive Fiat Abarth 695 Ferrari Tributo

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have one of the coolest jobs in the world. Not only to they race Formula One cars for a living – at Ferrari, no less – but the two also get paid millions by the bucket to do it.

But if there’s one perk that really emphasizes just how good these two racers have it, it’s that they receive cars as gifts as if they were free pens and cup holders.

So it doesn’t really surprise us to find out that both Alonso and Massa were each given their own Ferrari Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari. Just like that, they get their hands on a limited edition Abarth because they’re high-profile employees of the Fiat-owned Ferrari brand.

Like we said, we’re not shocked by of this. Jealous? You have no idea. But shocked? Not really.

While the special edition Abarth is nowhere in the price range of a Prancing Horse-badged Ferrari, it’s still cool enough to drive around town, especially since it comes with a boatload of unique features, including enough carbon fiber on the bodywork, 17-inch Corsa Grey alloy wheels, and Sabelt bucket seats. And that’s on top of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces somewhere around 180 horsepower.

Most of us would have to pay around $50,000 for this car. Alonso and Massa get it for free. Then again, those two aren’t exactly what you’d call ‘most people’.

An Abarth 695 for $60,000! In what world?

When Abarth unveiled the 695 Tributo Ferrari Edition earlier this month, it came with a price tag of 35,500 euro (that’s around $45,000 at the current rates). We thought that was a crazy price for an Abarth model, but, apparently, that’s nothing compared to what the Spaniards have to pay. Spain’s prices for the little hatchback were announced at a costly sum of €46,339, or about US$58,900 at the current exchange rates. Come on, really now!

With that money, in Spain, you can choose between a Nissan 370Z 331HP V6, a VW Scirocco R 265HP, an Alfa Romeo Brera 260HP 3.2 JTS V6, a BMW 135i Coupe 306HP, or a Subaru Impreza WRX STI 300HP! Looking at the choices in this price range, why would anyone go for the Abarth?

As a reminder, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine mated to a 5-speed C510 gearbox. This combination leaves the Abarth with 180hp and a top speed of 140mph. The 0-62mph sprint gets accomplished in under seven seconds. A sport button is placed in the dashboard to give the gearbox, engine control unit, and steering a racier feeling complete with more response from the car. of course, these numbers and features still don’t add up to the competition with a price tag like the one it is exhibiting.

Abarth in talks with KTM to produce special edition X-Bow

In the auto industry, the phrase ‘never say never’ rings true like Sunday morning gospel. Even if the whole situation seems unlikely, it still doesn’t mean that slim chances won’t ever happen.

Take this reported new partnership for example. Whispers are getting louder in the auto circles of a potential project that would involve two brands joining forces: Fiat’s in-house tuning firm, Abarth and the Austrian brand KTM.

From what we’ve heard, the reported tie-up between the two companies will center on a particular car that will be released in 2013. No details were mentioned on what kind of car it actually is, but it was mentioned that it could be something along the likes of an Audi-powered mid-engined two-seater that uses a rolling chassis, similar to what is found in the current X-Bow. Abarth is reportedly also working on putting in a new 1.8-liter version of Fiat’s MultiAir turbocharged petrol engine that’s capable of producing power in excess of 200 horsepower. The Italian tuning house is likewise expected to add some new features, including a unique bodyshell that will be built around the X-Bow’s current carbon fiber monocoque platform. This would make it, at the very least, a little more user-friendly and usable as a standard road car.

The expected price tag on the car is somewhere around £42,000 – £50,000 ($67,000 - $75,000) and it could hit the streets as soon as 2013.