2012 Abarth 500

New 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth to Debut at the L.A. Auto Show

Faithful to the ‘small but wicked' saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth arrives in America with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks — world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited-production volume.

Building on the excitement of the new 2012 Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the new Fiat 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving-purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.

With its all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will unleash the brand's legendary performance heritage on American streets.

Source - Fiat

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth: INTRODUCTION

2012 Abarth 500
Faithful to the 'small but wicked' saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth arrives to America with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks — world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited-production volume. 2012 Abarth 500
'Bringing the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth to the Ú.S. enables us to reach out to driving enthusiasts who want Italian performance at an attainable price,' said Olivier Francois, Head of FIAT Brand and Chief Marketing Officer — Chrysler Group LLC. 'With its lightweight, track-tuned handling and purpose-built design, the Fiat 500 Abarth brings to life the legendary racing heritage of the brand and becomes the Italian high-performance car for everyday driving.'

2012 Abarth 500
Building on the excitement of the new 2012 Fiat 500 (Cinquecento), the new Fiat 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.


2012 Abarth 500With its all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design, and technology features not traditionally included on a small car, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth unleashes the brand's legendary performance heritage to American streets.

'Abarth treatment' and tradition continues to deliver extraordinary results
In the late 1950s Karl Abarth believed that race cars with brilliant performance could be derived from small, lightweight, everyday driving cars — including the original Cinquecento (500). And his tradition of track-ready small cars continues today by utilizing the 2012 Fiat 500 Sport as a base point for the new high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth.

Staying faithful to the performance principles that made the Abarth name a success, the new Fiat 500 Abarth continues the brand's motorsport traditions, including:
Everyday Performance Car
Track-ready capability, high horsepower-per-liter engine, combined with the quality, efficiency and refinement expected in a world-class small car
Competitive
Benchmark levels of performance, track-proven reliability and durability
Aggressive
Purposeful and functional performance design, Abarth-tuned powertrain control module (PCM) and performance-tuned exhaust with menacing sound
Attainable
State-of-the-art powertrain and chassis technology once limited to premium-priced performance cars
Racing Heritage
More than 60 years of performance and competition tuning, including active international series races today

Source - Abarth

FIAT Brand Announces U.S. Pricing for New 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

2012 Abarth 500
• Starting at $22,000, the Fiat 500 Abarth unleashes legendary Italian performance onto American streets 2012 Abarth 500
• Designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car at an attainable price

2012 Abarth 500
• Fiat 500 Abarth customers entitled to segment-exclusive, full-day Abarth Driving Experience


2012 Abarth 500
January 11, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The FIAT brand today announced Ú.S. pricing for its new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. The starting Ú.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $22,000 (not including destination).

Faithful to the 'small but wicked' saying coined for Karl Abarth's cars in the 1960s, the Fiat 500 Abarth arrives to America with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks: world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited production volume.

'The Fiat 500 Abarth feels like a double shot of espresso straight to your veins,' said Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC. 'With its wicked attitude, it will reward adrenaline fans who no longer need to pay six figures to feel the rush of true Italian performance.'


The race-inspired Fiat 500 Abarth comes standard with many performance features, including the all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine delivering 160 horsepower (119 kW) and 170 lb.-ft. (230 N•m) of torque, Abarth-tuned suspension, brake systems and dual exhaust, turbo-boost gauge with integrated LED shift light and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Driver and passenger performance seats feature a one-piece design with large side bolsters, racing-harness pass-through and accent stitching. The Fiat 500 Abarth also comes standard with BLÚE&ME™ Handsfree Communication, Bose premium audio system and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

Abarth Driving Experience for New Owners
Included in the price of each 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is the opportunity for new owners to attend a segment-exclusive driving experience at no additional charge. The Abarth Driving Experience is an entire day of full-throttle training, guided by professional instructors from the Richard Petty Driving Experience to ensure fun and top-level instruction in a safe and structured setting.

'Seduction' Digital Spot Reaches Nearly 3 Million YouTube Views
The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth and its digital spot titled 'Seduction' made their debuts at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The 60-second social media spot promoting the 500 Abarth seduced more than 1 million YouTube viewers in its first week and now has reached nearly 3 million views. Without having ever been aired on television or cable networks, it has rapidly spread through the web and gained global attention.

2012 Abarth 500It represents the unique characteristics of the Fiat 500 Abarth as a sensual and strikingly stunning model and takes a peek at what happens the first time a customer encounters the race-ready vehicle. The spot ends with a sexy and edgy message, 'The Fiat 500 Abarth. You'll never forget the first time you see one.'

The 'Seduction' digital spot was created in partnership with The Richards Group and can be viewed at the FIAT brand's YouTube site or via the following link: http://www.youtube.com/fiatusa

Source - Abarth

Related Reading : Fiat 500 History

With more than four million produced during its twenty-year production run, the tiny Fiat 500 was something to behold. Easy to spot by its rounded egg-like body, the Fiat 500 filled a need for utilitarian transportation for the Italian masses when it was introduced in 1957. The post-war European market needed an affordable option, and the rear-engined Fiat 500 was just the solution. The rear-engine....
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