VIDEO - Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S.
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10-31-2011, 12:15 PM
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VIDEO - Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S.
Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. [w/video]
One of the benefits of the strengthening ties between Fiat and Chrysler is a mutual expansion of their joint product portfolio. The shared leadership of the two auto groups has seen Fiats arrive in North American showrooms and Chryslers proliferating overseas. Which is all well and good, but where's the excitement? Where are the performance models for which the Italian auto industry is so deeply loved? Well, we finally have our answer.
We've been anticipating the launch of the Abarth sub-brand in North America ever since the basic Fiat 500 first arrived if not longer and Chrysler has now confirmed its arrival as a fait accompli. When the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of the month for the LA Auto Show, the Chrysler Group will finally unveil the American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth.
Few details have been disclosed as to the U.S.-market Abarth's specifications, but what we do know is that the 500 Abarth arriving on American shores will pack an all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four, kept in check by upgraded brakes, handled by a sportier suspension, controlled by a higher level of technology and conveyed by a more aggressive appearance.
The much-loved European-model Abarth 500 offers up either 130 horsepower or 160, the latter with the Esse-Esse kit. We're hoping for the higher end of that spectrum, of course, but we'll have to wait until the LA show to find out for sure. In the meantime, we'll just have to live with the pair of preview images and the press release along with written, photographic and video run-downs of the Abarth brand's heritage.
ArbarthHistoryRevised.mov - YouTube
ABARTH BRAND TIMELINE
- November 15,1908 Karl Abarth is born in Vienna, Austria
- 1930 Starts racing his own hand-*built motorcycles. He becomes a five-*time European motorcycle champion
- 1939 A near‐fatal accident ends his motorcycle racing career
- 1949 Starts the 'Abarth & C' company producing aftermarket products for production cars as well as performance exhaust systems; wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with his first race car ever (the 204 A Roadstar, derived from a Fiat 1100)
- 1955 The Abarth 750 GT is launched
- 1956 The Fiat Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, is presented and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records that same year; two different versions of the same car appear with a Zagato body: Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato and Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
- 1958 Creates the Fiat 595 Abarth from a Fiat 500 and with it breaks six international speed records
- 1965 Fiat 595 Abarth tallies nearly 900 victories over its seven-*year run
- 1971 Abarth is absorbed into Fiat Auto
- 1979 Karl Abarth dies on October 24
- 2007 The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe
- 2011 The Fiat 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S.
Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. [w/video]
One of the benefits of the strengthening ties between Fiat and Chrysler is a mutual expansion of their joint product portfolio. The shared leadership of the two auto groups has seen Fiats arrive in North American showrooms and Chryslers proliferating overseas. Which is all well and good, but where's the excitement? Where are the performance models for which the Italian auto industry is so deeply loved? Well, we finally have our answer.
We've been anticipating the launch of the Abarth sub-brand in North America ever since the basic Fiat 500 first arrived if not longer and Chrysler has now confirmed its arrival as a fait accompli. When the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of the month for the LA Auto Show, the Chrysler Group will finally unveil the American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth.
Few details have been disclosed as to the U.S.-market Abarth's specifications, but what we do know is that the 500 Abarth arriving on American shores will pack an all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four, kept in check by upgraded brakes, handled by a sportier suspension, controlled by a higher level of technology and conveyed by a more aggressive appearance.
The much-loved European-model Abarth 500 offers up either 130 horsepower or 160, the latter with the Esse-Esse kit. We're hoping for the higher end of that spectrum, of course, but we'll have to wait until the LA show to find out for sure. In the meantime, we'll just have to live with the pair of preview images and the press release along with written, photographic and video run-downs of the Abarth brand's heritage.
ArbarthHistoryRevised.mov - YouTube
ABARTH BRAND TIMELINE
- November 15,1908 Karl Abarth is born in Vienna, Austria
- 1930 Starts racing his own hand-*built motorcycles. He becomes a five-*time European motorcycle champion
- 1939 A near‐fatal accident ends his motorcycle racing career
- 1949 Starts the 'Abarth & C' company producing aftermarket products for production cars as well as performance exhaust systems; wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with his first race car ever (the 204 A Roadstar, derived from a Fiat 1100)
- 1955 The Abarth 750 GT is launched
- 1956 The Fiat Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, is presented and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records that same year; two different versions of the same car appear with a Zagato body: Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato and Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
- 1958 Creates the Fiat 595 Abarth from a Fiat 500 and with it breaks six international speed records
- 1965 Fiat 595 Abarth tallies nearly 900 victories over its seven-*year run
- 1971 Abarth is absorbed into Fiat Auto
- 1979 Karl Abarth dies on October 24
- 2007 The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe
- 2011 The Fiat 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S.
