Abarth 500's Pictures

Abarth 500 & C. Spa's biography

Abarth 500's picture

Abarth 500 is a racing CAR and road car maker founded by Carlo Abarth of Turin in 1949. Abarth’s got a little surprise up its sleeve and it’s called the 500 Track Experience. He created also the Abarth Squadra Storica Forum, where every Abarth owner can find a lot of useful information and material from the Abarth world. He displays all the knowledge and know-how he has about Abarth on this forum. The new Track Experience package gives customers a chance to enjoy a unique Abarth 500 that comes with a bevy of nice features offered by the Italian automaker, including sleek paint colors, fancy wheels, and a track day experience in Oulton Park.

Abarth 500 in side image

For those interested in the Abarth 500 Track Experience, the automaker is selling them at all 29 UK dealers at a price tag of £14,990, which is about $24,700 as of  2014. The 500 Abarth also undercuts the equivalent Mini Cooper S engine on price, but moves this tiny machine past $26,000 for the Abarth 500C - which is uncomfortably close to the Subaru BRZ and other performance cars. The Abarth 500 is the evolution of a practical everyday run-around into a blistering high-performer. The model is fully customisable, from the exterior and interior styling to the full driving dynamic. With the touch of a button you can transform the power output, steering responsiveness, suspension set-up and more, for a new thrill every time you settle behind the wheel.

Abarth 500 car's History

Abarth 500 new car wallpaper

Carlo Abarth founded the Abarth & C. company with Armando Scagliarini in Bologna on 31 March 1949, using his astrological sign, Scorpio, as the company logo. The company made high-performance exhaust pipes and raced Cisitalia cars. On April 10, 1950 Tazio Nuvolari made his last appearance in racing with an Abarth's Cisitalia. On April 9, 1951 the company's headquarters were moved to Turin, Abarth began his well-known association with Fiat in 1952, when it built the Abarth 1500 Biposto on Fiat mechanicals. In the 1980s Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance cars, such as the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC. The name was almost forgotten in 1990. In 2000 season, Fiat used the Abarth brand to designate a trim/model level, as in the Fiat Stilo Abarth. In 2007, Fiat Automobiles SpA relaunched the brand with the Grande Punto Abarth and the Grande Punto Abarth S2000. The brand is separate from the main Fiat brand. It is based in the Officine 83, part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant. The CEO is Harald Wester.

500's Design

Abarth 500 2014 picture

The centrepiece of the 500’s cabin is the Sport button, which when engaged adds higher torque, more response from the pedals, stiffens the steering and enables active Torque Transfer Control (TTC). The result is a race-track experience that never fails to satisfy. This impressive compact has sport at its core, and has been designed for the most passionate motoring enthusiast. We were also disappointed with the driving position -- as in the normal 500, the seats are too tall and unsupportive for spirited driving, and the steering wheel is too far away in relation to the pedal placement. It's the classic Italian long-armed, short-legged driving position we thought died in the '80s. A telescoping steering column, not available in the 500, is needed to overcome.

Abarth 500 new image

500's Engine

Abarth 500 engine 2014

500's picture

The 500 line-up is powered by an impressive T-Jet engine available with 135bhp or 160bhp. The smaller unit achieves the sprint form 0-60mph in around 7.9 seconds on its way to 127mph, while delivering an impressive 43.5mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 155g/km. The larger engine reaches 60mph from standing 0.5 seconds quicker, with a top speed of 131mph. The unit identically emits just 155g/km of CO2, and achieves 43.5mpg combined in economy. Book a test drive in the Abarth 500 at Westover Abarth in Poole, or view our latest offers.

Features of 500 

500's back side picture

The 500 is well equipped as standard, and on the outside includes eight-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, satin steel rear twin exhaust pipes and front fog lights. Inside the cabin, you receive a radio/CD player with steering wheel-mounted controls, the Blue&Me hands-free system with USB port and Bluetooth connectivity, sports seats, a leather-covered steering wheel, rear parking sensors and climate control. Abarth 500 for enhanced performance, Torque Transfer Control (TTC), electronic power steering with sport function combine.