The Hot Hatch That Proves 160 Horses Are More Than Enough
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- The Abarth 695 SS
- The Abarth Cinquecento Upgrades
In the automotive world, sometimes people have a tendency to automatically assume that more is better: more power, more displacement, more space, more everything. However, if what you’re looking for is a fun, engaging driving experience in a car small enough to put in your pocket, there is one car that proves good things come in small packages.
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2019 Fiat 500 Abarth Hatchback
We’re talking about the 500 Abarth, the high-spirited version of the iconic Fiat 500. The Abarth name has a very long history, of which the 500 is only one part; however, the small-but-mighty hatchback is one of the most well-known Abarth vehicles around the world, and the one that made the brand a household name in the modern era. Let’s explore the history that brought us the Abarth 500, and what followed its discontinuation.
This article focuses on the history and features of the Abarth 500, along with the models that preceded and succeeded it.
Meet The Abarth 500
The new Fiat 500 was introduced in 2007, as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the first post-war 500 (a pre-war Fiat had also carried the 500 badge, but was widely known as the “Topolino”). A year later, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the new 500’s high-performance sibling was introduced: the Abarth 500, tuned in-house by Fiat’s Abarth subsidiary.
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth White Front Angled View Track Driving
The Abarth name itself had only been resurrected a year earlier; Abarth had started back in 1949, when founder Carlo Abarth set up a racing team in Bologna. Just three years later, the firm’s association with Fiat began. Fiat would eventually take over Abarth in 1971, using the name for its own high-performance cars and racing team, but a decade later Abarth had ceased to exist. In 2007, however, Fiat decided it was time for Abarth to make a return, and established the firm as a partially independent unit within the Fiat group. The Grande Punto was the first modern model to be launched under the Abarth brand, but the 500 was not far behind.
The 500 Abarth In Numbers | |
Engine | 1.4L turbo I4 |
Horsepower | 133-178 hp |
0-60 | 7.6-7.9 seconds |
Top Speed | 128 mph |
Although the Abarth 500 was oriented towards performance, everyday comfort was still a priority: several of the tech features included in the standard 500, such as GPS navigation and Fiat’s Blue&Me infotainment system, also appeared on the Abarth version. Additional creature comforts, such as a Beats premium audio system, were available as an option, just as on the regular 500.
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The Abarth version of the 500C, the Fiat 500’s cabriolet variant, was released in 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show. Several special editions of the Abarth 500 have been released over the years as well; these include the “Scorpione Oro” (“Golden Scorpion”), which features golden accents throughout the body and wheels, and the Yamaha Monster Edition, which features Monster energy logos as a tribute to the Monster-sponsored Yamaha MotoGP team.
Today, examples of the Abarth 500 are available on the used market for prices ranging between $5,000 and $13,000, depending on mileage and condition. If you’re an urban dweller looking for something with a little more character than usual, and you’re thinking about making an Italian addition to your garage, a used Abarth 500 could be just the car for you.
The Abarth 500's Spicier Sibling: The 595
Fiat 500 Abarth 595 Turismo Red Front Angled View
One particularly interesting variant of the Abarth 500 was the 595 (sold in the US under the Abarth 500 name), which introduced a further performance boost. The 595 was available with several different body styles and powertrains, ranging from 133 hp to 178 hp. Considering its diminutive size, this amount of power was more than enough to provide a fun driving experience: the 595 was an enthusiast-friendly pocket rocket that turned the humble 500 into something a little more edgy.
The 595’s Competizione trim upgraded the exhaust system and added cloth sports seats, while the Custom trim (the first 595 to be launched) offered a performance kit that included a 160-hp engine, sport filter, and upgrades to the brakes and suspension.
Before The Modern Abarth 500
1964-1971 Fiat Abarth 695 White Front Angled View
The Abarth 500 we know and love today is the product of a very long history, going back to the early 1960s. The Abarth name has been linked to Fiat for over half a century, and the 500 is one of the most iconic models to bear the Abarth badge. Over the course of the 500’s history, two different models have ended up being the subject of an Abarth makeover: one in a more radical way, as a standalone performance model, the other with a few simple cosmetic upgrades. Let’s explore the history of the Abarth 695 SS and the Cinquecento Abarth.
The Abarth 695 SS
The first incarnation of the Fiat 500 to get the Abarth treatment was the classic 500, only a few years after it was first introduced in 1957. In 1964, the Abarth 695 SS appeared - an extremely rare performance-oriented model, of which only 1,000 units were built and around 150 have survived to the present day. The 695 SS received a number of upgrades that boosted its performance, such as a reworked engine (with upgraded pistons and camshaft) and a new exhaust system. A few cosmetic touches, such as the Abarth badge and a stripe on the side, distinguished it from the regular 500.
2024 Fiat 500e with convertible and Abarth logo behind it
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The Abarth Cinquecento Upgrades
While the “original” 500 had been discontinued in 1975, in 1991 another model arrived that carried the 500 badge in a slightly different form: the Cinquecento, which spelled out the “500” in Italian rather than simply being labeled in numerical form. Although there was no true Abarth version of this car, Abarth was involved through a series of optional features.
These were not performance upgrades, but rather cosmetic enhancements; they included alternate alloy wheels, a front apron with fitted fog lights, side skirts, a rear spoiler with a third brake light and a rear apron. These features were not available as a package or a trim, but could simply be selected by the customer when ordering a Cinquecento.
The Abarth 500's Future: The Abarth 500e
The Abarth 500 in its gas-powered form may have reached the end of its life, but the badge isn’t going anywhere just yet. A new all-electric Abarth 500, dubbed the 500e, is carrying forward the Abarth legacy. The 500e was first unveiled at the end of 2022, and went on sale for the 2023 model year. An initial edition, dubbed the Scorpionissima (which roughly translates to “Ultra Scorpion”) was the first to be released with 1,949 units built. The Abarth 500e has not made it to the States yet, but its Fiat counterpart has; there is a possibility that Fiat may decide to bring the Abarth over to the US market in the near future, so all we can do is watch this space.
2023 Fiat Abarth 500e Lime Front Angled View
The 500e is powered by a single electric motor that produces 152 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque; it can go from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds. The battery has a capacity of 42.2 kWh, which gives the 500e a maximum driving range of 164 miles. The 500e also has three different driving modes: Turismo, Scorpion Street, and Scorpion Track. The first prioritizes comfort, the second maximizes regenerative braking, and the third prioritizes performance while sacrificing some range.
When it came to promoting the new Abarth 500e, Fiat knew it had to get creative. The car’s marketing campaign coincided with the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible movie series. In the movie, Tom Cruise drives a classic Fiat 500; the electric Abarth, meanwhile, starred in an ad promoted alongside the film. The goal was to promote the idea that an Abarth could still be exciting and engaging with an all-electric powertrain, a concept Fiat appropriately dubbed “Mission Possible”.
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As automakers around the world adapt to an increasingly electrified market, they are also finding creative ways to try and maximize driver engagement, infusing their all-electric models with excitement and thrill. Abarth is keen not to be left behind, creating a model that blends the brand’s rich heritage with modern technology.
Sources: Fiat, Autotempest.
