Is the Fiat 500 Abarth Lacking Sting?

Sections: MINI Competitors Feb 20th, 2008 24 Comments

Wheel24 asks that very question…

The Fiat 500 Abarth is official. And while it looks the performance part, it does seem to be lacking somewhat in the performance department…

Developed by Fiat in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth that tore up the racing circuits in the 60s, the little Scorpion is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol turbo engine.

With outputs of 100 kW at 5 500 r/min and a peak torque figure of 206 Nm at 3 000 r/min, it is a way off main rival Mini Cooper S’s 128 kW and 240 Nm dispatched from its turbocharged 1.6-litre powerplant.

Read (Wheels24)

Written By: MF Staff

msh441

No suprise there.

I saw the 500 as more Smart for 4 competition with the Abarth taking aim at the Cooper. My prediction after seeing the 500 is the Cooper will out-handle the Abarth hands-down, though.

Never was going to be MSC competition. Still a cool little car we won’t see in the US.
pete

and the mini is also far from being a real performance car.

the interior looks like playskool
bluzeke

What does one of these weigh?
Hai

I’d choose an R56 over it any day and that doesn’t say much.
Marco

Id buy one in a second if they were selling them here now…but ive got a special tie to the original.
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

The Fiat is 900 kilograms (roughly, taken the 1.4i which is probably closest in weight to the Abarth), the MCS is 1100 kilograms. That means the Fiat has 0.111 kW/kg, the MCS has 0.116 kW/kg. Not too shocking a difference, I would say.
Ste

Fiat 500 will reach the USA next year: it’s official, than will follow for shure the Abarth version.

Some months after the 135hp version Fiat will introduce the “Esseesse” kit: same 1.4 turbo but with 160hp. No bad…
http://www.autoblog.it Luca Lizzeri

Don’t forget that the 500 Abarth is the base versione and it will cost quite a bit less than the Mini Cooper (with 135 ps against 120 ps). From what Abarth told us, it’ll cost about the same as the Abarth Grande Punto (about 18.000 Ã¢â€šÂ¬, 2,000 Ã¢â€šÂ¬ less than the Mini Cooper).

In november Abarth will start distributing the 500 Abarth SS (essesse), the 160 ps version. Couple that with the lower weight noted by Eelke and I’d say that the little scorpion won’t lack sting.
http://www.lilcoopr.com Chrissy (lilcoopr)

Love the GP look-alike wheels and mirror caps……….. :P (/sarcasm). Well they do say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

I fell in love with the classic Fiat 500, but this new one just isn’t doing it for me at all.
c4

Frank Stephenson designed the Fiat 500. Remember, this is the fella that conceived the 1st generation MINI (That we all fell in love with) back in the late 1990′s.

I think the Fiat 500 is a capable little car but its makers are preventing the car from unleashing its full potential. Clearly, Fiat has aimed the 500 squarely at the MINI Cooper and it is trying to follow on its footsteps. Much the same as the MINI, the Fiat 500 “Gianini” has a cult following in Italy. It was the best selling Fiat of all time and it was the car “of the people”. It may have not have had the “catchet” or rally racing history of the MINI, but nevertheless, the 500 is a car with strong ties to Italian national pride.

I have not seen any sales figures on the 500, but I will venture to say that, the 500 is probably outselling the MINI in the Italian market. May not be much of an accomplishment looking at the big picture, but it is a significant milestone nevertheless.

While the standard Fiat 500 may not hold a candle to a bone stock R56 MINI Cooper, the car has the potential to steal away sales from the bargain basement MINI ONE model sold in europe.

The Abarth model could also become the thorn on the side for the R56 Cooper S. Remember, the Abart is a little lighter and it is more “MINI” in size and proportions unlike the current MINI, which is a big car in the likes of a VW Rabbit/GTI.

I am personally looking forward to see the 500 Abarth in US shores. A brief test drive should either confirm or deny whether this car is a good substitute to the R56 Cooper S, or even a R53.

While present day Fiat build quality and reliability are unknown to northamerican customers (Fiats have not been sold in the US since 1984)and I am sure these cars are a far cry from the F.I.A.T.S (Fix it again tony!) of the ’70′s and early ’80′s.

It is an interesting car. Maybe pictures don’t do it enough justice. But if Fiat get their ducks lined up correctly for an US re-introduction, MINIUSA, for the first time, will be faced with a direct challenger in their own turf.

Things are bound to get interesting in the coming years.
Jon

Design wise not a bad attempt in m point of view, not likely to tempt me personally but could see it filling a gap that Mini has not chosen to fill. An entry level small car, something more akin to a Mini One in my opinion, which I still believe Mini should bring to the States to lure more entry level buyers. Though the market is filled with lower cost small cars. The Fiat will lure more than a few here though because to my eye its rather iconic.
c4

I also disagree with the opinion that the Fiat 500 is more of a direct competitor to the Smart. That is not really true. The Smart is a hip, small, 2 seater car designed specifically for city driving. Even with a 1.4L 4 banger, the Fiat 500 is “much more car” than any Smart will ever be.

Besides, if BMW goes through with their plans of bringing back the venerable Isetta, that car will be a direct competitor to the Smart.

Personally, the Smart I find it to be a rip-off. Is a car with lots of show and no go. I was hoping the second gen ForTwo would address the horrid powertrain performance of the original Smart, but they didn’t. If BMW brings back the Isetta with a proper engine/transmission and can make the car for highway friendly (Not to mention better looking), I see very little long term success for the Smart here.
c4

I predict that if the Fiat 500 ever reaches US shores, it will be the Abarth SS model. I think Fiat will want to pursue more of the “enthusiast” market (at first) than trying to position the car and lure non-enthusiast customers looking for the hippiest, cheapest and fuel frugal latest entry from Europe.

I read somewhere that the car may initially be sold through select Ferrari/Maserati dealerships in the US. Translation…. This car will only be available in major metropolitan areas with scarce dealer service support outside those regions.
http://www.matthew-obrien.com Matt

Does anyone know if FOR SURE the Fiat 500 is coming to the states? I’m in the market for a new car, and I think the MINI is too big & too expensive, and the smart is too cheaply made with all of the plastics and the weird transmission. The 500 looks perfect. I went to the Fiat website for the UK, and that car looks pretty darn cool. I can’t find any info on Fiat’s website if they are bringing the 500 to the states, or when.

Any info or articles that anyone could point to would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Nathaniel Salzman

and the mini is also far from being a real performance car.

“Hey look a bear!” Poke. Poke.
c4

Matt, I got a hold of this article from Automobile Magazine. It is believed the 500 will make its US by 2010:

http://www.automobilemag.com/new_and_future_cars/2010/0705_2010_fiat_500/index.html
c4

Ok let me try again…

2010 Fiat 500 Coming to U.S. By Stuart Fowle

We’ve gotten word that Fiat is actually thinking about bringing the recently revived 500 to the United States. The original car was sold from 1936 into the ’70s and was nicknamed the “little mouse.” It was so cute, our own Jean Jennings couldn’t resist buying one a few years back.

The new, modern 500 goes on sale in Europe this summer, and is expected to be sold out through the end of 2008. Sounds like everyone thinks it is just as cute as the original, huh? That means that we won’t be seeing the 500 here for quite a while, but Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne was caught on record saying that “sooner or later it is a possibility.” Most estimates have the 500 showing up on our shores in 2010 in a limited quantity.

One small problem, though, is that Fiats aren’t sold here and haven’t been for quite some time. Therefore, there is no dealer network. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Alfa Romeo is currently dealing with the same issue, after deciding that the 8C Competizione will be sold to U.S. customers. The solution to that, and possibly Fiat’s problem, is to sell the car through Ferrari/Maserati dealers. We suspect Fiat is currently looking into that possibility, but we’re not sure the Ferrari boys will like having a cheap, tiny, French car in their showrooms. And wait, does Ford still own the Five Hundred name? Someone should look in to that.
Jason

I agree with Matt. I love MINI. One of the worst decisions I ever made was selling my ’03 Cooper, even though I sold it for 2 grand more than I purchased it for after 30,000 mile and some autocross events. I still have a MINI model collection in my house and an official MINI sign, like they have at the dealerships hanging prominently in my garage(I knew someone that fabricated them for the dealers). Anyway, they are getting way too expensive. I can’t spec out a car that I would want for less than 30 grand. While I understand the 500 is not a MINI, it is priced right, and does not exclude car lovers, like me, who simply do not have that kind of money.
Paul

I think the Fiat 500 will do well in the USA. Its a good looking small car like the mini, fun to drive and will be priced reasonably. From what I have read the Fiat 500 has much better RIDE QUALITY than the Mini Cooper, which should attract some buyers to it. The minis have a lot going for them, they only suffer from poor ride quality. I love the mini’s, but if the Fiat offers a better ride, it would be easier to live with on a daily basis for many people.
Jim W.

I’m gearing up to buy my second MINI, perhaps a Clubman at that, but I would be interested in the Fiat 500 if it made it here by 2010- just about the time I’ll be looking to add to the stable.

What dealers are going to sell it though? I live in the Twin Cities and here you don’t see too many Ferrari’s on the road. Maserati’s- none. I think that option is far too limited. Fiat as an average bloke’s car is not going to make it that way. Even with the MINI you feel like you walked into the lingerie department when you step into the BMW showroom… On that same note, the MINI One would be an awesome addition to the lineup here, to be in the 500′s league…

I just don’t know who would be best at carrying Fiat, but just having 10-20 outlets will flop. How about those Saturn folks? Target? Sears?
cellularcoffee

Fiat 500::Rear Axle | MINI Cooper::Multi-linked rear suspension.
cellularcoffee

Sorry, I meant torsion bar in the rear for the Fiat 500. Aside from its look or performance, it’s the MINI Cooper’s chassis that continues its long adoration from drivers.
pp

I agree with cellularcoffee that the Mini chassis will probably be superior, but you shouldn’t compare the 500 Abarth with the Mini Cooper S, it’s more fair to say that standard 500 goes against Mini One (here in Europe), 500 Abarth compares with Mini Cooper and Abarth SS will be the one for Mini Cooper S. As far as quality goes 500 Fiat has improved a lot and it’s no more F(ix)I(t)A(gain)T(ony) also 500 is buit in Tychy (Poland) the best plant of Fiat group and finalist in the EFQM quality award!
pete

yeah, torsion bar suspension is so oldschool.

Multi link is definately the way to go if you want amazing handling abilities.

Ever read up on the jdm civic type R?

The fastest front wheel drive naturally aspirated 4-cylinder car in production?

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