The Abarth returns

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:32 am

As microcars go, the reborn Fiat 500 has enjoyed stellar success. Already having spawned a number of high-performance and special editions, the car's hot sales have driven yet another special model - the Abarth SS, or as the Italians would say it, 'esseesse'.

Long awaited and finally revealed, the new Abarth SS looks strikingly like its sister car, the Grande Punto Abarth SS, revealed in concept form by Scorpion label late last year. Though official details will await the car's unveiling in Paris next month, some basic outlines of what to expect are known. Expect the 500 SS to feature a similar version of the engine in the Grande Punto Abarth SS, rated at 180hp (134kW) thanks to an uprated boost program for the 1.4L turbocharged engine at its heart.

That's an improvement of 25hp (18kW) over the standard 155hp (116kW) engine in the Grande Punto Abarth, and would be a marked upgrade over even the 500 Abarth Opening Edition, which is rated at 160hp (119kW) engine, an upgrade of 25hp (18kW) over the standard Abarth 500's 135hp (100kW). The Opening Edition Abarth will sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in just 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 211km/h (131mph), while the standard model takes 7.9 seconds for the same sprint and tops out at 205km/h (127mph). The SS should best both by as much as another half-second, getting the 500 under the seven-second mark.

Other upgrades that will form the SS's performance package include larger wheels, stiffer springs and improved dampers, plus a torque control transfer (TTC) traction system like that found in other Fiat Group vehicles.

The new car is expected to join the lineup alongside its standard and special-edition cohorts shortly after the Paris Motor Show], and should be available for order by November.

A great video:

At speed

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpape ... 44877&CT=V

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:40 am

Anyone know what these weigh?

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:46 am

2100 lbs.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:48 am

Marty Howard wrote:

2100 lbs.

Wow, that would be freakin' sweet.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:02 am

watch the video...it looks like a lot of fun.

They will be in Chrysler showrooms in 2011.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:24 am

Marty Howard wrote:

2100 lbs.

Damn, thats pretty f'ing impressive.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:36 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

watch the video...it looks like a lot of fun.

They will be in Chrysler showrooms in 2011.

I am so glad my fathers generation fought in WWII so we didn't end up being take over by the Germans, Japanese, or Italians. If they had won we might all be driving German, Japanese and Italian cars.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:53 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

2100 lbs.

Damn, thats pretty f'ing impressive.

2100 for the gutted/caged car in the video, not the street car. I'm betting 2300-2400 minimum for the street car. I'm still interested at that weight though.

The question remains...will Fiat become the Fix It Again Tony car that they were when they left here?

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:58 pm

The 2100 is for the street version. The absolutely heaviest model in the line is the fully loaded 500 Touring...and it only weighs 2230.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:38 pm

clinehall wrote:

I am so glad my fathers generation fought in WWII so we didn't end up being take over by the Germans, Japanese, or Italians. If they had won we might all be driving German, Japanese and Italian cars.

Glad my tax money went to boost the Japanese economy. The cash-for-clunkers program turned out to be a boon for Asian automakers

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Ryan Holton wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

2100 lbs.

Damn, thats pretty f'ing impressive.

it IS ~half a foot shorter than a mini, I'd certainly HOPE its not 2500 lbs like a mini.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:01 pm

TomFreeman wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

2100 lbs.

Damn, thats pretty f'ing impressive.

2100 for the gutted/caged car in the video, not the street car. I'm betting 2300-2400 minimum for the street car. I'm still interested at that weight though.

The question remains...will Fiat become the Fix It Again Tony car that they were when they left here?

Its a Fiat, they get lighter as time goes by.... :lol:

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:02 pm

clinehall wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

watch the video...it looks like a lot of fun.

They will be in Chrysler showrooms in 2011.

I am so glad my fathers generation fought in WWII so we didn't end up being take over by the Germans, Japanese, or Italians. If they had won we might all be driving German, Japanese and Italian cars.

Yeah, like the Mini - all American iron

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:06 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

it IS ~half a foot shorter than a mini, I'd certainly HOPE its not 2500 lbs like a mini.

The Chrysler Crossfire's wheelbase was 4" shorter than the Mini, but curb weight was 3050#. - AB

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:48 pm

RobLupella wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

watch the video...it looks like a lot of fun.

They will be in Chrysler showrooms in 2011.

I am so glad my fathers generation fought in WWII so we didn't end up being take over by the Germans, Japanese, or Italians. If they had won we might all be driving German, Japanese and Italian cars.

Yeah, like the Mini - all American iron

At least it is assembled in Oxford, England. They were on our side! I'm not hating on the free market, I just find it ironic.

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The Abarth returns

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