The 500 Abarth is coming

http://www.fiatusa.com/abarth

Not that I'm buying one, but it would be way atop my list if I were in the market for a new car. The Fit Sport would be more efficient, practical and reliable, but that Abarth looks fantastic.

I hope it comes here close to Euro spec with the nice low ride height from the factory and the wheels that were on Hammond's car when he drove the Abarth cabrio on TGUK.

14 days, 14 hour, 9 minutes

My wife has wanted one since we sat in the regular 500 at the state fair.

In reply to carguy123:

Is that the US version???

If so, DAMN. I'd be SERIOUSLY tempted to ditch my 99 Si for that one in a couple of years when they depreciate.

I'll be curious to see how they do reliability/durability-wise. I'm NUTS about the styling.

Fiat Abarth, FT-86, Focus ST, 300 HP V6 Mustang... Yes, they weigh a bit more, but honestly, it's not such a bad time to be into cars.

MitchellC wrote: Fiat Abarth, FT-86, Focus ST, 300 HP V6 Mustang... Yes, they weigh a bit more, but honestly, it's not such a bad time to be into cars.

Good thing too I was just thinking about how unexciting pretty much everything not made by Mazda under 30k is now.

I will buy one of these next year as a DD dependent on TWO THINGS: if I can get the Abarth version stripped with no options besides cruise, power windows, and power locks (A/C is probably standard, so whatever)

AND

If the MPG stays reasonable.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-fiat-500-sport-long-term-test-review-car-and-driver

Currently, their test car is doing better than a Mazda 2 (and I love the looks of the Fiat a lot more than the Mazda). Considering I'll be 24 next year and my insurance rates will have nose dived for full coverage, I am dead serious about this car

If we were in a position to buy, we'd be first in line at the dealership.

MitchellC wrote: Fiat Abarth, FT-86, Focus ST, 300 HP V6 Mustang... Yes, they weigh a bit more, but honestly, it's not such a bad time to be into cars.

I'd take the 5.0 when it comes to the mustang, but I'm all about what is stated here.

All I saw was a few pictures and and a bunch of marketing BS. Not one solid technical number.

Gearheadotaku wrote: All I saw was a few pictures and and a bunch of marketing BS. Not one solid technical number.

X2. All blow and no go. I'm sure that'll change, but they missed an opportunity to show that they're serious.

In reply to Gearheadotaku:

Layers and layers of marketing... No data, but it's close to here, so all technical data is etched in stone and available to them for release.

We all realize at this point that the marketeers make a conscious decision to release or not release data, so the question is: why not? Are they afraid the numbers will be disappointing? Are they actually disappointing, or only in the context of this "bad boy" campaign they seem to have decided on, which seems a strange choice for anything 500-based...

Makes me sigh and wonder what the next layer of marketing is, or whether this discussion of why they haven't released data is part of the current calculated marketing plan.

Groan.

5.0 is already in the Mustang. I've stopped and window peeked one at the local dealership. Price makes me want to wait for depreciation to make a dent in values before I bother with them.

Will be taking a look at one of these in five years, or when I land a classroom... whichever happens first.

HiTempguy wrote: Currently, their test car is doing better than a Mazda 2 (and I love the looks of the Fiat a lot more than the Mazda). Considering I'll be 24 next year and my insurance rates will have nose dived for full coverage, I am dead serious about this car

I don't blame you for picking the Fiat, but I've had WAY better results from my Mazda2 than C/D is reporting. I'm beating their Fiat results by 3 or 4 mpg.

I'd very much like to see some other manufacturers put something spicy in the B-segment market. Mazdaspeed2, Fit/CR-Z type R, SVT Fiesta, bring them all out!

From what I understand, they're unveiling in on the 15th, but dealers won't get them until March or April. Supposedly, each dealer gets 100. Given the small allotment, most will probably be loaded. However, if you're on the list (I'm 34th for Austin), you may be able to choose exactly what you want. My wife was able to on her convertible.

Rumor is, the US version will have more power than the European SS version. Over 160 h.p. would be a blast.

-Rob

For living in such a large market as Chicago; I rarely see any on the highway or local streets. I believe I saw one back a few months.

Where are all these Fiat's at?

I see fiats all the time, but then again I see tesla's all the time too.

I guess the Bay Area is a bit weird.

It will be way overpriced, and I really don't like the look of it. For the $35,000 they are going to ask, I'll stick with an STi or Evo or MS3 or GTi or....

pinchvalve wrote: It will be way overpriced, and I really don't like the look of it. For the $35,000 they are going to ask, I'll stick with an STi or Evo or MS3 or GTi or....

How do you figure that? The MSRP for the normal one starts at $15,500 which is less then the MINI. How do you figure the hot version of the Fiat is going to cost more the the hot version of the MINI?

carguy123 wrote: My wife has wanted one since we sat in the regular 500 at the state fair.

In the future, please add a "work warning" to pictures like this.

Goodness! -Bill

If I hadn't decided my next car will be RWD, then the Fiat 500 Abarth would have been high on my list of choices. I still plan on test-driving it (and the Ford Focus ST) in about 1-2 years time. Looks like fun!

Derick Freese wrote: 5.0 is already in the Mustang. I've stopped and window peeked one at the local dealership. Price makes me want to wait for depreciation to make a dent in values before I bother with them.

For quite a bit less than the price of a 5.0 you can get a fully loaded STI.

I'll bet you lunch that they're well over 30k here in Canada by the time they are out the door. A Fiat 500c here is out the door for $28k. A 500 sport is $24k out the door. That's a bit of change.

93EXCivic wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: It will be way overpriced, and I really don't like the look of it. For the $35,000 they are going to ask, I'll stick with an STi or Evo or MS3 or GTi or....

How do you figure that? The MSRP for the normal one starts at $15,500 which is less then the MINI. How do you figure the hot version of the Fiat is going to cost more the the hot version of the MINI?

For those of you who haven't shopped a Fiat be aware they are very much into you ordering exactly what you want. The list of exterior and interior colors and fabrics harkens back to the 60's. They have multiple choices in everything down to the wheels you want.